Reform Tracker
Every bill, review and announcement that changes where prescribed drivers stand — newest first. Each post links to the affected state page.
Queensland petition for prescribed-THC driving reform: 5,590
· Queensland page — E-Petition 4561-26 closed 25 August 2026 with 5,590 signatures asking Queensland to replace the THC presence offence with impairment standards. No response yet.
NSW cannabis driving reform is now an Act — not in force
· New South Wales page — Assented 23 September 2026: the Medical Cannabis and Driving Offences Act 2026 starts only by proclamation — Transport for NSW says registration is not open.
NT's new drink-and-drug driving laws — nothing for patients
· Northern Territory page — The NT passed new drink-and-drug driving laws on 13 October 2026: breath screening, a combined offence, impoundment tiers. THC stays strictly prohibited.
Queensland's doubled drug-driving penalties are now law
· Queensland page — Queensland's doubled drug-driving penalties passed Parliament on 17 September 2026: from 1 December, presence fines and licence loss double.
NSW's medicinal cannabis driving reform passes Parliament
· New South Wales page — The Bill passed NSW Parliament on 17 September 2026 and is not in force yet: Transport for NSW anticipates commencement in late 2026 or early 2027.
SA committee urges a cannabis driving defence
· South Australia page — SA's Joint Committee recommended Road Traffic Act amendments so unimpaired prescribed patients commit no offence. No government response has been identified.
NSW's Medical Cannabis and Driving Offences Bill 2026
· New South Wales page — Introduced June 2026: a voluntary registration scheme with warning letters for first and second detection. Passed Parliament 18 September 2026 — not yet law.
Queensland doubles drug driving penalties from December
· Queensland page — Queensland doubles drink and drug driving penalties from 1 December 2026, keeping its zero-tolerance approach for medicinal cannabis patients.
Queensland's drug-driving review: 'carefully considering'
· Queensland page — TMR's 'Cannabis and driving in Queensland' review is with government for careful consideration. A proposed s79(2AB) defence and an e-petition are in the mix.
Victoria's cannabis driving trial: results due mid-2026
· Victoria page — Swinburne's closed-circuit trial of medicinal cannabis patients' driving has finished recruiting; results are expected mid-2026 and will inform broader reform.
Current reform status by state
- New South Wales: Road Transport Legislation Amendment (Medical Cannabis and Driving Offences) Bill 2026 — registration/education/warning-letter model, limited to unrestricted licence holders. (Passed both houses 17 September 2026; assented 23 September 2026 (Act No 33 of 2026); awaits proclamation — TfNSW anticipates commencement late 2026 / early 2027)
- New South Wales: Road Transport Amendment (Medicinal Cannabis) Bill 2025 (Greenwich, introduced November 2025) — withdrawn 14 May 2026. (Withdrawn)
- New South Wales: Road Transport Amendment (Medicinal Cannabis—Exemptions from Offences) Bill 2025 (Faehrmann) — debate adjourned after second reading in the Legislative Council. (Adjourned)
- Victoria: Section 50(1F) licence discretion for prescribed patients — commenced 1 March 2025 via Roads and Road Safety Legislation Amendment Act 2024 (Vic). (In force)
- Victoria: 18-month closed-circuit medicinal cannabis driving trial (began September 2024) — outcome/report expected mid-2026. (Results due mid-2026; not yet published as at 26 September 2026 — update on publication)
- Queensland: TMR 'Cannabis and driving in Queensland' community consultation and subsequent review handed to government; range of options tabled. (Government 'carefully considering recommendations' (TMR statement reported June 2026))
- Queensland: Proposed amendment inserting s79(2AB) into the TORUM Act — a defence where THC was legally obtained and administered per prescription and the driver was not under the influence. (Proposed amendment before Parliament — NOT law.)
- Queensland: Parliamentary e-petition calling for a statutory medical defence for prescribed, unimpaired drivers. (Active as of research date)
- Queensland: Transport and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2026 — doubles presence-offence fines and minimum licence disqualification from 1 December 2026; zero tolerance for prescribed THC retained, with a drug-driving education program for repeat offenders and streamlined testing to follow in 2027. (Passed Parliament 17 September 2026; penalties commence 1 December 2026)
- Western Australia: WA medicinal cannabis and safe driving working group considering evidence and potential reform; Legalise Cannabis WA campaigning. (No reform passed as of research date.)
- South Australia: Joint Committee on the Legalisation of Medicinal Cannabis — interim report (tabled 25 September 2024, 13 recommendations). Recommendation 1: Minister for Infrastructure and Transport to draft Road Traffic Act amendments so it is not an offence for a prescribed patient using THC medicine per prescription to drive with THC present (Tasmanian model), with community consultation on the draft. (Committee recommendation only — no government response or bill identified.)
- Tasmania: No reform currently on foot — Medical defence available if not impaired.
- Australian Capital Territory: Community e-petition for drug-driving law reform for medicinal cannabis patients — government response maintained current law. (No change enacted)
- Northern Territory: Traffic Legislation Amendment (Drink and Drug Driving and Hooning) Bill 2026 (Serial 76) (Passed the Legislative Assembly 13 October 2026; awaiting assent/commencement. Passive breath screening; combined high-range-BAC-plus-drugs offence with stronger penalties (news reporting: fine up to about $9,700, imprisonment up to 2 years); 14-day impoundment for repeat high-range; serious-hooning impoundment tiers (7/14/28 days); interstate priors count. NO medicinal cannabis provisions; Scrutiny Committee recommended further consideration of presence-based offences for prescribed patients (report 7 October 2026; Government response tabled 13 October 2026).)