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Queensland act
This law establishes and governs the Queensland Museum — the State's main public museum covering natural history, science, technology, and human history. It creates the legal framework for how the museum is run, who runs it, and what it can do.
A government-appointed board called the Board of the Queensland Museum is in charge. Board members are appointed by the Governor in Council (effectively Cabinet) for up to 3 years at a time. A chairperson is also appointed by the Governor in Council, while a deputy chairperson is elected by the board members themselves.
The board is a body corporate — meaning it's treated like a company in legal terms. It can own property, sign contracts, sue and be sued, and operate both inside and outside Queensland, including internationally.
A Director (like a CEO) is appointed by the Governor in Council for up to 5 years to manage day-to-day operations, but the board must approve the appointment first.
The board's job includes:
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Direct links to the current provisions in Queensland Museum Act 1970.
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View on official registerSourced from Queensland Legislation (legislation.qld.gov.au), CC BY 4.0.
The guiding values include: excellence in preserving Queensland's heritage, serving regional communities, respecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, supporting children's learning, and fostering international collaboration.
The relevant Minister has significant control — they can give written directions to the board, must agree to the museum's annual strategic and operational plans (budgets and priorities), and can order investigations into the board's operations.
Each year, the board must prepare strategic plans (long-term goals) and operational plans (what they'll actually do that year), submit them to the Minister for approval, and copy the Treasurer in. If they can't agree, the Minister can direct changes.
If someone brings a specimen (e.g., a plant or animal sample) to the museum for identification and never collects it, the museum can sell it at public auction after giving notice. Similarly, property left abandoned at the museum can be sold or disposed of after 4 months.
The board operates under Queensland's financial accountability laws. Importantly, if board members illegally approve borrowing money the museum isn't authorised to borrow, those members can be personally liable to repay it — this is a significant personal risk for board members.
Board members and committee members are generally protected from personal legal liability for honest, non-negligent actions taken under the Act. If they're protected, liability falls back on the board itself.
Museum buildings are legally treated as public places, which means police have the same powers there as in any public space. However, the board can still set its own conditions of entry.