{"id":"BILL-QLD-transport-affordability-amendment-bill-2026","name":"Transport Affordability Amendment Bill 2026","slug":"transport-affordability-amendment-bill-2026","collection":"bill","jurisdiction":"qld","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":"2026-01-01","administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":446078,"registerId":"BILL-QLD-transport-affordability-amendment-bill-2026:current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-01-01","status":"in_force","reasons":null,"registeredAt":"2026-05-06T12:45:11.386Z"},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"retrieval-0001","sectionType":"document_chunk","heading":"Document excerpt 1","content":"# Transport Affordability Amendment Bill 2026\n\nQueensland\nTransport Affordability\nAmendment Bill 2026\n\nQueensland\nTransport Affordability Amendment Bill\n2026\nContents\nPage\nPart 1 Preliminary\n1 Short title . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4\n2 Commencement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4\nPart 2 Amendment of Fair Trading Act 1989\n3 Act amended . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4\n4 Amendment of s 5 (Definitions) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4\n5 Insertion of new pt 3C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5\nPart 3C Fairer fuel pricing\nDivision 1 Preliminary\n74 Application of part . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5\n75 Definitions for part . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5\nDivision 2 Notices and pricing limitations\n76 Requirement to give daily fuel price notices . . . . . . . 6\n77 No increase in fuel price during relevant period . . . . 7\n78 Reduced price—requirement to give reduced price notice\nduring relevant period . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7\n79 Limiting fuel price increase between relevant periods 8\nPart 3 Amendment of Fair Trading (Fuel Price Board) Regulation 2017\n6 Regulation amended . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9\n7 Amendment of s 5 (Display of increase in normal fuel price) . . . 9\n8 Amendment of s 6 (Display of decrease in normal fuel price) . . . 9\n9 Amendment of sch 1 (Dictionary) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9\nPart 4 Amendment of Fair Trading (Fuel Price Reporting) Regulation 2018\n10 Regulation amended . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10\n11 Amendment of s 3 (Definitions) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10\n12 Amendment of s 5 (Application of division) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10\n\nContents\nTransport Affordability Amendment Bill 2026\nPage 2\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n13 Replacement of s 6 (Reporting information using aggregation system)\n. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10\n6 Reporting information using aggregation system . . . 10\n14 Amendment of s 7 (Reporting for fuel temporarily unavailable) . 11\n15 Amendment of s 8 (Defences for failing to comply) . . . . . . . . . . . 11\nPart 5 Amendment of Transport Operations (Passenger Transport) Act\n1994\n16 Act amended . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11\n17 Insertion of new s 145 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11\n145 Legislative Assembly to approve particular fare changes 11\n\n2026\nA Bill\nfor\nAn Act to amend the Fair Trading Act 1989, the Fair Trading\n(Fuel Price Board) Regulation 2017, the Fair Trading (Fuel Price\nReporting) Regulation 2018 and the Transport Operations\n(Passenger Transport) Act 1994 for particular purposes\n\n[s 1]\nTransport Affordability Amendment Bill 2026\nPart 1 Preliminary\nPage 4\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\nThe Parliament of Queensland enacts—\nPart 1 Preliminary\n1 Short title\nThis Act may be cited as the Transport Affordability\nAmendment Act 2026.\n2 Commencement\nParts 2 to 4 commence on the day that is 6 months after the\ndate of assent or on an earlier day fixed by proclamation.\nPart 2 Amendment of Fair Trading Act\n1989\n3 Act amended\nThis part amends the Fair Trading Act 1989.\n4 Amendment of s 5 (Definitions)\nSection 5—\ninsert—\nfuel see section 75.\nfuel price, for a type of fuel, see section 75.\nfuel price notice see section 76(1).\nfuel retailer see section 74.\nreduced price see section 78(1).\nreduced price notice see section 78(2).\n1\n2\nClause 3\n4\n5\nClause 6\n7\n8\n9\n10\nClause 11\n12\nClause 13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n\nPage 5\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 5]\nTransport Affordability Amendment Bill 2026\nPart 2 Amendment of Fair Trading Act 1989\nrelevant period, for a fuel price notice given to the\ncommissioner by a fuel retailer, see section 75.\nservice station see section 75.\nstated price, for a fuel price notice, for part 3C,\nsee section 76(1)(a).\n5 Insertion of new pt 3C\nAfter part 3B—\ninsert—\nPart 3C Fairer fuel pricing\nDivision 1 Preliminary\n74 Application of part\nThis part applies to a person (a fuel retailer) who,\nin the course of business, offers a type of fuel for\nretail sale at a service station.\n75 Definitions for part\nIn this part—\nfuel means—\n(a) fuel within the meaning of the Fuel Quality\nStandards Act 2000 (Cwlth); or\n(b) hydrogen.\nfuel price, for a type of fuel, means the price at\nwhich fuel of that type is available for retail sale\nwithout any discount being applied in any way.\nfuel price notice see section 76(1).\nfuel retailer see section 74.\nreduced price see section 78(1).\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\nClause 6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n\nPage 6\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 5]\nTransport Affordability Amendment Bill 2026\nPart 2 Amendment of Fair Trading Act 1989\nreduced price notice see section 78(2).\nrelevant period, for a fuel price notice given to the\ncommissioner by a fuel retailer, means the\n24-hour period—\n(a) starting at the beginning of the day after the\nnotice was given; and\n(b) ending at the end of the day after the notice\nwas given.\nservice station means a place where fuel is\nsupplied for retail sale, other than a place where\nthe primary business being conducted is the\nhiring, leasing or selling of motor vehicles.\nstated price, for a fuel price notice, see section\n76(1)(a).\nDivision 2 Notices and pricing\nlimitations\n76 Requirement to give daily fuel price notices\n(1) The fuel retailer must, at the time mentioned in\nsubsection (2), give the commissioner a written\nnotice (a fuel price notice) stating the following\nmatters—\n(a) the price (the stated price) at which the type\nof fuel will be offered for retail sale, without\na discount being applied in any way, during\nthe relevant period for the notice;\n(b) the relevant period;\n(c) the fuel retailer’s name;\n(d) the address of the service station at which\nthe fuel will be offered for sale;\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n\nPage 7\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 5]\nTransport Affordability Amendment Bill 2026\nPart 2 Amendment of Fair Trading Act 1989\n(e) if applicable, the trading name of the service\nstation at which the fuel will be offered for\nsale.\nMaximum penalty—20 penalty units.\n(2) The fuel price notice must be given no later than\n2p.m. on the day before the fuel retailer offers the\ntype of fuel for retail sale.\n77 No increase in fuel price during relevant\nperiod\n(1) This section applies during the relevant period for\na fuel price notice, for the type of fuel, given to the\ncommissioner by the fuel retailer.\n(2) The fuel retailer must not offer the type of fuel for\nretail sale at a price, whether or not a discount is\napplied in any way, that is more than the lower of\nthe following amounts—\n(a) the stated price;\n(b) if the fuel retailer gives the commissioner a\nreduced price notice—the reduced price or,\nif more than 1 reduced price notices is given\nto the commissioner, the lowest reduced\nprice.\nMaximum penalty—20 penalty units.\n78 Reduced price—requirement to give reduced\nprice notice during relevant period\n(1) This section applies if, during the relevant period\nfor a fuel price notice, the fuel retailer offers fuel\nfor retail sale, without a discount being applied in\nany way, at a price (a reduced price) that is less\nthan—\n(a) the stated price; or\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n31\n\nPage 8\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 5]\nTransport Affordability Amendment Bill 2026\nPart 2 Amendment of Fair Trading Act 1989\n(b) if the fuel retailer gives the commissioner a\nreduced price notice—the price stated in the\nreduced price notice.\n(2) The fuel retailer must, within 30 minutes after the\nretailer offers the fuel for sale at the reduced price,\ngive the commissioner a written notice (a reduced\nprice notice) stating the following matters—\n(a) the reduced price;\n(b) the fuel retailer’s name;\n(c) the address of the service station at which\nthe fuel will be offered for sale at the\nreduced price;\n(d) if applicable, the trading name of the service\nstation at which the fuel will be offered for\nsale at the reduced price.\nMaximum penalty—20 penalty units.\n79 Limiting fuel price increase between relevant\nperiods\nThe fuel retailer must not state, in a fuel price\nnotice, a price that represents an increase of more\nthan 5c/L from—\n(a) the price stated in the previous fuel price\nnotice given by the fuel retailer for the same\ntype of fuel; or\n(b) if, during the relevant period for the fuel\nprice notice mentioned in paragraph (a), the\nfuel retailer gave the commissioner a\nreduced price notice—the reduced price, or\nif more than 1 reduced price notice was\ngiven to the commissioner, the lowest\nreduced price.\nMaximum penalty—20 penalty units.\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n31\n32\n\nPage 9\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 6]\nTransport Affordability Amendment Bill 2026\nPart 3 Amendment of Fair Trading (Fuel Price Board) Regulation 2017\nPart 3 Amendment of Fair Trading\n(Fuel Price Board) Regulation\n2017\n6 Regulation amended\nThis part amends the Fair Trading (Fuel Price Board)\nRegulation 2017.\n7 Amendment of s 5 (Display of increase in normal fuel\nprice)\nSection 5, ‘normal’—\nomit.\n8 Amendment of s 6 (Display of decrease in normal fuel\nprice)\nSection 6, ‘normal’—\nomit.\n9 Amendment of sch 1 (Dictionary)\n(1) Schedule 1, definitions fuel, fuel retailer, normal fuel price\nand service station—\nomit.\n(2) Schedule 1, definition fuel pump display, ‘normal’—\nomit.\n1\n2\n3\nClause 4\n5\n6\nClause 7\n8\n9\n10\nClause 11\n12\n13\n14\nClause 15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n\nPage 10\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 10]\nTransport Affordability Amendment Bill 2026\nPart 4 Amendment of Fair Trading (Fuel Price Reporting) Regulation 2018\nPart 4 Amendment of Fair Trading\n(Fuel Price Reporting)\nRegulation 2018\n10 Regulation amended\nThis part amends the Fair Trading (Fuel Price Reporting)\nRegulation 2018.\n11 Amendment of s 3 (Definitions)\nSection 3, definitions fuel, normal fuel price, responsible fuel\nretailer and service station—\nomit.\n12 Amendment of s 5 (Application of division)\nSection 5, ‘responsible’—\nomit.\n13 Replacement of s 6 (Reporting information using\naggregation system)\nSection 6—\nomit, insert—\n6 Reporting information using aggregation\nsystem\n(1) This section applies if a fuel retailer gives the\ncommissioner either of the following (each a\nnotice)—\n(a) a fuel price notice;\n(b) a reduced price notice.\n(2) The fuel retailer must ensure the information\nstated in the notice is entered into the aggregation\nsystem within the period mentioned in subsection\n1\n2\n3\nClause 4\n5\n6\nClause 7\n8\n9\n10\nClause 11\n12\n13\nClause 14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n\nPage 11\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 14]\nTransport Affordability Amendment Bill 2026\nPart 5 Amendment of Transport Operations (Passenger Transport) Act 1994\n(3).\nMaximum penalty—20 penalty units.\n(3) The period for subsection (2) is 30 minutes after\nthe notice is given to the commissioner.\n14 Amendment of s 7 (Reporting for fuel temporarily\nunavailable)\nSection 7(2), ‘responsible’—\nomit.\n15 Amendment of s 8 (Defences for failing to comply)\nSection 8, ‘responsible’—\nomit.\nPart 5 Amendment of Transport\nOperations (Passenger\nTransport) Act 1994\n16 Act amended\nThis part amends the Transport Operations (Passenger\nTransport) Act 1994.\n17 Insertion of new s 145\nAfter section 144—\ninsert—\n145 Legislative Assembly to approve particular\nfare changes\n(1) This section applies if the chief executive\nproposes to change a fare for the use of a 50c\nservice.\n1\n2\n3\n4\nClause 5\n6\n7\n8\nClause 9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\nClause 15\n16\n17\nClause 18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n\nPage 12\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 17]\nTransport Affordability Amendment Bill 2026\nPart 5 Amendment of Transport Operations (Passenger Transport) Act 1994\n(2) The chief executive may change the fare for the\nuse of the 50c service only if the Legislative\nAssembly has, on a motion of which at least 28\ndays notice has been given, passed a resolution\napproving the change of fare.\n(3) In this section—\n50c service means a general route service\nprovided under a service contract for which the\nfare at the commencement is 50c.\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"summary":{"status_summary":"The Bill has been introduced in the Queensland Legislative Assembly and referred to a committee for further examination.","complexity_score":5,"likely_questions":["What is a '50c service' and which bus routes does it cover?","How will the 5c/L cap between daily notices affect fuel prices during wholesale cost spikes?","What happens if a retailer accidentally fails to give a reduced price notice within 30 minutes?","Are there any exemptions for small or independent fuel retailers?","When exactly will the fuel pricing rules start if no earlier proclamation is made?"],"complexity_factors":["Amends four separate pieces of legislation with interconnected definitions and reporting obligations","Introduces a new daily price notice requirement with a 24-hour freeze and a 5c/L increase cap between periods","Includes a parliamentary approval mechanism for a specific public transport fare, adding a political process to administrative decisions","Multiple commencement provisions: Parts 2-4 commence six months after assent or earlier by proclamation; Part 5 commencement not specified but presumably on assent","Penalty provisions using penalty units require cross-reference to the Penalties and Sentences Act for dollar amounts"],"plain_english_summary":"The bill forces most fuel retailers to lodge daily advance price notices with the Office of Fair Trading and bars selling above the stated price, limits day-to-day increases to 5¢/L, and allows penalties for breaches. It also aligns price reporting rules with the new notice system. \n\nSeparately, it removes executive power to change a 50¢ bus fare—any increase would need Legislative Assembly approval. The changes affect retailers, commuters and regulators and aim to curb short‑term price volatility while adding compliance costs."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":6,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The Bill extends beyond a narrow, technical change to fuel‑price reporting into a broader regulatory regime that directly limits retail pricing behaviour and introduces interday caps on price increases (Part 3C, ss 74–79). It also amends multiple regulations to change how prices must be displayed and reported, and adds a separate parliamentary‑approval requirement for fare changes to a particular category of passenger service (new s 145). The insertion of a price‑capping and daily‑notice regime is a substantive expansion from mere reporting/transparency to active limits on commercial pricing decisions; the addition of a legislative gate for 50c fares brings a distinct public transport tariff control onto the same Bill, broadening the policy scope beyond fuel pricing alone."},"complexity_factors":["New Part 3C inserted into the Fair Trading Act with five substantive sections (ss 74–79) introducing new defined terms and multi‑step obligations","Multiple time deadlines and short windows: 2pm day‑before notice (s 76(2)), 24‑hour \"relevant period\" (s 75), 30‑minute reporting for reduced prices and aggregation entries (s 78(2), replacement s 6)","Cross‑instrument changes: parallel amendments to two regulations (Fuel Price Board Regulation 2017 and Fuel Price Reporting Regulation 2018) to align definitions and reporting mechanics (ss 6–15)","Removal of the qualifier 'normal' from prior regulatory provisions changes the scope of display/reporting obligations across existing regulation (ss 7–9)","Interaction of price concepts and caps: 'stated price', 'reduced price', 'relevant period', and the 5c/L cap create layered constraints and exceptions (ss 75–79)","Penalties and enforcement: consistent maximum penalty (20 penalty units) applied across notices and reporting breaches, requiring administrative enforcement","Addition of a parliamentary approval gate for 50c service fare changes (new s 145) introduces legislative process complexity (28 days' notice requirement)","Interdependence between daily notices and the aggregation system means operational IT compliance is essential—failure on either side triggers breaches (replacement s 6)"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this law does (mechanically)\n\n- Adds a new Part 3C to the Fair Trading Act 1989 that requires fuel retailers (service stations) to tell the commissioner, in writing, the price at which a type of fuel will be sold for a set 24‑hour period (the \"stated price\"), and to do that no later than 2pm the day before the price applies (s 76).\n- Defines \"fuel\" to include fuels covered by the federal Fuel Quality Standards Act and hydrogen, and defines \"fuel price\" as the price without any discounts applied (s 75).\n- While the stated price is the published limit for the following 24‑hour \"relevant period\", a retailer may offer a lower price (a \"reduced price\") but must notify the commissioner within 30 minutes of first offering that reduced price (s 78). Retailers must enter both the fuel price notices and reduced price notices into the aggregation reporting system within 30 minutes of giving the notice (regulatory amendments replacing s 6 of the Fuel Price Reporting Regulation). Violations attract a maximum penalty of 20 penalty units (ss 76(1), 77(2), 78(2), replacement s 6).\n- During the relevant period the retailer must not charge more than the lower of the stated price or the lowest reduced price notified to the commissioner (s 77).\n- A retailer cannot increase the stated price in a new notice by more than 5 cents per litre compared with the prior stated price or the most recent reduced price for that fuel (s 79).\n- The Bill removes the word \"normal\" from several existing fuel price display/reporting provisions so the display/ reporting obligations apply to the price concepts used in the new Part 3C (amendments to the Fair Trading (Fuel Price Board) Regulation 2017 and Fair Trading (Fuel Price Reporting) Regulation 2018, ss 7–15).\n- Separately, it amends the Transport Operations (Passenger Transport) Act 1994 to require the Legislative Assembly to pass a resolution (on a motion with at least 28 days' notice) before the chief executive may change the fare for a service that began with a 50c fare (new s 145).\n\nWho is affected\n\n- Fuel retailers operating service stations who offer fuel for retail sale: they must submit daily price notices, update the aggregation system, and comply with intra‑day and day‑to‑day price limits (ss 74–79, replacement s 6).\n- Consumers: the law limits how much prices can rise from day to day (max +5c/L stated increase) and fixes the maximum allowable charge within each 24‑hour period at the lower of the stated or notified reduced price (ss 77, 79).\n- Government/administrative bodies: the commissioner and the operators of the aggregation system will receive and process daily notices and enforce compliance (ss 76–79, replacement s 6).\n- Operators of low‑fare public transport services that began at 50c: any fare increase for those services requires a parliamentary resolution after at least 28 days' notice (new s 145).\n\nWhy the changes matter (official purpose and a practical test)\n\n- Claimed purpose: the Bill (by its title and the mechanics) is framed to make fuel pricing more transparent and to limit day‑to‑day price increases, and to protect small public transport fares from administrative increases without parliamentary approval.\n\n- Practical trade‑offs and implementation issues:\n  - Administrative burden: retailers must produce a written fuel price notice daily by 2pm and, if they lower price during the 24‑hour period, give a reduced price notice within 30 minutes and enter notices into an aggregation system within 30 minutes (s 76(2), s 78(2), replacement s 6). This requires reliable processes and IT integration.\n  - Limits on price responsiveness: the 5c/L cap on increases between consecutive notices limits how quickly retailers can adjust to sudden wholesale price hikes (s 79). That can transfer short‑run price risk to retailers or prompt other responses (stocking decisions, temporary unavailability, smaller margins).\n  - Potential for tactical pricing: the framework rewards announcing a stated price and later offering a lower reduced price (allowed, but must be notified quickly). That sequence may be used to signal or temporarily undercut competitors, or to freeze competitors' responses, depending on market dynamics (ss 76–78). The Act limits increases but permits reductions, which creates asymmetric flexibility.\n  - Compliance and enforcement costs: government needs to operate or maintain an aggregation system, process many notices, and enforce penalties. Retailers face penalty risk (20 penalty units) for failing to meet time or content requirements (ss 76(1), 78(2), replacement s 6).\n  - Impact on different businesses: larger retailers with established IT and compliance teams are better placed to meet the 30‑minute/2pm requirements than small independent operators, creating a potential competitive compliance cost differential (ss 74–79).\n\nWho pays, who decides, and what behaviour changes (summary)\n\n- Who pays: fuel retailers bear the direct compliance costs and penalty risk; consumers may be affected indirectly if retailers adjust margins, availability, or pass costs to other products/services; government bears system and enforcement costs.\n- Who decides: retailers set the stated price and may offer reduced prices, subject to the statutory limits and notification rules (ss 76–79). The commissioner receives notices and enforces compliance (replacement s 6). For 50c services, the Legislative Assembly must approve fare increases (new s 145).\n- Behaviour changes likely: more pre‑announced, day‑ahead price setting; faster reporting of discounts; constrained day‑to‑day increases; possible strategic use of reduced prices; slower or politically framed decisions on fare changes for long‑running 50c services.\n\nKey provisions cited: Fair Trading Act 1989 Part 3C (ss 74–79); replacement s 6 in Fair Trading (Fuel Price Reporting) Regulation 2018 (reporting/aggregation system); amendments to the Fair Trading (Fuel Price Board) Regulation 2017 (removal of \"normal\"); Transport Operations (Passenger Transport) Act 1994 new s 145 (50c service fare approval)."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/transport-affordability-amendment-bill-2026","history":"/api/acts/transport-affordability-amendment-bill-2026/history","analysis":"/api/acts/transport-affordability-amendment-bill-2026/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/transport-affordability-amendment-bill-2026/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/transport-affordability-amendment-bill-2026/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/transport-affordability-amendment-bill-2026/documents"}}