The overhaul of the state's dog laws would also include a ban on restricted breeds, such as the American pit bull terrier.
Agricultural Industry Development Minister Mark Furner will introduce the legislation to parliament today, following widespread community feedback on a discussion paper foreshadowing the changes.
Queensland's dog laws have been under review since 2021 by a special taskforce — comprised of council representatives, the Local Government Association of Queensland and officers from the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries — amid concerns about increases in reported incidents of serious dog attacks.
That included three attacks on children in one week earlier this year, and a fatal attack on a meter reader in 2022. More recently, a dog attack earlier this month at Morayfield left four people in hospital.
Mr Furner said the proposed changes would put "a spotlight on people who do the wrong thing".
"Myself as a dog owner, I love dogs, and it's always a situation where people need to be responsible for their ownership and make sure they not only protect the other dogs or animals in their environments, but also the people that may enter their premises or when out in public too," he said.
The ban on certain breeds has little support among animal welfare groups, including the RSPCA and Australian Veterinary Association (AVA).
"A breed on its own is not an effective indicator or predictor of aggression in dogs," AVA Queensland President Dr Ben Brightman said.
"You're still going to have dog attacks, even if you ban one, two or five breeds."
New laws catch up with other states
Under the current laws, a pet owner who fails to take reasonable steps to ensure their dog does not attack, and it leads to death, cannot face the option of imprisonment.
This is in comparison to New South Wales, South Australia, the Australian Capital Territory, Western Australia, Victoria, and Tasmania, which all have maximum penalties that involve periods of jail for the most serious types of dog attacks.
Minister Furner said the new legislation would increase penalties, including up to three years' jail for "irresponsible" owners whose dogs cause death or serious injury "to a person or in some cases [other] dogs".
"There'll also be penalty infringement notices for the first time for off-leash areas for people who are irresponsible in terms of running their dogs in those environments that cause injury to other dogs or animals," he said.
Other proposed changes include a statewide ban on restricted dog breeds – dogo Argentino, fila Brasileiro, Japanese tosa, American pit bull terrier or pit bull terrier and perro de presa canario or presa canario.
"I understand the oldest of those breeds in existence in Queensland is roughly around 12-years-old currently."
Mr Furner said the legislation also aims to make it easier for local governments to streamline decisions and appeals in terms of seized dangerous animals.
The government said there will also be a $7.57 million funding package to provide "more coordinated, consistent and effective government action in response to dog attacks, and support dog management initiatives in First Nations communities".
Once the legislation is tabled, it will be referred to a parliamentary committee to examine before it is brought back for debate.
