Magnum Investigations works throughout Queensland, from Brisbane and the South East corner up the coast to Cairns and out through the Darling Downs. Our work covers surveillance, factual investigation and evidence gathering for private clients, law firms, insurers and employers.
How private investigators are licensed in Queensland
Queensland licenses private investigators under the Security Providers Act 1993, administered by the Office of Fair Trading within the Queensland Department of Justice. Private investigator is one of the security provider classes listed in section 4 of the Act, alongside bodyguards, crowd controllers and security officers.
Section 6 defines a private investigator as a person who, for reward, obtains and gives private information about another person without that person’s express consent, carries out surveillance to obtain such information, or investigates the disappearance of a missing person. Section 9(1) makes it an offence to act as, or even advertise as, a security provider without a licence. Licences run for one or three years under section 16, and a separate security firm licence is required to operate an investigation business or employ licensed investigators.
Ask any investigator you are considering for their licence details before work starts. It is a fair question and a licensed operator will not hesitate to answer it.
What surveillance is lawful in Queensland
Queensland is the outlier among Australian states, and anyone engaging an investigator here should understand why.
There is no Queensland Surveillance Devices Act. Every other state and territory has one. Queensland still relies on the Invasion of Privacy Act 1971, which regulates listening devices only. The Queensland Law Reform Commission recommended in Report 77, handed down in February 2020, that the 1971 Act be repealed and replaced with a modern surveillance devices statute covering optical, tracking and data surveillance. The Department of Justice consulted on civil surveillance reform in 2023. As things stand, no replacement Act has been made.
- Listening devices. Section 43 of the Invasion of Privacy Act makes it an offence to use a listening device to overhear, record, monitor or listen to a private conversation, with a maximum of 40 penalty units or two years imprisonment. A party to the conversation may record it. Section 44 prohibits communicating or publishing a private conversation obtained unlawfully, and section 45 restricts what even a lawful party may then publish.
- Optical and video surveillance. Not covered by any Queensland surveillance devices statute. The limits come instead from the Criminal Code, in particular section 227A on observations and recordings in breach of privacy, and section 227B on distribution.
- Tracking devices. Not regulated by Queensland statute.
- Data surveillance. Not regulated at state level. Interception of communications remains a federal matter under the Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act 1979.
It would be a mistake to read that as permission. The absence of a specific statute does not mean anything goes in Queensland. Trespass, stalking offences, the Criminal Code privacy provisions and the federal privacy tort described below all still bite, and a court assessing evidence will still ask how it was obtained. What the gap really means is that in Queensland the judgement of the operator matters more, not less, because there is less statutory guidance holding them to a line.
The new federal privacy tort applies everywhere
On 10 June 2025 a statutory tort of serious invasion of privacy commenced under Schedule 2 of the Privacy Act 1988. It has two limbs, intrusion upon seclusion and misuse of information, and it operates nationally regardless of which state the conduct occurred in. A claimant must show a reasonable expectation of privacy, that the invasion was serious, and that the privacy interest outweighs any countervailing public interest.
There is no carve out for private investigators. Journalists, law enforcement and intelligence agencies are exempted. We are not. That is a good reason to work with an operator who takes the boundaries seriously rather than one who treats them as an obstacle.
The above is general information about how we operate, not legal advice. For advice on your own circumstances, speak with your lawyer.
Investigation services across Queensland
Every service we run is available throughout the state:
- Surveillance. Covert observation with court ready video, photographic and written evidence.
- Background checks. Identity, history and credential verification for employers, landlords and partners.
- Factual investigations. Impartial statements and interviews for insurers, lawyers and employers.
- Workplace investigations. Misconduct, bullying, theft and false sick leave.
- Child custody investigations. Welfare and conduct evidence for family law proceedings.
- Person tracing. Locating missing family, beneficiaries, debtors and witnesses.
- Fraud and theft investigations. Identifying offenders and quantifying losses.
- Insurance investigations. Claim validation and surveillance for insurers and self insurers.
- Counter surveillance. Bug sweeps and detection of cameras, listening devices and trackers.
- Business investigations. Internal fraud, due diligence, intellectual property theft and compliance.
- Addiction investigations. Discreet confirmation of alcohol or gambling concerns.
- Phone number searches. Tracing unknown, withheld and harassing callers.
Where we work in Queensland
South East Queensland carries most of the volume. Brisbane divides operationally into the inner city around Fortitude Valley, New Farm, South Brisbane and West End, the north through Chermside and Aspley, the south through Mount Gravatt and Sunnybank, the east through Bulimba, Morningside and the Wynnum bayside, and the west through Toowong, Indooroopilly and St Lucia. Beyond the city proper we work across Ipswich, Logan and Beaudesert, Moreton Bay north and south, and the Redlands.
The coastal strips either side of Brisbane are a large part of the work. We cover the Gold Coast from Southport through to Coolangatta and the hinterland, and the Sunshine Coast through Maroochydore, Caloundra and Noosa.
Regional Queensland runs a long way. We work in Toowoomba and the Darling Downs, Wide Bay through Bundaberg, Hervey Bay, Maryborough and Gympie, Central Queensland around Rockhampton and Gladstone, the Mackay, Isaac and Whitsunday region, Townsville, and Cairns and the far north.
Queensland is the most geographically demanding state we work in. Brisbane to Cairns is roughly 1,700 kilometres. Regional jobs need lead time and carry real travel cost, and for a surveillance task in the far north we will tell you plainly whether the likely result justifies the expense before you commit to it.
Where the evidence ends up
- Magistrates Courts of Queensland. Summary criminal matters, committals, domestic violence protection orders, and smaller civil claims. The highest volume destination for investigation evidence in the state.
- District Court of Queensland. Mid tier indictable crime and civil claims, with a civil monetary limit currently set at $750,000 under the District Court of Queensland Act 1967.
- Supreme Court of Queensland. Unlimited civil jurisdiction and the most serious crime, with the Court of Appeal sitting above it.
- QCAT. Minor civil and debt disputes up to $25,000, residential tenancy, building disputes, guardianship, anti discrimination, and review of government decisions including Office of Fair Trading licensing decisions.
- Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia. Family law is federal, with Queensland registries including Brisbane, Townsville, Cairns and Rockhampton.
Frequently asked questions
Is it legal to hire a private investigator in Queensland?
Yes, and the investigator must hold a private investigator licence under the Security Providers Act 1993. Ask to see it.
Is there a Surveillance Devices Act in Queensland?
No. Queensland is the only Australian jurisdiction without one. Listening devices are covered by the Invasion of Privacy Act 1971, and optical and tracking surveillance are not covered by a dedicated statute.
Can someone record a conversation they are part of in Queensland?
Queensland permits a party to a private conversation to record it, which is a genuine difference from several other states. Publishing that recording is a separate question and is restricted under sections 44 and 45.
Does the lack of a surveillance statute mean anything is permitted?
No. Trespass, stalking offences, the Criminal Code privacy provisions and the federal statutory privacy tort all still apply, and a court will still scrutinise how evidence was obtained.
Do you cover regional Queensland?
Yes, from Toowoomba to Cairns. Distances are significant and we are upfront about lead time and travel cost before you commit.
Speak to an investigator about a Queensland matter
Every enquiry starts with a confidential conversation about what you actually need. Call 1300 792 283 or get in touch for a free consultation and a written quote before any work begins.
See also our Brisbane page and our national coverage.