Queensland Consolidated Acts Queensland Consolidated Acts(1) A thing that has been seized under this division is forfeited to the State if the authorised officer who seized the thing—
(a) can not find its owner, after making the inquiries (if any) that are reasonable in all the circumstances; or
(b) can not return it to its owner, after making the efforts (if any) that are reasonable in all the circumstances.
Example for paragraph (b)—
It may be unreasonable for an authorised officer to make an effort to return a seized thing to its owner if the owner has migrated to another country.
(2) Regard must be had to a thing's nature, condition and value in deciding—
(a) whether it is reasonable to make inquiries or efforts; and
(b) if making inquiries or efforts, what inquiries or efforts, including the period over which they are made, are reasonable.
(3) On the forfeiture of a thing to the State, the thing becomes the State's property and may be dealt with by the chief executive as the chief executive considers appropriate.
(4) Without limiting subsection (3), the chief executive may destroy or dispose of the thing.
(5) Despite subsection (3), the chief executive must not deal with the thing in a way that could prejudice the outcome of—
(a) a review by QCAT of a decision in relation to the thing under this division; or
(b) an appeal, relevant to the thing, of which the chief executive is aware.