The Queensland Government has introduced landmark legislation to Parliament as part of a nation-leading overhaul of bail laws for both adult and youth offenders, to make Queensland safer.

The Breach Bail, Go to Jail and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2026 is the next stage of Adult Crime, Adult Time, and will target youth and adult offenders who commit serious offences while on bail.

The Bill introduces major changes, including:

• Creating a standalone offence for committing a serious offence while released on bail. The offence carries a mandatory minimum custodial sentence of 12 months imprisonment, to be wholly served in custody.
• Strengthening the bail threshold for serious offenders by introducing a new "high degree of confidence" test. Under the test, police or a court must refuse bail unless satisfied to a high degree of confidence that the offender will not commit another serious offence while on bail.
• For youth offenders this is any Adult Crime, Adult Time offence.
• For adults, a serious offence includes all Adult Crime, Adult Time offences, as well as coercive control and Daniel’s Law child sexual offences.

The reforms ensure a defendant cannot be granted bail unless they show cause as to why their detention is not justified and satisfy police or the court to a high degree of confidence that they will not commit a further serious offence while on bail.

The Queensland Government has committed to passing the stronger bail laws by the end of the year.

The Queensland Government is committed to making Queensland safer through stronger laws, more police, early intervention and rehabilitation, with Police data showing a 9.6% drop in victim numbers.

Premier David Crisafulli said this was one of the most significant packages of bail reform ever taken through the Queensland Parliament.

“We are expanding Adult Crime, Adult Time to deliver stronger bail laws, to make Queensland safer,” Premier Crisafulli said.

“These are important reforms the Ministers have been working through for some time to deliver the nation-leading stronger bail laws that will restore safety.”

"Queenslanders have made it clear they want tougher bail laws that put victims first, and that's exactly what the Queensland Government is delivering through our Breach Bail, Go to Jail reforms," the Attorney-General said.

"We are also cracking down on offenders who seek to harm children and exploit our most vulnerable, because protecting Queensland kids is not negotiable."

“Alongside our tough laws, we are also delivering more early intervention and rehabilitation programs than ever before to help turn young lives away from crime and prevent the next generation of youth offenders.”

Minister for Police and Emergency Services Dan Purdie said the Queensland Government was delivering more police, stronger laws and fewer victims.

Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence Amanda Camm said the Queensland Government was continuing its tough stance against domestic violence perpetrators after introducing laws last year to make coercive control a criminal offence.

“Coercive control and domestic and family violence have no place in our society, and too many have already lost their lives as a result,” Minister Camm said.

“The inclusion of coercive control under the strongest bail reforms in the country reinforces our resolve to improve the lives of Queensland women and children who, all too frequently and tragically, experience harm at the hands of others.”