For generations, Torres Strait Islanders have supported their children and each other with traditional parenting approaches known more recently as "Kupai Omasker".

Under the practice, children can be given to other members of the community for a range of reasons, including the maintenance of family inheritance rights, provide an infertile couple with the opportunity to raise a child, strengthen alliances or distribute children of different sexes more fairly.

Their guardianship can be transferred to other members of the community, typically extended family.

Communities Minister Shannon Fentiman said the practice had meant generations of loving, caring homes.

"But these extended family relationships have not been fully recognised by Australian law in the same way as Western adoption," she said.

"This has meant Torres Strait Islander children being cared for by traditional adoptive parents have been unable to do things we take for granted, such as have a passport in their own name."

Ms Fentiman said it would be a historic piece of legislation.

"[It will] ensure Torres Strait Islander children and adults who have been part of this traditional family structure can have their legal identity, including their birth certificate, match their cultural identity," she said.

Ms Fentiman said Labor's candidate for Cook, Cynthia Lui, had been a passionate advocate for legal recognition and had lobbied for reform.

"Cynthia Lui has been a strong and consistent advocate for the work of the Kupai Omasker Working Party that was formed as far back as 1990 to push for recognition," she said.

Ms Lui is standing in the far north Queensland seat now held by Billy Gordon, who was elected with Labor in 2015, but quit the party two months later after revelations he had failed to disclose his criminal history during preselection.

Last month, Mr Gordon announced he would not recontest the November 25 election, and endorsed Ms Lui.

If elected, Ms Lui would be the first Torres Strait Islander to sit in the Queensland Parliament.

The electorate of Cook has a margin to Labor of 6.8 per cent.

Ms Lui said several governments had considered legal recognition for traditional adoption.

"Traditional adoption, while similar in outcome for families and children, is not based on a Western understanding of adoption and since 1985 when the then Queensland government determined that this practice was beyond the scope of Queensland's existing adoption laws, families have been left in legal limbo," Ms Lui said.

"Torres Strait Islanders have long sought legal recognition of the outcomes they are achieving for children and families and we will provide that recognition."

Ms Lui said the practice was a part of Islander culture since "time immemorial".

"There would not be a Torres Strait Islander family in Queensland that is not touched in some way by the continued use of traditional adoption," she said.

"It would be a proud moment as a Torres Strait Islander woman to vote to pass this legislation in the Parliament."

The legislation would be developed in consultation with the Torres Strait Islander community and an eminent person would be appointed to help the process.

The principles would include consent of the birth parents, suitability of adoptive parents and the rights and best interest of the child throughout their life.

The Palaszczuk government would allocate $1 million to implement the legislation.