Premier Campbell Newman is "nonplussed" by new legislation which will boost police powers at designated major events and allow trained volunteers and public servants to search attendees, saying "there is nothing new here".
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Mr Newman said the legislation, introduced into parliament on Tuesday morning by Minister for the Commonwealth Games Jann Stuckey, only combined "various regulations that were scattered across different legislation" and pulled it together under one framework.
The legislation grants major event operators the power to ban people distributing documents, selling items or busking in public spaces which fall under the major event declared area.
It also provides tighter security parameters and allows "authorised persons" to search attendees in a similar fashion to an airport departure lounge and ban unruly people from an event for 24-hours.
Residents, workers and business owners will be required to obtain an occupants pass to access the declared area and could be subject to curfews.
While only major events, which will be granted the declaration by the Governor-in-Council after a recommendation by the minister, will have the full suite of legislation apply, the legislation allows for smaller events to borrow from part of the legislation.
Mr Newman said it was nothing new.
"The only events that will be designated as major events are major events," he said, which included the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Cup.
"There is absolutely nothing new here other than that there were various regulations that were scattered across different pieces of legislation and it's been pulled together under one framework so we can properly run a great Commonwealth Games for Queensland and for the rest of Australia and to make sure its safe and efficient and well run."
