{"id":"qld:sl-2026-0079","name":"Ambulance Service Regulation 2026","slug":"ambulance-service-regulation-2026","collection":"regulation","jurisdiction":"qld","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":"79 of 2026","makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":531745,"registerId":"qld-qld:sl-2026-0079-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-07-31","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"pt.1","sectionType":"part","heading":"Preliminary","content":"# Preliminary","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"sec.1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Short title","content":"### sec.1 Short title\n\nThis regulation may be cited as the Ambulance Service Regulation 2026 .","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"sec.2","sectionType":"section","heading":"Commencement","content":"### sec.2 Commencement\n\nThis regulation commences on 31 July 2026.","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"sec.3","sectionType":"section","heading":"Definitions","content":"### sec.3 Definitions\n\nThe dictionary in schedule 3 defines particular words used in this regulation.","sortOrder":3},{"sectionNumber":"pt.2","sectionType":"part","heading":"Transportation by ambulance","content":"# Transportation by ambulance","sortOrder":4},{"sectionNumber":"sec.4","sectionType":"section","heading":"Transport by ambulance to medical or health care facility after accident or emergency","content":"### sec.4 Transport by ambulance to medical or health care facility after accident or emergency\n\nThis section applies if a person who is involved in an accident or emergency is transported by ambulance from a place, other than a medical or health care facility the person is attending in relation to the accident or emergency.\nThe person may be taken to—\nthe nearest public hospital; or\nanother public hospital that a health service chief executive under the Hospital and Health Boards Act 2011 has decided is appropriate for the treatment of the person; or\nif transport to a hospital mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b) is not practicable—a private hospital; or\nif arrangements have been made with a doctor—the doctor’s clinic or surgery; or\nat the request of the person, or the person’s guardian, parent or spouse—\nthe accident and emergency department of a local private hospital; or\nif a local medical or health care facility, other than a hospital, has facilities to receive and treat the person—the local medical or health care facility; or\nif an ambulance officer believes the person needs urgent medical treatment—any place where medical treatment is provided.\n(sec.4-ssec.1) This section applies if a person who is involved in an accident or emergency is transported by ambulance from a place, other than a medical or health care facility the person is attending in relation to the accident or emergency.\n(sec.4-ssec.2) The person may be taken to— the nearest public hospital; or another public hospital that a health service chief executive under the Hospital and Health Boards Act 2011 has decided is appropriate for the treatment of the person; or if transport to a hospital mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b) is not practicable—a private hospital; or if arrangements have been made with a doctor—the doctor’s clinic or surgery; or at the request of the person, or the person’s guardian, parent or spouse— the accident and emergency department of a local private hospital; or if a local medical or health care facility, other than a hospital, has facilities to receive and treat the person—the local medical or health care facility; or if an ambulance officer believes the person needs urgent medical treatment—any place where medical treatment is provided.\n- (a) the nearest public hospital; or\n- (b) another public hospital that a health service chief executive under the Hospital and Health Boards Act 2011 has decided is appropriate for the treatment of the person; or\n- (c) if transport to a hospital mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b) is not practicable—a private hospital; or\n- (d) if arrangements have been made with a doctor—the doctor’s clinic or surgery; or\n- (e) at the request of the person, or the person’s guardian, parent or spouse— (i) the accident and emergency department of a local private hospital; or (ii) if a local medical or health care facility, other than a hospital, has facilities to receive and treat the person—the local medical or health care facility; or\n- (i) the accident and emergency department of a local private hospital; or\n- (ii) if a local medical or health care facility, other than a hospital, has facilities to receive and treat the person—the local medical or health care facility; or\n- (f) if an ambulance officer believes the person needs urgent medical treatment—any place where medical treatment is provided.\n- (i) the accident and emergency department of a local private hospital; or\n- (ii) if a local medical or health care facility, other than a hospital, has facilities to receive and treat the person—the local medical or health care facility; or","sortOrder":5},{"sectionNumber":"sec.5","sectionType":"section","heading":"Transport by ambulance from medical or health care facility after accident or emergency","content":"### sec.5 Transport by ambulance from medical or health care facility after accident or emergency\n\nThis section applies if a person who is involved in an accident or emergency—\nattends a medical or health care facility in relation to the accident or emergency; and\nis assessed as requiring attention at another medical or health care facility, or assistance to travel to the person’s residence, by—\na doctor; or\nif it is not practicable for a doctor to make the assessment—a medical or health care practitioner other than a doctor.\nA medical or health care practitioner may make a request, in writing, to the service to transport the person by ambulance to another medical or health care facility, or to the person’s residence, if the practitioner is satisfied the person can not safely, or reasonably, travel to the facility or residence by an alternative form of transport.\nIf it is not practicable for the medical or health care practitioner to make the request in writing, the request may be made verbally.\nThe person may be transported by ambulance to a medical or health care facility, or the person’s residence, in accordance with the request.\nHowever, an ambulance officer may transport the person to any place where medical treatment is provided if the officer believes the person needs urgent medical treatment.\nIn this section—\nmedical or health care practitioner means a doctor, midwife, nurse practitioner or registered nurse.\nmidwife means a person registered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law to practise in the midwifery profession, other than as a student.\nnurse practitioner means a person—\nregistered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law to practise in the nursing profession, other than as a student; and\nwhose registration is endorsed under that law as being qualified to practise as a nurse practitioner.\nregistered nurse means a person registered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law —\nto practise in the nursing profession, other than as a student; and\nin the registered nurses division of that profession.\n(sec.5-ssec.1) This section applies if a person who is involved in an accident or emergency— attends a medical or health care facility in relation to the accident or emergency; and is assessed as requiring attention at another medical or health care facility, or assistance to travel to the person’s residence, by— a doctor; or if it is not practicable for a doctor to make the assessment—a medical or health care practitioner other than a doctor.\n(sec.5-ssec.2) A medical or health care practitioner may make a request, in writing, to the service to transport the person by ambulance to another medical or health care facility, or to the person’s residence, if the practitioner is satisfied the person can not safely, or reasonably, travel to the facility or residence by an alternative form of transport.\n(sec.5-ssec.3) If it is not practicable for the medical or health care practitioner to make the request in writing, the request may be made verbally.\n(sec.5-ssec.4) The person may be transported by ambulance to a medical or health care facility, or the person’s residence, in accordance with the request.\n(sec.5-ssec.5) However, an ambulance officer may transport the person to any place where medical treatment is provided if the officer believes the person needs urgent medical treatment.\n(sec.5-ssec.6) In this section— medical or health care practitioner means a doctor, midwife, nurse practitioner or registered nurse. midwife means a person registered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law to practise in the midwifery profession, other than as a student. nurse practitioner means a person— registered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law to practise in the nursing profession, other than as a student; and whose registration is endorsed under that law as being qualified to practise as a nurse practitioner. registered nurse means a person registered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law — to practise in the nursing profession, other than as a student; and in the registered nurses division of that profession.\n- (a) attends a medical or health care facility in relation to the accident or emergency; and\n- (b) is assessed as requiring attention at another medical or health care facility, or assistance to travel to the person’s residence, by— (i) a doctor; or (ii) if it is not practicable for a doctor to make the assessment—a medical or health care practitioner other than a doctor.\n- (i) a doctor; or\n- (ii) if it is not practicable for a doctor to make the assessment—a medical or health care practitioner other than a doctor.\n- (i) a doctor; or\n- (ii) if it is not practicable for a doctor to make the assessment—a medical or health care practitioner other than a doctor.\n- (a) registered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law to practise in the nursing profession, other than as a student; and\n- (b) whose registration is endorsed under that law as being qualified to practise as a nurse practitioner.\n- (a) to practise in the nursing profession, other than as a student; and\n- (b) in the registered nurses division of that profession.","sortOrder":6},{"sectionNumber":"sec.6","sectionType":"section","heading":"Transport by ambulance other than for accident or emergency","content":"### sec.6 Transport by ambulance other than for accident or emergency\n\nThis section applies in relation to a person other than a person who is involved in an accident or emergency.\nA doctor may make a request, in writing, to the service to transport the person by ambulance from a place nominated by the doctor to a medical or health care facility if the doctor—\nassesses the person as requiring attention at a medical or health care facility in the future; and\nis satisfied the person can not safely, or reasonably, travel to the facility by an alternative form of transport.\nIf it is not practicable for the doctor to make the request in writing, the request may be made verbally.\nThe person may be transported by an ambulance—\nfrom the nominated place to a medical or health care facility in accordance with the request; and\nfrom a medical or health care facility to the person’s residence.\nHowever, an ambulance officer may transport the person to any place where medical treatment is provided if the officer believes the person needs urgent medical treatment.\n(sec.6-ssec.1) This section applies in relation to a person other than a person who is involved in an accident or emergency.\n(sec.6-ssec.2) A doctor may make a request, in writing, to the service to transport the person by ambulance from a place nominated by the doctor to a medical or health care facility if the doctor— assesses the person as requiring attention at a medical or health care facility in the future; and is satisfied the person can not safely, or reasonably, travel to the facility by an alternative form of transport.\n(sec.6-ssec.3) If it is not practicable for the doctor to make the request in writing, the request may be made verbally.\n(sec.6-ssec.4) The person may be transported by an ambulance— from the nominated place to a medical or health care facility in accordance with the request; and from a medical or health care facility to the person’s residence.\n(sec.6-ssec.5) However, an ambulance officer may transport the person to any place where medical treatment is provided if the officer believes the person needs urgent medical treatment.\n- (a) assesses the person as requiring attention at a medical or health care facility in the future; and\n- (b) is satisfied the person can not safely, or reasonably, travel to the facility by an alternative form of transport.\n- (a) from the nominated place to a medical or health care facility in accordance with the request; and\n- (b) from a medical or health care facility to the person’s residence.","sortOrder":7},{"sectionNumber":"sec.7","sectionType":"section","heading":"Commissioner may decide conditions for transport by ambulance","content":"### sec.7 Commissioner may decide conditions for transport by ambulance\n\nThe commissioner may—\ndivert an ambulance to the scene of an accident or emergency; or\nallow more than 1 person to be transported in an ambulance; or\nlimit the amount of baggage and number of persons that may accompany a person being transported in an ambulance.\n- (a) divert an ambulance to the scene of an accident or emergency; or\n- (b) allow more than 1 person to be transported in an ambulance; or\n- (c) limit the amount of baggage and number of persons that may accompany a person being transported in an ambulance.","sortOrder":8},{"sectionNumber":"pt.3","sectionType":"part","heading":"Other matters","content":"# Other matters","sortOrder":9},{"sectionNumber":"sec.8","sectionType":"section","heading":"Agreements— Act , s 50L","content":"### sec.8 Agreements— Act , s 50L\n\nThe agreement stated in schedule 1 , part 1 is prescribed for section 50L (1) (b) of the Act .\nThe agreement stated in schedule 1 , part 2 is prescribed for section 50L (2) (b) of the Act .\n(sec.8-ssec.1) The agreement stated in schedule 1 , part 1 is prescribed for section 50L (1) (b) of the Act .\n(sec.8-ssec.2) The agreement stated in schedule 1 , part 2 is prescribed for section 50L (2) (b) of the Act .","sortOrder":10},{"sectionNumber":"sec.9","sectionType":"section","heading":"Fees","content":"### sec.9 Fees\n\nThe fees payable under the Act for the use of an ambulance service are stated in schedule 2 .\nDespite subsection (1) , a fee is not payable by a person, under this section, for the use of an ambulance service if—\nthe person is not liable to pay a charge for the use of the ambulance service under section 53B of the Act ; or\nthe person is merely accompanying another person being transported in an ambulance; or\nthe Queensland Ambulance Service receives an amount from the Motor Accident Insurance Fund for providing the ambulance service to the person.\n(sec.9-ssec.1) The fees payable under the Act for the use of an ambulance service are stated in schedule 2 .\n(sec.9-ssec.2) Despite subsection (1) , a fee is not payable by a person, under this section, for the use of an ambulance service if— the person is not liable to pay a charge for the use of the ambulance service under section 53B of the Act ; or the person is merely accompanying another person being transported in an ambulance; or the Queensland Ambulance Service receives an amount from the Motor Accident Insurance Fund for providing the ambulance service to the person.\n- (a) the person is not liable to pay a charge for the use of the ambulance service under section 53B of the Act ; or\n- (b) the person is merely accompanying another person being transported in an ambulance; or\n- (c) the Queensland Ambulance Service receives an amount from the Motor Accident Insurance Fund for providing the ambulance service to the person.","sortOrder":11},{"sectionNumber":"pt.4","sectionType":"part","heading":"Repeal","content":"# Repeal","sortOrder":12},{"sectionNumber":"sec.10","sectionType":"section","heading":"Repeal","content":"### sec.10 Repeal\n\nThe Ambulance Service Regulation 2015 , SL No. 97 is repealed.","sortOrder":13},{"sectionNumber":"sch.1-pt.1","sectionType":"part","heading":"Agreement with Commonwealth","content":"# Agreement with Commonwealth","sortOrder":14},{"sectionNumber":"sch.1-pt.2","sectionType":"part","heading":"Agreement with entities of the State","content":"# Agreement with entities of the State","sortOrder":15}],"analysis":{"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":6,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"Compared with a narrowly emergency‑focussed instrument, this regulation appears to broaden operational and coverage scope: it expressly authorises non‑emergency (planned) ambulance transport on doctor or specified practitioner request (written or verbal), permits transport to private hospitals and clinics, formalises fee schedules and exemptions (including Motor Accident Insurance Fund receipts), and prescribes intergovernmental/state agreements. Those additions extend the regulation beyond solely scene‑to‑hospital emergency transport and embed administrative and charging rules."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple external cross‑references (Hospital and Health Boards Act 2011; Health Practitioner Regulation National Law; Motor Accident Insurance Fund; an unspecified ‘Act’ and its s 50L/53B).","Several referenced schedules (schedule 1 agreements, schedule 2 fees, schedule 3 dictionary) are relied on but their contents are not in the text provided.","Nested conditional options in s 4 for destination choice (public hospital, other approved public hospital, private hospital, GP clinic, local facilities, or ‘any place’ for urgent treatment).","Delegation and requester rules: s 5 and s 6 permit written or verbal requests and expand requester types to non‑doctor practitioners (midwives, nurse practitioners, registered nurses) with detailed subdefinitions.","Discretionary operational powers in s 7 (diversion, multiple passengers, limits on baggage/escorts) create situational decision points for the commissioner.","Fee regime with explicit exemptions (eg. persons not liable under s 53B, accompanying persons, Motor Accident Insurance Fund receipts) cross‑links to charging rules in the Act.","Repeal clause replacing the Ambulance Service Regulation 2015, indicating a substantive legislative update rather than a minor amendment."],"plain_english_summary":"This regulation sets when and where ambulances may transport people after accidents or for planned (non‑emergency) care, who may request such transport (doctors and specified practitioners), the commissioner’s operational powers (eg. diverting ambulances, limiting escorts/baggage), prescribed agreements and fees (with specific exemptions), and repeals the 2015 regulation. This is general legal information, not legal advice. Before acting on or relying on this, get a qualified Australian lawyer to check it."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ambulance-service-regulation-2026","history":"/api/acts/ambulance-service-regulation-2026/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ambulance-service-regulation-2026/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ambulance-service-regulation-2026/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ambulance-service-regulation-2026/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ambulance-service-regulation-2026/documents"}}