Volunteer Protection in Queensland

Abstract

A minor element of current tort law involves the protection of volunteers from personal civil liability. Queensland has enacted the Civil Liability Act 2003 protecting volunteers (including office holders) of community organisations from personal civil liability. This article examines the implications of the Queensland provisions and identifies issues for further consideration. The article first places volunteer protection in a policy context of volunteering statements and then moves to examine the immediate civil liability issues in Queensland. A detailed examination of the legislation is then undertaken with emphasis on the issues community organisations and volunteers face in taking advantage of the provisions.