​​Police Powers and Responsibilities (Commonwealth Games) Amendment Act 2017

• creates a new type of security area called a protective security zone (PSZ) associated with the Games; and
• authorises police officers to exercise additional powers in those zones.

PSZ​s​ are an important part of supporting Games security by covering areas such as pedestrian approaches to Games venues, public assembly sites and public transport networks including railways, trams, buses and in some cases waterways.

The Act does not restrict or prevent the community comin​​g and going in the protective security zones. It simply means that when a person is entering or in the protective security zone, police may exercise their additional powers in respect of the area, the person's belongings and their vehicle.

​The Act does not create new offences or impact rights such as the right to peaceful assembly. It strikes a balance between protecting and reassuring people attending the Games while still respecting individual rights and liberties.​​

Major Events Act 2014​

The Major Events Act 2014 (MEA) provides a range of provisions to declare and manage major events being held in Queensland. 

Under the Major Event (Gold Coast Commonwealth Games) Regulation 2017, the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games has been prescribed as a major event and the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation (GOLDOC) as the major event organiser for GC2018.​

The Regulation enables GOLDOC and the Queensland Government to meet Games time commitments and implement necessary arrangements associated with hosting the event.

The Regulation provides for:

• venue and event security;
• commercial protections to protect Games sponsors and meet hosting commitments such as ticket scalping, unauthorised street trading, ambush marketing, unauthorised advertising and unauthorised broadcasting;
• temporary Games lanes to be in place for public transport and accredited Games family vehicles during the Games; and
• clearly defined boundaries for major event areas, with limited time frames for Games time operations to help minimise impact on businesses and residents.

​Security arrangements

Security planning for the Games is being undertaken under the National Security Framework three tier model:

• Tier 1: facilitates venue and event security and is the responsibility of GOLDOC;
• Tier 2: security overlay and safety of the public domain and is the responsibility of the Queensland Police Service;
• Tier 3: national security, crisis management and is the responsibility of the Australian Government.

The Regulation provides for airport-style security arrangements at all competition venues; people will be screened before entry, and bag inspections will take place.

​​​Prohibited and Restricted Items​​​

Police will be working closely with Tier 1 security provider at the venues to ensure a safe, secure and enjoyable environment for everyone who attends the Games.

These security providers will be responsible for servicing GC2018 venues and enforcing venue entry conditions. 

GOLDOC has set out the Venue Entry Conditions which include a list of prohibited items (see section 6.2). It is highly recommended that ticket holders visit GOLDOC's website prior to attending an event.

The QPS will respond to any incidents of a person entering or within a major event area in possession of restricted items set out in s.20(1)(a)-(f) of the MEA such as—

A person must not possess any of the following while entering or within a major event area -

(a) a weapon;

(b) an explosive;

(c) a flare or other distress signal;
(d) a laser pointer;
(e) an animal, other than—

(i) for a person with a disability who relies on a guide, hearing or assistance dog—the guide, hearing or assistance dog; or
(ii) for a person who lives in a major event area—the person's pet;

​(f) another thing prescribed by regulation.

 Games Route Network (GRN)

Traffic organisers have designed a Games Route Network (GRN) in anticipation of increased traffic during GC2018.

The Games Route Network (GRN) is a series of designated roads that will link the Commonwealth Games Village to all competition and non-competition venues and airports. It will help provide reliable transport operations for athletes and officials so they can get to their events on time.

The GRN will integrate with the broader road network and public transport networks, pedestrian walk ways, cycle paths, and freight networks to help maintain business as usual operations.

Some of the roads within the GRN will include Games Lanes. These are dedicated traffic lanes for the exclusive use of athletes, officials, shuttle buses and public transport. The Games Lanes will mainly be located on the Core GRN and in the final approach to competition venues. These lanes are prescribed by the Major Event (Gold Coast Commonwealth Games) Regulation 2017.

The Games Route Network will be implemented in stages from mid-to-late March to 18 April 2018 – before, during and after the Games.

Police will employ a range of strategies including coordination of traffic light phasing and heightened management of feeder routes and diversions to keep the GRN flowing.

The maps for the lanes are set out in detail in Schedule 8 of the Regulation. Major event area maps are also available in the Regulation.  For more information on the GRN visit the Get Set for the Games website: https://getsetforthegames.com/grn

For precinct maps indicating the local GRNs, restricted access areas, venue perimeters and public transport stations visit the Get Set for the Games Temporary Games Changes Gold Coast page.