Queensland has introduced new laws aimed at addressing anti-social behaviour in public places. At the centre of the changes is a new concept called Designated Business and Community Precincts (DBCPs), with the first set to roll out in Maryborough from July 1, 2026.
Within these precincts, police will have broader powers, including the ability to move people on, ban them from certain areas and carry out searches without a warrant.
The State Government says the goal is to “restore safety in the heart of towns across regional Queensland.” But the changes have also raised legal and human rights concerns.
What are Designated Business and Community Precincts?
DBCPs will cover busy public spaces like town centres, shopping strips and community hubs.
The idea isn’t entirely new, it builds on Queensland’s existing Safe Night Precincts; which already operate in nightlife areas. But this expands policing powers into everyday settings where people live, work and shop.
One point of contention is that the laws don’t clearly define what constitutes a DBCP. The Queensland Law Society has noted this leaves considerable discretion in how and where these precincts are established.
What powers will police have?
Within these designated areas, police will have a wider range of tools to deal with behaviour they consider disruptive.
That includes the power to:
- Issue move-on directions requiring a person to leave an area for up to 24 hours where their behaviour is considered disorderly, offensive, threatening or disruptive.
- Hand out banning notices, stopping someone from entering or remaining in a precinct for up to one month, particularly for repeat or more serious conduct.
- Carry out warrantless searches, including the use of handheld metal detectors, known as wanding, to check for weapons.
Failing to comply with a move-on direction or a banning notice will be a criminal offence. People given a move-on direction may also be required to provide their name and address, which increases the potential for relatively minor public order interactions to escalate into criminal matters.
How do the new laws fit with what already exists?
Queensland already has laws dealing with public nuisance, disorderly conduct and police move-on powers under the Police Powers and Responsibilities Act 2000.
These new precinct laws don’t replace those laws, it builds on them.
They effectively concentrate stronger powers into specific locations, alongside search powers similar to those introduced under “Jack’s Law,” which allows police to use metal detectors in certain public areas.
The Society has questioned whether existing public nuisance, disorder and move-on powers are insufficient, noting the Bill’s explanatory materials do not clearly articulate the evidence base for the expansion.
What are the concerns?
The reforms have raised several legal and human rights questions.
One major concern is clarity. Without clear definitions of where precincts begin and end, people may not realise they’re in one or understand when these extra powers apply.
There are also practical questions about how the laws will work on the ground, especially if someone is unaware, they’ve entered a designated area when approached by police.
More broadly, there are concerns of the combined effect of the powers, with move-on orders, bans and warrantless searches all available in the same place.
There are also concerns about who may be most affected. QLS has highlighted the risk of disproportionate impacts on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, who already experience higher rates of policing in public spaces.
What does this mean for the community?
For businesses and workers, the changes are designed to improve safety and allow faster responses to antisocial behaviour in busy areas.
For everyone else, it means a more visible police presence, and a greater chance of being directed to move on, provide details or comply with searches in certain parts of town.
As the first precinct rolls out, how the laws are used, and how they’re experienced by the community, will be closely watched.
