Petition from Queensland Residents to Oppose Re-criminalising Public Drunkenness

Queensland Parliament


The Crisafulli LNP Government is threatening to re-criminalise public drunkenness, against the recommendation of the 1991 Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody.

We, as Queenslanders, disagree with this legislative change.

We value the rights of all peoples. We value a democratic government, and we value a society that listens to the needs and concerns of the community. We also value the role independent authorities play in providing expert advice.

Public drunkenness was removed from the criminal code in August 2023. To reintroduce a public drunkenness offence would signal that the Crisafulli LNP Government has no interest in Closing the Gap or reducing deaths in custody.

First Nations leaders and community advocates condemn the proposal by the Queensland Government to reintroduce laws making public drunkenness a criminal offence, warning the move would disproportionately harm First Nations peoples and roll back decades of progress.

Since David Crisafulli’s victory in October 2024, it has introduced several rounds of youth justice legislation to extend maximum sentences and remove legislative protection for young people. Two of these “adult crime, adult time” flagship laws have overridden the Human Rights Act.

What is needed is a health and social welfare-based response, rather than entrenching vulnerable peoples in the criminal justice system.

We need a government that uses evidence-based research, respects the expert advice, and is prepared to work with the community in an inclusive way that is in everyone’s best interest.

Please sign this petition to let the Crisafulli LNP Government know you disagree with their proposal to re-criminalise public drunkenness.

You can also share this petition with your community.

Your petitioners, therefore, request the House to withdraw the proposed legislative changes.

To: Queensland Parliament
From: [Your Name]

We, the undersigned Queensland residents, in solidarity with the First Nations peoples of Queensland oppose legislative changes to re-criminalise public drunkenness. We draw to the attention of the House the concerns in the community regarding the disproportionate harm this would cause First Nations peoples.

The Queensland Parliament removed public drunkenness from the criminal code in August 2023.

Closing the Gap in life outcomes for First Nations Queenslanders is a national priority. Central to achieving Queensland's commitments under the National Closing the Gap Agreement is reducing First Nations incarceration and deaths in custody.

How we care for each other is a matter of human rights and what is needed is a health and social welfare-based response, rather than entrenching vulnerable peoples in the criminal justice system.

Your petitioners, therefore, request the House to withdraw the proposed legislative changes to re-criminalise public drunkenness.

First Nations Action Network acknowledges Country - the lands, the waters, the skies and the winds - connected to the Traditional Custodians and all that live, work and play on the sacred places of the ancestors that have walked before, that walk today and those that will emerge to walk into the future.