{"id":"qld:act-1994-057","name":"Place Names Act 1994","slug":"place-names-act-1994","collection":"act","jurisdiction":"qld","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":"57 of 1994","makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":104738,"registerId":"qld-act-1994-057-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","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 Act may be cited as the Place Names Act 1994 .","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"sec.2","sectionType":"section","heading":"Commencement","content":"### sec.2 Commencement\n\nThis Act commences on a day to be fixed by proclamation.","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"sec.3","sectionType":"section","heading":"Definitions","content":"### sec.3 Definitions\n\nIn this Act—\napproved name of a place means a name appearing in the Gazetteer as the name of the place.\ns 3 def approved name amd 2024 No. 12 s 110 (3)\nexcluded place see section 4 (2) .\ns 3 def excluded place sub 2024 No. 12 s 110 (1) – (2)\nexecutive officer ...\ns 3 def executive officer om 2024 No. 12 s 110 (1)\nexisting name , of a place, see section 8 (3) .\ns 3 def existing name ins 2024 No. 12 s 110 (2)\nGazetteer means the Gazetteer of Place Names.\nplace see section 4 .\nplace naming issues see section 6 .\npublish includes show in public and distribute to the public.\nQueensland Government website see the Financial Accountability Act 2009 , section 88F (7) .\ns 3 def Queensland Government website ins 2023 No. 2 s 51\nregional newspaper see the Financial Accountability Act 2009 , section 88H (2) .\ns 3 def regional newspaper ins 2023 No. 2 s 51\nrelevant website , for publishing a notice relating to a place, means—\nthe department’s website; or\na Queensland government website; or\nanother website the Minister considers appropriate, having regard to the nature of the information contained in the notice.\ns 3 def relevant website ins 2023 No. 2 s 51\nstated place naming issue means a place naming issue mentioned in section 6 (2) .\ntrade or commerce ...\ns 3 def trade or commerce om 2024 No. 12 s 110 (1)\n- (a) the department’s website; or\n- (b) a Queensland government website; or\n- (c) another website the Minister considers appropriate, having regard to the nature of the information contained in the notice.","sortOrder":3},{"sectionNumber":"sec.4","sectionType":"section","heading":"Meaning of place and excluded place","content":"### sec.4 Meaning of place and excluded place\n\nA place is an area or geographical feature (whether natural or artificial) other than an excluded place.\nAn excluded place is—\na road within the meaning of the Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act 1995 ; or\na canal associated with a residential or commercial development; or\na building or similar structure; or\na dam wall or similar structure; or\na division or ward of a local government area; or\na place given a name under another law of the State or the Commonwealth; or\na port, an electoral district, a local government area\nanother place prescribed by regulation.\ns 4 amd 1999 No. 42 sch pt 3 ; 2024 No. 12 s 111\n(sec.4-ssec.1) A place is an area or geographical feature (whether natural or artificial) other than an excluded place.\n(sec.4-ssec.2) An excluded place is— a road within the meaning of the Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act 1995 ; or a canal associated with a residential or commercial development; or a building or similar structure; or a dam wall or similar structure; or a division or ward of a local government area; or a place given a name under another law of the State or the Commonwealth; or a port, an electoral district, a local government area another place prescribed by regulation.\n- (a) a road within the meaning of the Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act 1995 ; or\n- (b) a canal associated with a residential or commercial development; or\n- (c) a building or similar structure; or\n- (d) a dam wall or similar structure; or\n- (e) a division or ward of a local government area; or\n- (f) a place given a name under another law of the State or the Commonwealth; or Examples for paragraph (f) — a port, an electoral district, a local government area\n- (g) another place prescribed by regulation.","sortOrder":4},{"sectionNumber":"sec.5","sectionType":"section","heading":"Act binds all persons","content":"### sec.5 Act binds all persons\n\nThis Act binds all persons, including the State, and, so far as the legislative power of the Parliament permits, the Commonwealth and the other States.","sortOrder":5},{"sectionNumber":"pt.2","sectionType":"part","heading":"Naming of places","content":"# Naming of places","sortOrder":6},{"sectionNumber":"pt.2-div.1","sectionType":"division","heading":"Procedures","content":"## Procedures","sortOrder":7},{"sectionNumber":"sec.6","sectionType":"section","heading":"Place naming issues","content":"### sec.6 Place naming issues\n\nPlace naming issues are issues relevant to the naming of places.\nWithout limiting subsection (1) , place naming issues for the naming of a place include—\nAboriginal tradition and Island custom; and\nthe appropriateness of a place having more than 1 name; and\ngovernment initiatives or policies relating to place names; and\nthe cultural and historical significance of places and names; and\ncommunity views; and\nthe community considers an approved place name should be changed because it is offensive or harmful to the community\nthe community supports an approved place name that honours an event or person\nthe appropriateness of a name for a place, having regard to—\nthe location, population, size and topography of the place; and\nthe place is in a remote or sparsely populated area\nthe use of a name for a place; and\nthe length of time or extent of use of a name for the place\nthe avoidance of confusion about the names or location of places; and\nguidelines and conventions set by intergovernmental or international committees having functions about the naming of places; and\nsocio-economic effects of giving a name to a place or changing or discontinuing an approved name of a place; and\nthe likely costs to businesses and members of the community resulting from a change to an approved name of a place\nrequirements to comply with other Acts, including, for example, the Human Rights Act 2019 and the Anti-Discrimination Act 1991 .\ns 6 amd 2024 No. 12 s 112\n(sec.6-ssec.1) Place naming issues are issues relevant to the naming of places.\n(sec.6-ssec.2) Without limiting subsection (1) , place naming issues for the naming of a place include— Aboriginal tradition and Island custom; and the appropriateness of a place having more than 1 name; and government initiatives or policies relating to place names; and the cultural and historical significance of places and names; and community views; and the community considers an approved place name should be changed because it is offensive or harmful to the community the community supports an approved place name that honours an event or person the appropriateness of a name for a place, having regard to— the location, population, size and topography of the place; and the place is in a remote or sparsely populated area the use of a name for a place; and the length of time or extent of use of a name for the place the avoidance of confusion about the names or location of places; and guidelines and conventions set by intergovernmental or international committees having functions about the naming of places; and socio-economic effects of giving a name to a place or changing or discontinuing an approved name of a place; and the likely costs to businesses and members of the community resulting from a change to an approved name of a place requirements to comply with other Acts, including, for example, the Human Rights Act 2019 and the Anti-Discrimination Act 1991 .\n- (a) Aboriginal tradition and Island custom; and\n- (b) the appropriateness of a place having more than 1 name; and\n- (c) government initiatives or policies relating to place names; and\n- (d) the cultural and historical significance of places and names; and\n- (e) community views; and Examples— • the community considers an approved place name should be changed because it is offensive or harmful to the community • the community supports an approved place name that honours an event or person\n- • the community considers an approved place name should be changed because it is offensive or harmful to the community\n- • the community supports an approved place name that honours an event or person\n- (f) the appropriateness of a name for a place, having regard to— (i) the location, population, size and topography of the place; and Example— the place is in a remote or sparsely populated area (ii) the use of a name for a place; and Example— the length of time or extent of use of a name for the place (iii) the avoidance of confusion about the names or location of places; and (iv) guidelines and conventions set by intergovernmental or international committees having functions about the naming of places; and\n- (i) the location, population, size and topography of the place; and Example— the place is in a remote or sparsely populated area\n- (ii) the use of a name for a place; and Example— the length of time or extent of use of a name for the place\n- (iii) the avoidance of confusion about the names or location of places; and\n- (iv) guidelines and conventions set by intergovernmental or international committees having functions about the naming of places; and\n- (g) socio-economic effects of giving a name to a place or changing or discontinuing an approved name of a place; and Example— the likely costs to businesses and members of the community resulting from a change to an approved name of a place\n- (h) requirements to comply with other Acts, including, for example, the Human Rights Act 2019 and the Anti-Discrimination Act 1991 .\n- • the community considers an approved place name should be changed because it is offensive or harmful to the community\n- • the community supports an approved place name that honours an event or person\n- (i) the location, population, size and topography of the place; and Example— the place is in a remote or sparsely populated area\n- (ii) the use of a name for a place; and Example— the length of time or extent of use of a name for the place\n- (iii) the avoidance of confusion about the names or location of places; and\n- (iv) guidelines and conventions set by intergovernmental or international committees having functions about the naming of places; and","sortOrder":8},{"sectionNumber":"sec.7","sectionType":"section","heading":"Powers of Minister","content":"### sec.7 Powers of Minister\n\nThe Minister may—\ngive a name to a place; or\nchange an approved name of a place; or\ndiscontinue an approved name of a place.\nSubsection (1) is subject to sections 8 , 9 , 10A and 11 .\nTo remove any doubt, it is declared that for subsection (1) (b) , a change to the boundary of an area to which an approved name relates resulting in a change to the approved name for any part of the area is a change to an approved name of a place.\ns 7 amd 2024 No. 12 s 113\n(sec.7-ssec.1) The Minister may— give a name to a place; or change an approved name of a place; or discontinue an approved name of a place.\n(sec.7-ssec.2) Subsection (1) is subject to sections 8 , 9 , 10A and 11 .\n(sec.7-ssec.3) To remove any doubt, it is declared that for subsection (1) (b) , a change to the boundary of an area to which an approved name relates resulting in a change to the approved name for any part of the area is a change to an approved name of a place.\n- (a) give a name to a place; or\n- (b) change an approved name of a place; or\n- (c) discontinue an approved name of a place.","sortOrder":9},{"sectionNumber":"sec.8","sectionType":"section","heading":"Development of place name proposal","content":"### sec.8 Development of place name proposal\n\nThe chief executive may develop a proposal about the name of a place.\nIn developing the proposal, the chief executive—\nmust have regard to the stated place naming issues; and\nmay have regard to any other place naming issues the chief executive considers appropriate.\nAlso, if the proposal relates to changing or discontinuing an approved name of a place (an existing name ), in developing the proposal the chief executive must consider whether it would be appropriate to continue the existing name as an approved name of the place in addition to any other approved names of the place for a period of up to 5 years.\nIn considering the matter under subsection (3) , the chief executive—\nmust have regard to—\nthe stated place naming issues mentioned in section 6 (2) (e) , (f) (i) , (g) and (h); and\nthe public interest; and\nmay have regard to any other place naming issues.\ns 8 sub 2024 No. 12 s 114\n(sec.8-ssec.1) The chief executive may develop a proposal about the name of a place.\n(sec.8-ssec.2) In developing the proposal, the chief executive— must have regard to the stated place naming issues; and may have regard to any other place naming issues the chief executive considers appropriate.\n(sec.8-ssec.3) Also, if the proposal relates to changing or discontinuing an approved name of a place (an existing name ), in developing the proposal the chief executive must consider whether it would be appropriate to continue the existing name as an approved name of the place in addition to any other approved names of the place for a period of up to 5 years.\n(sec.8-ssec.4) In considering the matter under subsection (3) , the chief executive— must have regard to— the stated place naming issues mentioned in section 6 (2) (e) , (f) (i) , (g) and (h); and the public interest; and may have regard to any other place naming issues.\n- (a) must have regard to the stated place naming issues; and\n- (b) may have regard to any other place naming issues the chief executive considers appropriate.\n- (a) must have regard to— (i) the stated place naming issues mentioned in section 6 (2) (e) , (f) (i) , (g) and (h); and (ii) the public interest; and\n- (i) the stated place naming issues mentioned in section 6 (2) (e) , (f) (i) , (g) and (h); and\n- (ii) the public interest; and\n- (b) may have regard to any other place naming issues.\n- (i) the stated place naming issues mentioned in section 6 (2) (e) , (f) (i) , (g) and (h); and\n- (ii) the public interest; and","sortOrder":10},{"sectionNumber":"sec.9","sectionType":"section","heading":"Notice of place name proposal","content":"### sec.9 Notice of place name proposal\n\nThe chief executive must publish a notice of the proposal, unless publication is not required because of section 10 .\nThe notice—\nmust be published in the gazette and in at least 1 of the following ways—\non a relevant website;\nin an electronic version of a newspaper;\nin a regional newspaper circulating generally in the area of the place to which the proposal relates; and\nmay be published in another way the Minister considers appropriate.\nThe notice must—\ndescribe the place to which the proposal relates; and\nstate the proposal; and\ninvite submissions about the proposal from interested persons, groups of persons and bodies; and\nspecify a day by which submissions are to be made; and\nspecify an address where submissions may be sent.\nThe day specified in the notice must be at least 1 month after the day the notice is published in the gazette.\ns 9 amd 2023 No. 2 s 52 ; 2024 No. 12 s 115\n(sec.9-ssec.1) The chief executive must publish a notice of the proposal, unless publication is not required because of section 10 .\n(sec.9-ssec.2) The notice— must be published in the gazette and in at least 1 of the following ways— on a relevant website; in an electronic version of a newspaper; in a regional newspaper circulating generally in the area of the place to which the proposal relates; and may be published in another way the Minister considers appropriate.\n(sec.9-ssec.3) The notice must— describe the place to which the proposal relates; and state the proposal; and invite submissions about the proposal from interested persons, groups of persons and bodies; and specify a day by which submissions are to be made; and specify an address where submissions may be sent.\n(sec.9-ssec.4) The day specified in the notice must be at least 1 month after the day the notice is published in the gazette.\n- (a) must be published in the gazette and in at least 1 of the following ways— (i) on a relevant website; (ii) in an electronic version of a newspaper; (iii) in a regional newspaper circulating generally in the area of the place to which the proposal relates; and\n- (i) on a relevant website;\n- (ii) in an electronic version of a newspaper;\n- (iii) in a regional newspaper circulating generally in the area of the place to which the proposal relates; and\n- (b) may be published in another way the Minister considers appropriate.\n- (i) on a relevant website;\n- (ii) in an electronic version of a newspaper;\n- (iii) in a regional newspaper circulating generally in the area of the place to which the proposal relates; and\n- (a) describe the place to which the proposal relates; and\n- (b) state the proposal; and\n- (c) invite submissions about the proposal from interested persons, groups of persons and bodies; and\n- (d) specify a day by which submissions are to be made; and\n- (e) specify an address where submissions may be sent.","sortOrder":11},{"sectionNumber":"sec.10","sectionType":"section","heading":"When publication of place name proposal is not required","content":"### sec.10 When publication of place name proposal is not required\n\nThis section applies in relation to a proposal about a place name if the chief executive is satisfied—\nthe proposal relates only to a minor or technical matter; or\nthe proposal relates to the changing or discontinuing of an approved name that—\nis distressing to a community or part of the community, including, for example, a community or group of Aboriginal people or Torres Strait Islander people, having regard to the historical or cultural significance of the approved name; or\nis derogatory, racist or sexist; or\nthe proposal is not likely to be of substantial interest to the community or any particular part of the community; or\nif the proposal has already been subject to public consultation—\nthe public consultation was adequate; or\nfurther public consultation is likely to cause substantial distress to the community or part of the community, including, for example, a community or group of Aboriginal people or Torres Strait Islander people.\nThe chief executive need not comply with section 9 in relation to the proposal before making a recommendation to the Minister under section 10A .\ns 10 sub 2024 No. 12 s 116\n(sec.10-ssec.1) This section applies in relation to a proposal about a place name if the chief executive is satisfied— the proposal relates only to a minor or technical matter; or the proposal relates to the changing or discontinuing of an approved name that— is distressing to a community or part of the community, including, for example, a community or group of Aboriginal people or Torres Strait Islander people, having regard to the historical or cultural significance of the approved name; or is derogatory, racist or sexist; or the proposal is not likely to be of substantial interest to the community or any particular part of the community; or if the proposal has already been subject to public consultation— the public consultation was adequate; or further public consultation is likely to cause substantial distress to the community or part of the community, including, for example, a community or group of Aboriginal people or Torres Strait Islander people.\n(sec.10-ssec.2) The chief executive need not comply with section 9 in relation to the proposal before making a recommendation to the Minister under section 10A .\n- (a) the proposal relates only to a minor or technical matter; or\n- (b) the proposal relates to the changing or discontinuing of an approved name that— (i) is distressing to a community or part of the community, including, for example, a community or group of Aboriginal people or Torres Strait Islander people, having regard to the historical or cultural significance of the approved name; or (ii) is derogatory, racist or sexist; or\n- (i) is distressing to a community or part of the community, including, for example, a community or group of Aboriginal people or Torres Strait Islander people, having regard to the historical or cultural significance of the approved name; or\n- (ii) is derogatory, racist or sexist; or\n- (c) the proposal is not likely to be of substantial interest to the community or any particular part of the community; or\n- (d) if the proposal has already been subject to public consultation— (i) the public consultation was adequate; or (ii) further public consultation is likely to cause substantial distress to the community or part of the community, including, for example, a community or group of Aboriginal people or Torres Strait Islander people.\n- (i) the public consultation was adequate; or\n- (ii) further public consultation is likely to cause substantial distress to the community or part of the community, including, for example, a community or group of Aboriginal people or Torres Strait Islander people.\n- (i) is distressing to a community or part of the community, including, for example, a community or group of Aboriginal people or Torres Strait Islander people, having regard to the historical or cultural significance of the approved name; or\n- (ii) is derogatory, racist or sexist; or\n- (i) the public consultation was adequate; or\n- (ii) further public consultation is likely to cause substantial distress to the community or part of the community, including, for example, a community or group of Aboriginal people or Torres Strait Islander people.","sortOrder":12},{"sectionNumber":"sec.10A","sectionType":"section","heading":"Recommendation to Minister","content":"### sec.10A Recommendation to Minister\n\nAfter complying with sections 8 to 10 , the chief executive must make a recommendation to the Minister about the proposal.\nThe recommendation must include—\na brief summary of the place naming issues considered by the chief executive in developing the proposal; and\nif the proposal is to change or discontinue an approved name of the place—\nwhether the chief executive considers the existing name should continue as an approved name of the place as mentioned in section 8 (3) ; and\nif the chief executive considers the existing name should continue as an approved name of the place—the period of up to 5 years during which the chief executive considers the existing name should continue as an approved name; and\nif notice of the proposal was published under section 9 —a brief summary of the submissions, if any, received by the chief executive; and\nif notice of the proposal was not published because of section 10 —reasons for the chief executive’s decision not to publish a notice of the proposal.\ns 10A ins 2024 No. 12 s 117\n(sec.10A-ssec.1) After complying with sections 8 to 10 , the chief executive must make a recommendation to the Minister about the proposal.\n(sec.10A-ssec.2) The recommendation must include— a brief summary of the place naming issues considered by the chief executive in developing the proposal; and if the proposal is to change or discontinue an approved name of the place— whether the chief executive considers the existing name should continue as an approved name of the place as mentioned in section 8 (3) ; and if the chief executive considers the existing name should continue as an approved name of the place—the period of up to 5 years during which the chief executive considers the existing name should continue as an approved name; and if notice of the proposal was published under section 9 —a brief summary of the submissions, if any, received by the chief executive; and if notice of the proposal was not published because of section 10 —reasons for the chief executive’s decision not to publish a notice of the proposal.\n- (a) a brief summary of the place naming issues considered by the chief executive in developing the proposal; and\n- (b) if the proposal is to change or discontinue an approved name of the place— (i) whether the chief executive considers the existing name should continue as an approved name of the place as mentioned in section 8 (3) ; and (ii) if the chief executive considers the existing name should continue as an approved name of the place—the period of up to 5 years during which the chief executive considers the existing name should continue as an approved name; and\n- (i) whether the chief executive considers the existing name should continue as an approved name of the place as mentioned in section 8 (3) ; and\n- (ii) if the chief executive considers the existing name should continue as an approved name of the place—the period of up to 5 years during which the chief executive considers the existing name should continue as an approved name; and\n- (c) if notice of the proposal was published under section 9 —a brief summary of the submissions, if any, received by the chief executive; and\n- (d) if notice of the proposal was not published because of section 10 —reasons for the chief executive’s decision not to publish a notice of the proposal.\n- (i) whether the chief executive considers the existing name should continue as an approved name of the place as mentioned in section 8 (3) ; and\n- (ii) if the chief executive considers the existing name should continue as an approved name of the place—the period of up to 5 years during which the chief executive considers the existing name should continue as an approved name; and","sortOrder":13},{"sectionNumber":"sec.10B","sectionType":"section","heading":"Minister may require publication of proposal","content":"### sec.10B Minister may require publication of proposal\n\nThis section applies if—\na notice of the proposal was not published because of section 10 ; and\nthe Minister considers it would be appropriate, for any reason, to publish the notice before a decision is made under section 11 .\nThe Minister may ask the chief executive to comply with section 9 in relation to the proposal.\nThe chief executive must—\ncomply with the Minister’s request; and\nmake a new recommendation to the Minister under section 10A about the proposal.\ns 10B ins 2024 No. 12 s 117\n(sec.10B-ssec.1) This section applies if— a notice of the proposal was not published because of section 10 ; and the Minister considers it would be appropriate, for any reason, to publish the notice before a decision is made under section 11 .\n(sec.10B-ssec.2) The Minister may ask the chief executive to comply with section 9 in relation to the proposal.\n(sec.10B-ssec.3) The chief executive must— comply with the Minister’s request; and make a new recommendation to the Minister under section 10A about the proposal.\n- (a) a notice of the proposal was not published because of section 10 ; and\n- (b) the Minister considers it would be appropriate, for any reason, to publish the notice before a decision is made under section 11 .\n- (a) comply with the Minister’s request; and\n- (b) make a new recommendation to the Minister under section 10A about the proposal.","sortOrder":14},{"sectionNumber":"sec.11","sectionType":"section","heading":"Decision about proposal","content":"### sec.11 Decision about proposal\n\nThe Minister must not exercise a power mentioned in section 7 until—\nthe chief executive has given a recommendation to the Minister under section 10A ; and\nif the Minister has, under section 10B , requested the publication of the proposal —the chief executive has complied with the request.\nIn exercising a power mentioned in section 7 about the proposal, the Minister—\nmust have regard to the stated place naming issues; and\nmay have regard to any other place naming issues the Minister considers appropriate; and\nmay have regard to the recommendation made by the chief executive under section 10A .\nIf the Minister decides to exercise a power under section 7 to change or discontinue an existing name, the Minister may state in the decision a period of up to 5 years after the day the decision takes effect during which the existing name continues to be an approved name for the place in addition to any other approved name of the place.\nIn deciding whether to state a period under subsection (3) , the Minister—\nmust have regard to—\nthe stated place naming issues mentioned in section 6 (2) (e) , (f) (i) , (g) and (h); and\nthe public interest; and\nthe recommendation made by the chief executive under section 10A (2) (b) ; and\nmay have regard to any other place naming issues.\nThe Minister—\nmust publish a gazette notice stating the decision, including the day any period stated in the decision under subsection (3) ends; and\nmust publish the decision in at least 1 of the following ways—\non a relevant website;\nin an electronic version of a newspaper;\nin a regional newspaper circulating generally in the area of the place to which the proposal relates; and\nmay publish the decision in another way the Minister considers appropriate.\nThe decision takes effect on the day stated in the gazette notice.\ns 11 amd 2023 No. 2 s 53\nsub 2024 No. 12 s 118\n(sec.11-ssec.1) The Minister must not exercise a power mentioned in section 7 until— the chief executive has given a recommendation to the Minister under section 10A ; and if the Minister has, under section 10B , requested the publication of the proposal —the chief executive has complied with the request.\n(sec.11-ssec.2) In exercising a power mentioned in section 7 about the proposal, the Minister— must have regard to the stated place naming issues; and may have regard to any other place naming issues the Minister considers appropriate; and may have regard to the recommendation made by the chief executive under section 10A .\n(sec.11-ssec.3) If the Minister decides to exercise a power under section 7 to change or discontinue an existing name, the Minister may state in the decision a period of up to 5 years after the day the decision takes effect during which the existing name continues to be an approved name for the place in addition to any other approved name of the place.\n(sec.11-ssec.4) In deciding whether to state a period under subsection (3) , the Minister— must have regard to— the stated place naming issues mentioned in section 6 (2) (e) , (f) (i) , (g) and (h); and the public interest; and the recommendation made by the chief executive under section 10A (2) (b) ; and may have regard to any other place naming issues.\n(sec.11-ssec.5) The Minister— must publish a gazette notice stating the decision, including the day any period stated in the decision under subsection (3) ends; and must publish the decision in at least 1 of the following ways— on a relevant website; in an electronic version of a newspaper; in a regional newspaper circulating generally in the area of the place to which the proposal relates; and may publish the decision in another way the Minister considers appropriate.\n(sec.11-ssec.6) The decision takes effect on the day stated in the gazette notice.\n- (a) the chief executive has given a recommendation to the Minister under section 10A ; and\n- (b) if the Minister has, under section 10B , requested the publication of the proposal —the chief executive has complied with the request.\n- (a) must have regard to the stated place naming issues; and\n- (b) may have regard to any other place naming issues the Minister considers appropriate; and\n- (c) may have regard to the recommendation made by the chief executive under section 10A .\n- (a) must have regard to— (i) the stated place naming issues mentioned in section 6 (2) (e) , (f) (i) , (g) and (h); and (ii) the public interest; and (iii) the recommendation made by the chief executive under section 10A (2) (b) ; and\n- (i) the stated place naming issues mentioned in section 6 (2) (e) , (f) (i) , (g) and (h); and\n- (ii) the public interest; and\n- (iii) the recommendation made by the chief executive under section 10A (2) (b) ; and\n- (b) may have regard to any other place naming issues.\n- (i) the stated place naming issues mentioned in section 6 (2) (e) , (f) (i) , (g) and (h); and\n- (ii) the public interest; and\n- (iii) the recommendation made by the chief executive under section 10A (2) (b) ; and\n- (a) must publish a gazette notice stating the decision, including the day any period stated in the decision under subsection (3) ends; and\n- (b) must publish the decision in at least 1 of the following ways— (i) on a relevant website; (ii) in an electronic version of a newspaper; (iii) in a regional newspaper circulating generally in the area of the place to which the proposal relates; and\n- (i) on a relevant website;\n- (ii) in an electronic version of a newspaper;\n- (iii) in a regional newspaper circulating generally in the area of the place to which the proposal relates; and\n- (c) may publish the decision in another way the Minister considers appropriate.\n- (i) on a relevant website;\n- (ii) in an electronic version of a newspaper;\n- (iii) in a regional newspaper circulating generally in the area of the place to which the proposal relates; and","sortOrder":15},{"sectionNumber":"sec.11A","sectionType":"section","heading":"Minister may extend period for existing name to continue as approved name","content":"### sec.11A Minister may extend period for existing name to continue as approved name\n\nThis section applies if the Minister considers it would be appropriate to extend the period stated in a decision under section 11 (3) , having regard to the matters stated in section 11 (4) .\nBefore the period stated in the decision ends, the Minister may decide to extend the period (an extension decision ) by no more than 5 years after the period ends.\nThe Minister—\nmust publish a gazette notice stating the extension decision, including the day the extended period ends; and\nmust publish the extension decision in at least 1 of the following ways—\non a relevant website;\nin an electronic version of a newspaper;\nin a regional newspaper circulating generally in the area of the place to which the proposal relates; and\nmay publish the extension decision in another way the Minister considers appropriate.\nThe extension decision takes effect on the day stated in the gazette notice.\nThe period stated in the decision made under section 11 (3) may be extended only once under this section.\ns 11A ins 2024 No. 12 s 118\n(sec.11A-ssec.1) This section applies if the Minister considers it would be appropriate to extend the period stated in a decision under section 11 (3) , having regard to the matters stated in section 11 (4) .\n(sec.11A-ssec.2) Before the period stated in the decision ends, the Minister may decide to extend the period (an extension decision ) by no more than 5 years after the period ends.\n(sec.11A-ssec.3) The Minister— must publish a gazette notice stating the extension decision, including the day the extended period ends; and must publish the extension decision in at least 1 of the following ways— on a relevant website; in an electronic version of a newspaper; in a regional newspaper circulating generally in the area of the place to which the proposal relates; and may publish the extension decision in another way the Minister considers appropriate.\n(sec.11A-ssec.4) The extension decision takes effect on the day stated in the gazette notice.\n(sec.11A-ssec.5) The period stated in the decision made under section 11 (3) may be extended only once under this section.\n- (a) must publish a gazette notice stating the extension decision, including the day the extended period ends; and\n- (b) must publish the extension decision in at least 1 of the following ways— (i) on a relevant website; (ii) in an electronic version of a newspaper; (iii) in a regional newspaper circulating generally in the area of the place to which the proposal relates; and\n- (i) on a relevant website;\n- (ii) in an electronic version of a newspaper;\n- (iii) in a regional newspaper circulating generally in the area of the place to which the proposal relates; and\n- (c) may publish the extension decision in another way the Minister considers appropriate.\n- (i) on a relevant website;\n- (ii) in an electronic version of a newspaper;\n- (iii) in a regional newspaper circulating generally in the area of the place to which the proposal relates; and","sortOrder":16},{"sectionNumber":"pt.2-div.2","sectionType":"division","heading":"Gazetteer of Place Names","content":"## Gazetteer of Place Names","sortOrder":17},{"sectionNumber":"sec.12","sectionType":"section","heading":"Gazetteer of Place Names","content":"### sec.12 Gazetteer of Place Names\n\nThe chief executive must keep the Gazetteer of Place Names.\nThe chief executive must publish the Gazetteer on a Queensland government website.\ns 12 amd 2024 No. 12 s 119\n(sec.12-ssec.1) The chief executive must keep the Gazetteer of Place Names.\n(sec.12-ssec.2) The chief executive must publish the Gazetteer on a Queensland government website.","sortOrder":18},{"sectionNumber":"sec.13","sectionType":"section","heading":null,"content":"### Section sec.13\n\ns 13 om 2024 No. 12 s 120","sortOrder":19},{"sectionNumber":"sec.14","sectionType":"section","heading":"Entries in Gazetteer","content":"### sec.14 Entries in Gazetteer\n\nIf the Minister gives a name to a place, the chief executive must—\nenter the name of the place in the Gazetteer; and\ninclude in the entry the boundaries or coordinates, or a description of the document that states the boundaries or coordinates, of the place to which the approved name relates.\nIf the Minister changes an approved name of a place, including by changing the boundaries or coordinates of the place to which the approved name relates, the chief executive must amend the Gazetteer to show the change.\nIf the Minister discontinues an approved name of a place, the chief executive must omit the name of the place from the Gazetteer.\nThe chief executive must comply with subsection (1) , (2) or (3) —\nif the Minister’s decision under section 11 is to take effect on a stated day—on the stated day; or\notherwise—as soon as reasonably practicable after the decision is made by the Minister.\nHowever, if the Minister states a period in the decision under section 11 (3) for the continuation of an existing name as an approved name of a place, or extends the period under section 11A , the chief executive must—\nkeep the existing name in the Gazetteer as one of the approved names of the place until the period or extended period ends; and\nomit the name of the place from the Gazetteer on the day the period or extended period ends.\ns 14 sub 2024 No. 12 s 121\n(sec.14-ssec.1) If the Minister gives a name to a place, the chief executive must— enter the name of the place in the Gazetteer; and include in the entry the boundaries or coordinates, or a description of the document that states the boundaries or coordinates, of the place to which the approved name relates.\n(sec.14-ssec.2) If the Minister changes an approved name of a place, including by changing the boundaries or coordinates of the place to which the approved name relates, the chief executive must amend the Gazetteer to show the change.\n(sec.14-ssec.3) If the Minister discontinues an approved name of a place, the chief executive must omit the name of the place from the Gazetteer.\n(sec.14-ssec.4) The chief executive must comply with subsection (1) , (2) or (3) — if the Minister’s decision under section 11 is to take effect on a stated day—on the stated day; or otherwise—as soon as reasonably practicable after the decision is made by the Minister.\n(sec.14-ssec.5) However, if the Minister states a period in the decision under section 11 (3) for the continuation of an existing name as an approved name of a place, or extends the period under section 11A , the chief executive must— keep the existing name in the Gazetteer as one of the approved names of the place until the period or extended period ends; and omit the name of the place from the Gazetteer on the day the period or extended period ends.\n- (a) enter the name of the place in the Gazetteer; and\n- (b) include in the entry the boundaries or coordinates, or a description of the document that states the boundaries or coordinates, of the place to which the approved name relates.\n- (a) if the Minister’s decision under section 11 is to take effect on a stated day—on the stated day; or\n- (b) otherwise—as soon as reasonably practicable after the decision is made by the Minister.\n- (a) keep the existing name in the Gazetteer as one of the approved names of the place until the period or extended period ends; and\n- (b) omit the name of the place from the Gazetteer on the day the period or extended period ends.","sortOrder":20},{"sectionNumber":"sec.14A","sectionType":"section","heading":"Power of chief executive to amend Gazetteer","content":"### sec.14A Power of chief executive to amend Gazetteer\n\nThe chief executive may amend the Gazetteer at any time to include—\na name of an excluded place; and\ninformation about a place, including an excluded place.\nThe chief executive may, at any time, omit an approved name of a place or information about a place from the Gazetteer if the chief executive is satisfied 1 or more of the following applies—\nfor a place that is a geographical feature—the place no longer exists;\nthe place has been given a name, other than an approved name, under another law of the State or the Commonwealth.\nThe chief executive may, at any time, amend the Gazetteer, including the boundaries or coordinates of a place shown in the Gazetteer, if the chief executive is satisfied—\nthe change is of a minor or technical nature; or\nthe amendment is necessary to correct the Gazetteer.\ns 14A ins 2024 No. 12 s 121\n(sec.14A-ssec.1) The chief executive may amend the Gazetteer at any time to include— a name of an excluded place; and information about a place, including an excluded place.\n(sec.14A-ssec.2) The chief executive may, at any time, omit an approved name of a place or information about a place from the Gazetteer if the chief executive is satisfied 1 or more of the following applies— for a place that is a geographical feature—the place no longer exists; the place has been given a name, other than an approved name, under another law of the State or the Commonwealth.\n(sec.14A-ssec.3) The chief executive may, at any time, amend the Gazetteer, including the boundaries or coordinates of a place shown in the Gazetteer, if the chief executive is satisfied— the change is of a minor or technical nature; or the amendment is necessary to correct the Gazetteer.\n- (a) a name of an excluded place; and\n- (b) information about a place, including an excluded place.\n- (a) for a place that is a geographical feature—the place no longer exists;\n- (b) the place has been given a name, other than an approved name, under another law of the State or the Commonwealth.\n- (a) the change is of a minor or technical nature; or\n- (b) the amendment is necessary to correct the Gazetteer.","sortOrder":21},{"sectionNumber":"pt.3","sectionType":"part","heading":"Offences and proceedings","content":"# Offences and proceedings","sortOrder":22},{"sectionNumber":"sec.15","sectionType":"section","heading":"Publishing unapproved place name","content":"### sec.15 Publishing unapproved place name\n\nA person must not, in trade or commerce—\npublish a document; or\nauthorise the publication in a document of an advertisement or statement;\nin which a name that is not an approved name of a place is represented as the place’s name.\nMaximum penalty—100 penalty units.\nSubsection (1) does not apply—\nif it is clear from the document, advertisement or statement that the name is not an approved name of the place or the place does not have an approved name; or\nif the document is a newspaper printed under the Printing and Newspapers Act 1981 —to the printer or publisher of the newspaper; or\nif the name is part of a business name.\nIn this section—\ntrade or commerce includes—\na business or professional activity; and\na single transaction for the sale of property.\ns 15 amd 2024 No. 12 s 122\n(sec.15-ssec.1) A person must not, in trade or commerce— publish a document; or authorise the publication in a document of an advertisement or statement; in which a name that is not an approved name of a place is represented as the place’s name. Maximum penalty—100 penalty units.\n(sec.15-ssec.2) Subsection (1) does not apply— if it is clear from the document, advertisement or statement that the name is not an approved name of the place or the place does not have an approved name; or if the document is a newspaper printed under the Printing and Newspapers Act 1981 —to the printer or publisher of the newspaper; or if the name is part of a business name.\n(sec.15-ssec.3) In this section— trade or commerce includes— a business or professional activity; and a single transaction for the sale of property.\n- (a) publish a document; or\n- (b) authorise the publication in a document of an advertisement or statement;\n- (a) if it is clear from the document, advertisement or statement that the name is not an approved name of the place or the place does not have an approved name; or\n- (b) if the document is a newspaper printed under the Printing and Newspapers Act 1981 —to the printer or publisher of the newspaper; or\n- (c) if the name is part of a business name.\n- (a) a business or professional activity; and\n- (b) a single transaction for the sale of property.","sortOrder":23},{"sectionNumber":"sec.16","sectionType":"section","heading":"Responsibility for acts or omissions of representatives","content":"### sec.16 Responsibility for acts or omissions of representatives\n\nThis sections applies in a proceeding for an offence against this Act.\nIf it is relevant to prove a person’s state of mind about a particular act or omission, it is enough to show—\nthe act was done or omitted to be done by a representative of the person within the scope of the representative’s actual or apparent authority; and\nthe representative had the state of mind.\nAn act done or omitted to be done for a person by a representative of the person within the scope of the representative’s actual or apparent authority is taken to have been done or omitted to be done also by the person, unless the person proves the person took all reasonable steps to prevent the act or omission.\nIn this section—\nexecutive officer , of a corporation, means a person who is concerned with, or takes part in, the corporation’s management, whether or not the person is a director or the person’s position is given the name of executive officer.\nrepresentative means—\nof a corporation—an executive officer, employee or agent of the corporation; or\nof an individual—an employee or agent of the individual.\nstate of mind , of a person, includes—\nthe person’s knowledge, intention, opinion, belief or purpose; and\nthe person’s reasons for the intention, opinion, belief or purpose.\ns 16 amd 2024 No. 12 s 123\n(sec.16-ssec.1) This sections applies in a proceeding for an offence against this Act.\n(sec.16-ssec.2) If it is relevant to prove a person’s state of mind about a particular act or omission, it is enough to show— the act was done or omitted to be done by a representative of the person within the scope of the representative’s actual or apparent authority; and the representative had the state of mind.\n(sec.16-ssec.3) An act done or omitted to be done for a person by a representative of the person within the scope of the representative’s actual or apparent authority is taken to have been done or omitted to be done also by the person, unless the person proves the person took all reasonable steps to prevent the act or omission.\n(sec.16-ssec.4) In this section— executive officer , of a corporation, means a person who is concerned with, or takes part in, the corporation’s management, whether or not the person is a director or the person’s position is given the name of executive officer. representative means— of a corporation—an executive officer, employee or agent of the corporation; or of an individual—an employee or agent of the individual. state of mind , of a person, includes— the person’s knowledge, intention, opinion, belief or purpose; and the person’s reasons for the intention, opinion, belief or purpose.\n- (a) the act was done or omitted to be done by a representative of the person within the scope of the representative’s actual or apparent authority; and\n- (b) the representative had the state of mind.\n- (a) of a corporation—an executive officer, employee or agent of the corporation; or\n- (b) of an individual—an employee or agent of the individual.\n- (a) the person’s knowledge, intention, opinion, belief or purpose; and\n- (b) the person’s reasons for the intention, opinion, belief or purpose.","sortOrder":24},{"sectionNumber":"sec.17","sectionType":"section","heading":null,"content":"### Section sec.17\n\ns 17 om 2013 No. 51 s 126","sortOrder":25},{"sectionNumber":"sec.18","sectionType":"section","heading":"Evidentiary provisions","content":"### sec.18 Evidentiary provisions\n\nThis section applies to a proceeding under this Act.\nA signature purporting to be the signature of the chief executive is evidence of the chief executive’s signature.\nA certificate purporting to be signed by the chief executive and stating any of the following matters is evidence of the matter—\non a stated day, or during a stated period, a stated name appeared, or did not appear, in the Gazetteer as the name of a place;\na document is a copy of the Gazetteer or a copy of part of the Gazetteer;\nthe boundaries of a place that has an approved name.\n(sec.18-ssec.1) This section applies to a proceeding under this Act.\n(sec.18-ssec.2) A signature purporting to be the signature of the chief executive is evidence of the chief executive’s signature.\n(sec.18-ssec.3) A certificate purporting to be signed by the chief executive and stating any of the following matters is evidence of the matter— on a stated day, or during a stated period, a stated name appeared, or did not appear, in the Gazetteer as the name of a place; a document is a copy of the Gazetteer or a copy of part of the Gazetteer; the boundaries of a place that has an approved name.\n- (a) on a stated day, or during a stated period, a stated name appeared, or did not appear, in the Gazetteer as the name of a place;\n- (b) a document is a copy of the Gazetteer or a copy of part of the Gazetteer;\n- (c) the boundaries of a place that has an approved name.","sortOrder":26},{"sectionNumber":"sec.18A","sectionType":"section","heading":"Rights or obligations not affected","content":"### sec.18A Rights or obligations not affected\n\nThe giving of a name to a place or the changing or discontinuing of an approved name of a place under this Act does not affect a right or obligation of any person.\nA legal proceeding may be started or continued in relation to the former or discontinued approved name of a place despite the exercise of a power under section 7 .\ns 18A ins 2024 No. 12 s 124\n(sec.18A-ssec.1) The giving of a name to a place or the changing or discontinuing of an approved name of a place under this Act does not affect a right or obligation of any person.\n(sec.18A-ssec.2) A legal proceeding may be started or continued in relation to the former or discontinued approved name of a place despite the exercise of a power under section 7 .","sortOrder":27},{"sectionNumber":"pt.4","sectionType":"part","heading":"Miscellaneous","content":"# Miscellaneous","sortOrder":28},{"sectionNumber":"sec.19","sectionType":"section","heading":"Protection from liability","content":"### sec.19 Protection from liability\n\nIn this section—\nofficial means—\nthe Minister; or\nthe chief executive; or\na person acting under the direction of the Minister or chief executive.\nAn official does not incur civil liability for an act done, or omission made, honestly and without negligence under this Act.\nIf subsection (2) prevents a civil liability attaching to an official, the liability attaches instead to the State.\n(sec.19-ssec.1) In this section— official means— the Minister; or the chief executive; or a person acting under the direction of the Minister or chief executive.\n(sec.19-ssec.2) An official does not incur civil liability for an act done, or omission made, honestly and without negligence under this Act.\n(sec.19-ssec.3) If subsection (2) prevents a civil liability attaching to an official, the liability attaches instead to the State.\n- (a) the Minister; or\n- (b) the chief executive; or\n- (c) a person acting under the direction of the Minister or chief executive.","sortOrder":29},{"sectionNumber":"sec.19A","sectionType":"section","heading":"Delegation by Minister","content":"### sec.19A Delegation by Minister\n\nThe Minister may delegate the Minister’s functions or powers under this Act to another Minister.\ns 19A ins 2024 No. 12 s 125","sortOrder":30},{"sectionNumber":"sec.20","sectionType":"section","heading":"Delegation by chief executive","content":"### sec.20 Delegation by chief executive\n\nThe chief executive may delegate the chief executive’s functions or powers under this Act to—\nthe chief executive of another department; or\nthe chief executive officer of a local government; or\nan appropriately qualified public service officer.\ns 20 sub 2024 No. 12 s 126\n- (a) the chief executive of another department; or\n- (b) the chief executive officer of a local government; or\n- (c) an appropriately qualified public service officer.","sortOrder":31},{"sectionNumber":"sec.21","sectionType":"section","heading":"Regulation making power","content":"### sec.21 Regulation making power\n\nThe Governor in Council may make regulations under this Act.","sortOrder":32},{"sectionNumber":"pt.5","sectionType":"part","heading":"Transitional provisions for Land and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2024","content":"# Transitional provisions for Land and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2024","sortOrder":33},{"sectionNumber":"sec.22","sectionType":"section","heading":"Existing proposals","content":"### sec.22 Existing proposals\n\nThis section applies if—\na proposal about a name of a place was developed by the Minister before the commencement; and\nimmediately before the commencement a decision about the proposal had been not made.\nThe Act , as in force immediately before the commencement, continues to apply to the proposal as if the Land and Other Legislation Amendment Act (No. 2) 2023 had not been enacted.\ns 22 prev s 22 exp 1 March 1996 (see s 28(2))\npres s 22 ins 2024 No. 12 s 127\n(sec.22-ssec.1) This section applies if— a proposal about a name of a place was developed by the Minister before the commencement; and immediately before the commencement a decision about the proposal had been not made.\n(sec.22-ssec.2) The Act , as in force immediately before the commencement, continues to apply to the proposal as if the Land and Other Legislation Amendment Act (No. 2) 2023 had not been enacted.\n- (a) a proposal about a name of a place was developed by the Minister before the commencement; and\n- (b) immediately before the commencement a decision about the proposal had been not made.","sortOrder":34},{"sectionNumber":"sec.23","sectionType":"section","heading":"Application of s 18A","content":"### sec.23 Application of s 18A\n\nSection 18A applies in relation to the giving of a name to a place or the changing or discontinuing of an approved name of a place, whether the giving of the name, change or discontinuation happened before or after the commencement.\ns 23 prev s 23 exp 1 March 1996 (see s 28(2))\npres s 23 ins 2024 No. 12 s 127","sortOrder":35},{"sectionNumber":"sec.24","sectionType":"section","heading":null,"content":"### Section sec.24\n\ns 24 exp 1 March 1996 (see s 28(2))","sortOrder":36},{"sectionNumber":"sec.25","sectionType":"section","heading":null,"content":"### Section sec.25\n\ns 25 exp 1 March 1996 (see s 28(2))","sortOrder":37},{"sectionNumber":"sec.26","sectionType":"section","heading":null,"content":"### Section sec.26\n\ns 26 exp 1 March 1995 (see s 28(1))","sortOrder":38},{"sectionNumber":"sec.27","sectionType":"section","heading":null,"content":"### Section sec.27\n\ns 27 exp 1 March 1995 (see s 28(1))","sortOrder":39},{"sectionNumber":"sec.28","sectionType":"section","heading":null,"content":"### Section sec.28\n\ns 28 exp 1 March 1996 (see s 28(2))","sortOrder":40}],"analysis":{"summary":{"complexity_score":5,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The Act has evolved beyond its original 1994 scope. The 2024 amendments introduced a more structured, rights-conscious framework — including explicit consideration of human rights, a formal requirement for the chief executive to recommend whether old names should continue as approved names during a transition period, and streamlined processes specifically for removing racist or offensive place names without full public consultation. These changes reflect a broader policy shift toward acknowledging Indigenous cultural significance and enabling name changes that address historical harm, which goes beyond the original administrative naming function."},"complexity_factors":["Multi-step decision-making process involving both the chief executive and the Minister, with conditional requirements at each stage","Multiple exceptions and carve-outs (e.g., excluded places, exemptions from public notice, exemptions from the offence provision)","Transitional provisions managing the coexistence of old and new names for up to 5 years (with a possible extension), requiring ongoing Gazetteer management","Cross-references to multiple other Queensland statutes (Transport Operations Act, Financial Accountability Act, Human Rights Act, Anti-Discrimination Act, Printing and Newspapers Act)","The 'place naming issues' framework involves a broad, open-ended list of considerations that give significant discretion to decision-makers","Recent 2024 amendments significantly restructured the decision-making process (adding sections 10A, 10B, 11A, 14A, 18A, 19A), meaning the current Act differs substantially from earlier versions and contains transitional provisions to manage the changeover","Corporate liability provisions (vicarious liability for representatives) add legal nuance that is non-obvious to laypeople"],"plain_english_summary":"## What is this law about?\n\nThe **Place Names Act 1994** (Queensland) is the law that controls how geographical places in Queensland — like suburbs, mountains, lakes, bays, and islands — get their official names. Think of it as the rulebook for naming the landscape.\n\n## Who runs the show?\n\nThe **Minister** (a senior government official) has the power to:\n- Give a new name to a place\n- Change an existing official name\n- Remove (discontinue) an official name\n\nThe **chief executive** (a senior public servant in the relevant department) does the behind-the-scenes work: developing proposals, consulting the public, and maintaining the official register of place names.\n\n## What is the Gazetteer?\n\nThe **Gazetteer of Place Names** is the official register — like a master list — of all approved place names in Queensland. If a name is in the Gazetteer, it's the official name. The chief executive must keep it updated and publish it online.\n\n## What places does this cover?\n\nThe law covers most natural and man-made geographical areas and features — but **not** roads, canals in housing developments, buildings, dam walls, local government wards, ports, electoral districts, or places named under other laws. Those are excluded.\n\n## How does naming (or renaming) actually work?\n\n1. **Proposal developed**: The chief executive develops a proposal, considering factors like Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander traditions, cultural significance, community views, costs to businesses, human rights requirements, and international naming conventions.\n\n2. **Public notice**: Usually, a public notice must be published in the official government gazette (a formal government publication) and at least one other way (website, online newspaper, or local paper). The public gets at least one month to make submissions.\n\n3. **Exceptions to public notice**: No public notice is needed if the change is minor/technical, the name is offensive or racist, the community impact is minimal, or adequate consultation already happened.\n\n4. **Recommendation**: The chief executive gives the Minister a formal recommendation.\n\n5. **Minister decides**: The Minister considers all the issues and makes a final call, which is published in the gazette.\n\n## What happens to old names when a place is renamed?\n\nWhen a place is renamed, the old name doesn't have to disappear immediately. The Minister can allow the **old name to keep working as an approved name for up to 5 years** alongside the new one — to give businesses and community members time to adjust. This period can be extended once for up to another 5 years.\n\n## Removing offensive names\n\nThe law specifically allows offensive, racist, or sexist place names to be changed **without** going through the full public consultation process — and without needing to wait if further consultation would cause distress to affected communities (including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities).\n\n## Is there an offence?\n\nYes — businesses and professionals **cannot** publish documents or advertisements that use an unofficial name as if it were the official name of a place. The penalty is up to **100 penalty units** (currently around $15,300 in Queensland). Exemptions apply if it's clearly flagged as unofficial, it's part of a business name, or it appears in a newspaper.\n\n## Does renaming affect your legal rights?\n\nNo. If a place gets renamed, your contracts, property rights, or legal proceedings tied to the old name are **not affected**. Legal cases can continue using the old name.\n\n## Who is protected from being sued?\n\nThe Minister, chief executive, and their staff cannot be personally sued for decisions made honestly and without negligence under this Act. If liability arises, it falls on the **State of Queensland** instead."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The legislation has evolved significantly from its original 1994 form. The 2024 amendments (Land and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2024) substantially expanded the procedural requirements, inserting new mandatory recommendation processes (sections 10A-10B), dual naming transition periods (sections 11(3) and 11A), and explicit human rights and anti-discrimination compliance requirements. The original Act appears to have been a simpler administrative mechanism for maintaining a gazetteer; the current version is a more complex cultural heritage and community consultation framework with specific protections for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and detailed transitional naming arrangements."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple defined terms (9 definitions in section 3, with several cross-references to other Acts including the Financial Accountability Act 2009 and Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act 1995)","Nested conditional logic in sections 8-11 regarding when public consultation is required, when dual naming periods apply, and the interaction between chief executive recommendations and Ministerial decisions","Exceptions to the general rule requiring public notice (section 10) including subjective assessments like 'distressing to a community' or 'not likely to be of substantial interest'","Multiple publication requirements with alternative pathways (gazette plus website/newspaper options)","Recent substantial amendments (2024) inserting new sections 10A, 10B, 11A and reworking sections 8, 9, 10, 11, creating transitional provisions in Part 5","Cross-references between sections 6, 8, 10A, 11 and 11A regarding which 'place naming issues' must or may be considered at different stages","Delegated legislative power allowing regulations to prescribe additional 'excluded places' beyond the 7 categories listed in section 4"],"plain_english_summary":"This Queensland law sets up the official system for naming geographic places—everything from mountains and rivers to suburbs and islands. It establishes who has the power to name places, change existing names, or scrap names entirely, and lays out a public consultation process for doing so.\n\n**Key things the Act does:**\n\n- **Creates an official register** called the Gazetteer of Place Names, which records every approved place name in Queensland along with its boundaries or coordinates.\n\n- **Gives the Minister power** to give names to new places, change existing approved names, or discontinue names that are no longer wanted.\n\n- **Requires public consultation** for most naming decisions. The chief executive must publish a notice inviting public submissions, unless the proposal is minor, technical, or involves removing a name that is racist, sexist, or distressing to communities (particularly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples).\n\n- **Protects community interests** by requiring decision-makers to consider Aboriginal tradition and Island custom, cultural and historical significance, whether names are offensive, and the costs to businesses and residents of changing names.\n\n- **Allows dual naming for transitional periods**—when a name is changed, the old name can remain officially recognised for up to 5 years (extendable by another 5 years) to help communities and businesses adjust.\n\n- **Makes it an offence** for businesses to publish unapproved place names in trade or commerce (with fines up to 100 penalty units), though there are exceptions for newspapers and business names.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- Queensland government departments and local councils involved in mapping, planning, and addressing\n- Businesses using place names in advertising or official documents\n- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities seeking recognition of traditional names\n- Any community group wanting to change an offensive or inappropriate place name\n\n**Why it matters:**\nPlace names carry cultural, historical, and practical weight. This law ensures naming decisions aren't made arbitrarily—they must go through proper process, respect Indigenous heritage, consider community views, and balance practical concerns like business costs against cultural significance."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":5,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The Act as presented incorporates amendments that expand administrative and record‑keeping scope and clarify digital publication and transitional arrangements. Notable scope changes include: (1) specification of 'relevant website' and electronic publication options for notices and decisions (sections 3 definition of 'relevant website', 9, 11), (2) formal statutory provision for temporary continuation of existing approved names for up to 5 years and a single extension of up to 5 years (sections 8(3), 11, 11A), (3) explicit exceptions allowing the chief executive to avoid public consultation where publication would cause distress or where matters are minor or technical (section 10), and (4) an express power for the chief executive to amend the Gazetteer to include excluded places or make minor technical corrections at any time (section 14A). These amendments increase executive discretion over consultation and record maintenance and broaden permitted publication methods compared with a simpler, strictly Gazette‑centred regime (sections 9, 12, 14, 14A)."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple decisionmakers with divided roles: chief executive develops proposals and maintains the Gazetteer; the Minister has final decision power and can require publication (sections 7, 8, 10A, 10B, 11).","Detailed publication and consultation regime with specific exceptions and minimum timeframes (sections 9–10, 10B, 11).","Broad, partly open‑ended list of 'place naming issues' to be considered, combined with a general ability to consider other issues (section 6; sections 8, 11 require 'have regard to' and allow other considerations).","Administrative discretion over sensitive cases (no publication if consultation risks distress) and over technical Gazetteer amendments (sections 10, 14A).","Statutory offence and penalty in a commercial context with specific defences and scope definitions (trade or commerce), creating compliance obligations for private actors (section 15).","Transitional and temporal rules (continuation of existing names for up to 5 years, one extension possible) introduce phased effects and require record‑keeping tied to dates (sections 8(3), 11, 11A, 14).","Evidentiary and liability allocations (chief executive certificates, official immunity with State substitution) affect legal processes and risk allocation (sections 18, 19).","Delegation powers for both Minister and chief executive broaden who can exercise functions, adding operational complexity (sections 19A, 20)."],"plain_english_summary":"# What the Place Names Act 1994 does (plain English)\n\n- Mechanical change first: The Act sets out a formal administrative process for giving a name to a geographic area or feature, changing an existing approved name, or discontinuing an approved name (Minister’s powers) (section 7). It creates a public register called the Gazetteer of Place Names that the chief executive must keep and publish online (sections 12, 14). The Act also creates procedural steps: the chief executive may develop a proposal (section 8), must normally publish a notice inviting submissions (section 9) unless an exception applies (section 10), must make a recommendation to the Minister (section 10A), and the Minister must not decide until that recommendation is received (section 11). If the Minister decides to change or discontinue a name, the chief executive updates the Gazetteer on the stated effective day (section 14). The Minister may allow an existing name to remain as an approved name for up to 5 years, and may extend that period once by up to 5 years (sections 8(3), 11, 11A).\n\n- Official purpose-claims in the Act: the statutory process is to ensure place naming decisions take account of a defined list of \"place naming issues\" (for example, Aboriginal tradition and Island custom, cultural and historical significance, community views, socio‑economic effects and lawful requirements such as human rights and anti‑discrimination) (section 6). The Act therefore frames naming as an administrative decision that should consider those listed factors (sections 6, 8, 11).\n\n- How the Act operates in practice and who does what:\n  - The Minister has the final legal power to give, change or discontinue an approved place name (section 7). The Minister also decides whether to require publication of a proposal that the chief executive considered not necessary to publish (section 10B).\n  - The chief executive prepares proposals, must have regard to the listed place naming issues, publishes notices in the Gazette and at least one other specified medium (for example a relevant website or a regional newspaper), summarises submissions and recommends to the Minister (sections 8–10A). The chief executive also keeps and updates the Gazetteer and publishes it on a Queensland government website (sections 12, 14).\n  - Delegation is authorised: the Minister may delegate to another Minister (section 19A) and the chief executive may delegate to other agency heads or qualified officers (section 20).\n\n- Who pays and who bears costs:\n  - Businesses and members of the community may incur costs if an approved name is changed or discontinued (the Act requires consideration of likely costs to businesses and community members as a place naming issue) (section 6(g)).\n  - Publishers, advertisers and businesses must take care when using place names in trade or commerce: representing a non‑approved name as the approved name can attract a penalty (maximum 100 penalty units) unless the document makes clear the name is not approved, the name is part of a business name, or other limited exceptions apply (section 15). That creates a compliance cost and risk for commercial users of place names.\n\n- Discretion, compliance burden and implementation risks:\n  - The chief executive and Minister have significant discretionary judgement: they must \"have regard to\" specified factors but may also consider any other issues they think appropriate (sections 8, 11). The exception allowing non‑publication of a proposal where publication would cause distress (for example to Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander communities) gives administrative discretion to avoid public consultation in sensitive cases (section 10).\n  - Publication methods include electronic publication and regional newspapers; the Minister can approve other methods as appropriate, which shifts some of the administrative choice about how the public is informed to executive decision‑making (section 9).\n  - The ability for the chief executive to amend the Gazetteer at any time for excluded places or to correct minor technical matters centralises record‑keeping authority in the chief executive (section 14A), which reduces formality for some changes but concentrates responsibility for accuracy in the agency.\n  - The Act protects officials from civil liability for honest and non‑negligent acts or omissions, with any prevented liability attaching to the State instead (section 19). That allocation affects the legal risk officials face for decisions.\n\n- Trade‑offs and likely behavioural effects:\n  - The process formalises state control over approved place names and establishes penalties for commercial misrepresentation, which will encourage businesses and publishers to check the Gazetteer or otherwise qualify use of non‑approved names (sections 12, 14, 15).\n  - The Minister’s power to permit a transitional continuation of an existing name for up to 5 years (and a one‑time extension) is a mechanism to reduce immediate disruption from name changes (sections 8(3), 11, 11A). This creates a time‑limited accommodation that firms and residents can rely on while they adjust, but it also imposes future adjustment costs when that transitional period ends.\n  - Exceptions allowing omission of public consultation on sensitive or minor matters (section 10) reduce the administrative burden and potential distress from consultation, but increase the degree of executive discretion and reduce public participation in some cases.\n\n- Direct legal effects to note:\n  - The Gazetteer is the official register; entries must include boundaries or coordinates where names are approved (section 14).\n  - Naming changes do not extinguish rights or obligations: legal rights tied to a former or discontinued name continue and legal proceedings relating to former names may be started or continued despite the change (section 18A).\n\nIn short: the Act creates a state‑run administrative process and public register for official place names, prescribes consultation and publication steps (with specified exceptions), allocates decision‑making between a chief executive (proposal development and Gazetteer management) and the Minister (final decisions), sets a compliance regime for commercial use of place names, and provides protections and delegations for officials (sections 7–20)."},"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[{"type":"circular_definition","section":"sec.4(2)(f) and sec.4(1)","severity":"medium","reasoning":"Section 4(1) defines 'place' as an area or geographical feature other than an excluded place. Section 4(2)(f) defines an excluded place as 'a place given a name under another law'. The word 'place' in s.4(2)(f) must be interpreted to mean something, but the only statutory definition of 'place' excludes excluded places. The definition thus bootstraps itself: to know what is an excluded place you need to know what a place is, but what a place is depends on what is not an excluded place.","confidence":0.72,"description":"Circular definition: a 'place' is defined as anything other than an 'excluded place', but an excluded place includes 'a place given a name under another law of the State or the Commonwealth'. The word 'place' in the excluded place definition must take its meaning from somewhere, yet the only definition of 'place' in the Act is circular — it is defined by reference to what is not an excluded place."},{"type":"other","section":"sec.10(1)(b) and sec.10(1)(c)","severity":"low","reasoning":"The legislature treats an offensive name as sufficiently serious to bypass consultation (implying high community interest), yet elsewhere allows bypass where there is low community interest. These are not mutually exclusive but they rest on contradictory assumptions about what makes consultation unnecessary.","confidence":0.55,"description":"Paradox of community interest in name-change bypass: the Act exempts a proposal from public consultation if it relates to changing a name that is 'distressing' or 'derogatory, racist or sexist' (s.10(1)(b)), and also if the proposal 'is not likely to be of substantial interest to the community' (s.10(1)(c)). However, a proposal to remove a racist or offensive place name is by definition likely to be of substantial community interest, meaning s.10(1)(c) would not assist, while s.10(1)(b) is needed. This is not a contradiction per se, but the two grounds operate on opposite assumptions about community interest, creating an internal logical tension about when consultation can be skipped."},{"type":"impossible_compliance","section":"sec.10(1)(b) and sec.6(2)(e)","severity":"medium","reasoning":"Section 8(2)(a) requires the chief executive to 'must have regard to the stated place naming issues' when developing a proposal, and s.6(2)(e) lists 'community views' as a stated place naming issue. However, s.10(1)(b) allows skipping the only formal mechanism (s.9 notice) by which community views would be systematically gathered. The chief executive must have regard to something it has been permitted not to collect.","confidence":0.7,"description":"Skipping community consultation for community-affecting decisions: s.10(1)(b) allows the chief executive to bypass public consultation when a name is 'distressing to a community'. Yet s.6(2)(e) mandates that 'community views' are a stated place naming issue that must be considered. If there is no consultation, community views cannot be properly gathered, yet they must be considered. The bypass mechanism thus makes mandatory consideration of community views practically impossible."},{"type":"self_contradicting","section":"sec.14A(2)(b)","severity":"high","reasoning":"Section 7 gives the Minister (not the chief executive) the exclusive power to discontinue an approved name, subject to the procedural safeguards in ss.8–11. Section 14A(2) gives the chief executive an independent power to omit an approved name from the Gazetteer without any Ministerial decision. Since the definition of 'approved name' in s.3 is a name appearing in the Gazetteer, removing it from the Gazetteer is functionally equivalent to discontinuing it, circumventing the Ministerial and procedural requirements in Part 2.","confidence":0.82,"description":"The chief executive may unilaterally omit an approved name from the Gazetteer — without Ministerial decision — when a place has been 'given a name, other than an approved name, under another law'. This effectively allows the chief executive to extinguish an approved name administratively, bypassing the full Ministerial process in ss.7–11 that is expressly required for discontinuing approved names."},{"type":"other","section":"sec.11A(5) and sec.11A(2)","severity":"low","reasoning":"The policy of the Act is to balance community sensitivity, historical significance and socio-economic costs. A rigid one-extension cap irrespective of circumstances is logically inconsistent with these flexible policy objectives, though it is a permissible policy choice rather than a strict legal absurdity.","confidence":0.5,"description":"The extension period mechanism is absurd in its rigidity: the Minister may extend the transitional period for an old name to remain in use by 'no more than 5 years after the period ends' (s.11A(2)), but the extension may only be made once (s.11A(5)). This means a maximum total transitional period of 10 years is available, but if circumstances change after the one permitted extension, no further relief is possible regardless of community need — creating an arbitrary hard cut-off inconsistent with the flexible, community-sensitive policy goals stated throughout the Act."},{"type":"other","section":"sec.22(2)","severity":"medium","reasoning":"The heading of Part 5 says 'Transitional provisions for Land and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2024', but s.22(2) saves the pre-amendment law 'as if the Land and Other Legislation Amendment Act (No. 2) 2023 had not been enacted'. If the major amendments were made by the 2024 Act, the transitional provision should reference that Act, not the 2023 Act. This creates uncertainty about which legislative instrument's amendments are being grandfathered.","confidence":0.75,"description":"Section 22(2) preserves the old Act for proposals developed before commencement 'as if the Land and Other Legislation Amendment Act (No. 2) 2023 had not been enacted', but the amending Act referenced in the gazette annotation is the 2024 No. 12 Act (Land and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2024). The transitional provision refers to a 2023 Act while the Part 5 heading refers to 'Land and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2024', suggesting a drafting error or reference to the wrong amending instrument."},{"type":"other","section":"sec.15(2)(b)","severity":"low","reasoning":"The exemption for newspaper printers/publishers is absolute — it does not require ignorance or good faith. A person could direct a newspaper to publish an unapproved place name and escape liability under s.15(2)(b), while the same person could be caught if they published the same content via a website or brochure. This produces an arbitrary distinction based on publication medium rather than culpability.","confidence":0.6,"description":"The offence provision in s.15 exempts the 'printer or publisher of the newspaper' from liability for publishing unapproved place names in a newspaper printed under the Printing and Newspapers Act 1981, yet s.5 declares the Act binds all persons. The blanket exemption for newspaper publishers is not predicated on the publisher being unaware of the unapproved name, creating a structural incentive for offenders to use newspaper publication as a shield."},{"type":"other","section":"sec.9(4)","severity":"low","reasoning":"The one-month period runs from gazette publication only, but the public may first encounter the notice on a website. If the gazette publishes last, the submission deadline could effectively be less than one month from when the public first became aware. If the gazette publishes first, website publication is redundant for timing purposes. The Act does not address synchronisation of publication dates.","confidence":0.55,"description":"The Act requires the submission deadline to be 'at least 1 month after the day the notice is published in the gazette' but permits additional publication on websites and electronic newspapers. If the gazette publication is delayed relative to other publications, persons relying on those other publications could face an effectively shorter submission window than the statutory minimum, or receive notice of the deadline before the gazette notice triggers the one-month clock."}],"contradictions":[{"severity":"high","section_a":"sec.7(1) and sec.7(2)","section_b":"sec.14A(2)","confidence":0.82,"description":"Section 7(1) gives only the Minister power to discontinue an approved name, subject to the procedures in ss.8–11. Section 14A(2) gives the chief executive power to omit an approved name from the Gazetteer (which, per the definition of 'approved name' in s.3, is functionally equivalent to discontinuing it) without any Ministerial involvement, on the chief executive's unilateral satisfaction that a place no longer exists or has been named under another law."},{"severity":"medium","section_a":"sec.8(2)(a)","section_b":"sec.10(1)","confidence":0.7,"description":"Section 8(2)(a) requires the chief executive to 'must have regard to the stated place naming issues' when developing any proposal, which includes 'community views' under s.6(2)(e). Section 10(1) permits the chief executive to bypass the only mechanism for gathering community views (the s.9 notice and submissions process) in certain cases. These provisions are in tension: mandatory consideration of community views is undermined by the permitted exemption from the process of gathering them."},{"severity":"low","section_a":"sec.11(2)(c)","section_b":"sec.11(2)(a)","confidence":0.55,"description":"Section 11(2)(a) requires the Minister to 'must have regard to the stated place naming issues' in exercising naming powers, while s.11(2)(c) says the Minister 'may have regard to' the chief executive's recommendation. The recommendation under s.10A is the primary vehicle by which stated place naming issues are synthesised and presented. Making the recommendation merely optional while making the issues themselves mandatory creates a structural tension — the Minister can ignore the synthesis of mandatory considerations while still claiming to have regard to the raw issues."},{"severity":"high","section_a":"sec.3 def 'approved name'","section_b":"sec.14A(2)","confidence":0.8,"description":"An 'approved name' is defined as a name appearing in the Gazetteer. Section 14A(2) allows the chief executive to remove a name from the Gazetteer on administrative grounds, which by operation of the definition instantly converts an approved name into an unapproved name. This creates a contradiction with s.7, which requires a Ministerial decision to discontinue an approved name — the same legal outcome is achievable by two different actors under two different procedures with no reconciling provision."},{"severity":"low","section_a":"sec.19A","section_b":"sec.20","confidence":0.6,"description":"Section 19A allows the Minister to delegate only to 'another Minister', while s.20 allows the chief executive to delegate to the chief executive of another department, a local government CEO, or a public service officer. The Minister's delegation power is far more restricted than the chief executive's, meaning that in practice the chief executive can spread decision-making authority more widely than the Minister who is the primary decision-maker under the Act. This inversion of the normal hierarchy of delegation authority is anomalous."},{"severity":"low","section_a":"sec.10(1)(d)(i)","section_b":"sec.10(1)(d)(ii)","confidence":0.5,"description":"Section 10(1)(d) applies 'if the proposal has already been subject to public consultation'. Sub-paragraph (i) allows bypassing further consultation if it 'was adequate', while sub-paragraph (ii) allows bypass if further consultation 'is likely to cause substantial distress'. These two grounds are logically independent but are both predicated on prior consultation having occurred. If prior consultation was adequate (ground (i)), there is no logical reason to also need ground (ii) — and if prior consultation caused distress, it may not have been 'adequate'. The two sub-paragraphs implicitly contradict each other's assumptions about the quality of prior consultation."}]},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/place-names-act-1994","history":"/api/acts/place-names-act-1994/history","analysis":"/api/acts/place-names-act-1994/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/place-names-act-1994/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/place-names-act-1994/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/place-names-act-1994/documents"}}