- The Queensland Institute of Medical Research Act 1945 has been updated for the first time in 80 years.
- The new Act modernises the governance framework of the Queensland Institute of Medical Research to ensure it remains a leader in medical innovation.
- Repealing and replacing the 80-year-old Act supports the Institute in continuing its success in developing ground-breaking medical research.
- The Crisafulli Government is delivering health services when you need them, and a fresh start for Queensland.
Queensland's reputation as a global medical research leader has been locked in after the Crisafulli Government passed new reforms that strengthen the Queensland Institute of Medical Research Berghofer (QIMRB).
The Crisafulli Government's Queensland Institute of Medical Research Bill 2025, repeals and replaces the 80-year-old Queensland Institute of Medical Research Act 1945.
Key reforms include:
- broadening eligibility for commercialised incentive payments to recognise all significant contributors to research projects, beyond just the traditional 'inventor' or 'discoverer' definitions.
- requiring the Council of the QIMRB to notify the Minister of any serious concerns about financial viability, management, or administration.
- enabling the Council and Director to delegate their powers to appropriately qualified staff of the QIMRB.
- allowing the Minister to appoint, remove, and disqualify Council members where appropriate.
- allowing the Council to appoint an Acting Director for up to six months (extendable to 12 months with Ministerial approval).
The Bill modernises the governance framework of the internationally recognised QIMRB and its overarching Council, ensuring it remains a leader in medical innovation to improve the health and wellbeing of Queenslanders.
Modernising the Act will better position the QIMRB to attract top talent and funding, adapt to emerging scientific trends, and remain competitive nationally and internationally.
Remarkably, the Labor Opposition voted against the Council appointment provisions of the Bill, which was directly supported by the QIMRB. To exclude the appointment provisions would have meant no Council, no governance, and no ability for QIMRB to operate as a statutory body.
Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Tim Nicholls said the Crisafulli Government was delivering a fresh start for Queensland as it continued to heal Labor's Health Crisis.
"We are delivering reforms to ensure the Queensland Institute of Medical Research Berghofer can remain world-leading, supporting Queenslanders to have health services when they need them," Minister Nicholls said.
"We are delivering these reforms to ensure the QIMRB is equipped with the flexibility, governance structures, and incentives needed to support high-quality research and continue contributing to improved health outcomes in Queensland.
"Additionally, the integrity and transparency of its Council will be strengthened by the introduction of modern safeguards that reflect best practice in public governance. "At the heart of QIMRB's success is collaboration. Research breakthroughs are almost never the work of one person alone, so it is important to recognise the many contributors who play an essential role in bringing discoveries to life.
"It's disappointing that after a decade of decline under the former Labor Government left the health system on life support, the Labor Opposition actively voted against provisions of the Bill that were directly requested and supported by the QIMRB.
"Our Government is delivering easier access to health services, with a fully-funded Hospital Rescue Plan delivering more beds and more free healthcare than ever before.
"While we are starting to see early progress with the elective surgery waitlist down, there is much more to be done to restore health services when you need them, and we remain committed to delivering the fresh start we promised."
