Policy & Inquiry Submissions
Policy & Inquiry Submissions
Submission to Justice, Integrity and Community Safety Committee
Submission to the Commission of Inquiry of Child Protection
- Better data
- Better training for child protection staff
- Genuine involvement of people with lived experience so families aren’t torn apart due to prejudice, not evidence
Submission on Restrictive Practices Health Services Directive
In September 2025 we ran a member consultation and roundtable to provide advice on proposed health service directives relating to restrictive practices.
Read our advice here. MHLEPQ – Advice on Restrictive Practices HSD – September 2025
Submission to the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 Review
In October 2025, we submitted our Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1992 Review.
We’ve called for the DDA to adopt stronger protections, clearer definitions, and a rights-based approach to disability.
Individual submissions are open until 14th November 2025.
Have your say here.
If you have any further questions please email engagement@mhlepq.org.au
Submission to Queensland Human Rights Act Review
Our submission to the Queensland Human Rights Act Review argues that current protections insufficiently safeguard people with lived experience of mental distress, particularly in public mental health systems. It calls for expanded rights, stronger enforcement powers, removal of the override clause, mandatory participation duties, and improved accountability for public entities.
Submission to Making Queensland Safer Bill
Our submission to the Justice, Integrity and Community Safety Committee argues the Bill is unsupported by evidence and undermines children’s human rights while failing to improve community safety. It calls for withdrawal or major amendment of the Bill, investment in prevention and early intervention, and the adoption of trauma-informed, restorative and rights-based responses.
Submission to the PHN Business Model & Flexible Funding Review
Our submission to the Department of Health and Aged Care argues current PHN commissioning and governance insufficiently embed lived experience leadership and equity. It calls for transparent co-design, strengthened accountability, lived experience-led governance, improved regional planning, and funding reforms that prioritise access, choice and human rights.
Submission to the Mental Health Act Review
Our submission to the Queensland Health Strategy, Policy and Reform Division argues proposed amendments risk undermining privacy, fairness and human rights for people appearing before the Mental Health Court. It calls for limiting secondary use of court materials, maintaining strong privacy safeguards, and undertaking full human rights impact assessments prior to reform.
Submission to the Health Practitioner Regulation Amendment Bill
Our submission to the Health, Environment and Innovation Committee argues stronger regulation is needed to protect consumers from harm, particularly sexual misconduct and systemic failures. It calls for clearer standards, faster disciplinary processes, independent investigations, enhanced whistleblower protections, and reforms that prioritise patient safety and human rights.
Submission to the Health Impacts of Alcohol and Other Drugs Inquiry
Our submission to the House of Representatives Standing Committee argues criminal justice-led AOD responses worsen harm and inequity, especially for those with mental distress and trauma. It calls for a health-led, human rights-based approach, stronger harm reduction, lived experience leadership, and integrated national reform across AOD, mental health and suicide prevention.
Submission on Queensland Safety Priorities in MHAOD Care
Our submission to Queensland Health argues the Safety Priorities align with quality standards but lack explicit, enforceable human rights framing. It calls for embedding international human rights frameworks, strengthening supported decision-making, addressing harmful organisational culture, and integrating restorative, trauma-informed and rights-based approaches into safety and quality systems.
Submission to the Access and Equity Project (Office of the Chief Psychiatrist)
Our submission to the Office of the Chief Psychiatrist argues people subject to involuntary treatment lack equitable access to advocacy and legal supports. It calls for rights-based consumer consultation, independent advocacy models, improved tribunal support, and reforms that embed supported decision-making and meaningful access to justice.
Submission to Elder Abuse – The Time is Right for Change
Our submission to the Queensland Parliamentary Inquiry into Elder Abuse argues that elder abuse, particularly coercive control, is widespread, hidden, and often intersects with mental health and care systems, causing serious harm to older people. It calls for systemic prevention, community education, strengthened human rights protections, and reforms beyond reliance on criminalisation alone.