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The Queensland parliament is debating its third round of “adult crime, adult time” laws, in legislation which also rolls back the state’s drug diversion scheme and creates new move-on powers.

Human rights advocates say the changes target the state’s most vulnerable individuals, such as its homeless people. Here’s how the proposed laws will work.

Which new offences will be covered by the “adult crime, adult time” legislation?

The bill is the third badged with the Liberal National party’s “adult crime, adult time” slogan, which helped it carry the 2024 state election.

It is formally called the “expanding adult crime, adult time and taking a strong stance on drugs and antisocial behaviour amendment bill 2026”.

All three acts work the same way: children convicted of certain offences are subject to the same sentences as adults.

There are 33 offences captured under the first two laws, while the latest round adds another 12.

Most of the new offences are rare. Two – aiding suicide and stupefying (drugging) to commit an indictable offence – have not been committed by a child in the last decade, according to the bill’s parliamentary inquiry.

How are the state’s drug laws changing?

The bill also repeals Queensland’s police drug diversion program – an alternative to prosecution for people arrested for drug possession – which was passed into law under Labor in 2024. It is now being assessed by experts from the University of Queensland.

The old scheme is a three-strikes approach, with a warning on first offence, and then two referrals for drug diversion before facing court.

Under the new act, a first-time offender will be given an upfront fine, but can wipe the fee by participating in a drug diversion program. If they fail the program or if charged with drug possession again, they face a fine.

Cannabis is treated differently; those charged with possession will be referred through their own diversion scheme, without an initial fine.

In both cases, there’s only one strike before facing charges.

What are designated precincts?

The law allows the minister to create “designated business and community precincts” to address “antisocial behaviour” – though the term isn’t defined in the act. It does not require a conviction of an offence.

Their existing powers under Jack’s Law are expanded in the precincts, allowing them to randomly detain and search any person, without prior approval of a senior officer.

They may also direct a person to move on and not return to the area for 24 hours. The person must also provide their name and address.

They can also issue a temporary ban of one month – which can be extended to three – if a person “has behaved in a disorderly, offensive, threatening or violent way”.

What are human rights advocates saying about the proposed law?

As with all three “adult crime, adult time” laws, the government concedes the law is not compatible with the state’s human rights act, and limits the right to liberty and security of person, the right to privacy and property rights, among others.

But it’s the law’s effect on homeless people that has many advocates particularly worried.

With the state facing its worst homeless crisis in years, and tent cities established in city centres state-wide, homelessness is more visible than ever.

Government MPs have long argued for a tougher approach to the homeless, with one calling for a return of the vagrancy act last year.

The Q Shelter chief executive, Fiona Caniglia, told the bill’s parliamentary committee that “homeless people sometimes have no option but to be in public space”.

Basic Rights Queensland practice director, Sam Tracy, pointed to a recent supreme court ruling which found that the rights of the homeless had been violated, in part because they were moved on without being offered an alternative place to live.

He said the law would make things worse by replacing council rangers with police.

“It cannot be forgotten that the homeless people, young people and other minoritised groups this Bill has in its sights are also members of the community, and require protection,” the Queensland council of civil liberties said in its submission.

Minister Laura Gerber, who wrote the act, refused to answer this week if the powers would only be used where the homeless were offered another, safe, place to live.