Queensland’s health system is set for significant improvements following the passage of new legislation aimed at strengthening assisted reproductive technology (ART) services, organ donation, and overall accountability across the healthcare sector.

The Crisafulli Government has passed the Health Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 3) 2025, the third omnibus health bill introduced this year. The new laws are designed to enhance patient safety, improve transparency, and deliver a more responsive health system for Queenslanders.

Minister for Health and Ambulance Services, Tim Nicholls, said the bill addresses key gaps left by previous legislation and ensures that families seeking IVF treatment can receive care safely and without unnecessary barriers.

“Labor’s ART Act is the poster child for what can happen if legislation is rushed, and it resulted in a framework that was difficult for providers to navigate and put up heartbreakingly unnecessary barriers for patients desperate to be mums and dads,” Minister Nicholls said.

Revisions to the Assisted Reproductive Technology Act 2024 introduce stronger powers for inspectors, improved information collection, and transitional provisions to ensure ongoing treatments are not disrupted. These changes aim to make IVF services safer and more accountable for both patients and providers.

The bill also updates the Transplantation and Anatomy Act 1979 to support organ donations after circulatory death, a move expected to help more Queenslanders receive life-saving transplants.

“With over 1,800 Australians on the transplant waiting list and more than 14,000 undergoing kidney dialysis, it’s crucial we do everything possible to enable donation where individuals and families support it,” Minister Nicholls said.

Under the new framework, families and next of kin will be able to consent to medical interventions—such as administering medications to preserve organ viability or performing imaging scans—to facilitate organ donation once life support has been withdrawn.

In addition to IVF and organ donation reforms, the bill introduces governance and accountability changes to several health acts, including the Hospital and Health Boards Act 2011, Private Health Facilities Act 1999, and Health and Wellbeing Queensland Act 2019. These updates will strengthen oversight of leadership roles and implement new national safety standards for cosmetic surgery.

“These changes ensure that those in leadership positions are held to the highest standards and remain accountable to the people of Queensland,” Minister Nicholls added.

The Health Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 3) 2025 represents a key step in the Crisafulli Government’s plan to modernize Queensland’s health system and deliver what the Minister described as “a fresh start” for health services across the state.

“This bill is all about delivering a modern, safe, and responsive health system for all Queenslanders by ensuring better protection for patients, improved performance across the system, and stronger foundations for future health reforms,” Minister Nicholls said.