Making Queensland Safer Laws: Expert Legal Panel appointed
- The Crisafulli Government appoints Expert Legal Panel to advise on next tranche of Adult Crime, Adult Time laws.
- Panel to be chaired by distinguished barrister April Freeman KC, with four other members chosen for their expertise in legal matters, law enforcement and victim support.
- Appointment of Expert Legal Panel delivers key pre-election commitment of Crisafulli Government.
The Crisafulli Government has appointed an Expert Legal Panel to provide advice on the next stages of reform to Queensland’s Youth Justice Act, relevant to Adult Crime, Adult Time.
As promised to Queenslanders prior to the election, The Panel will be tasked with identifying additional and more complex offences for inclusion in Adult Crime, Adult Time, as part of the second tranche of Making Queensland Safer Laws.
All five members of the Panel have extensive experience in legal practice, law enforcement or victim support. The members of the panel are:
- Chair – April Freeman KC – a distinguished Kings Council, with 17 years of legal experience in criminal law, including role of Crown Prosecutor for Queensland.
- Douglas Freeman – a barrister with 17 years of experience working on complex criminal trials and appeals, including many youth justice matters.
- Lyndy Atkinson – founder of Voice for Victims advocacy group.
- Randal Ross – a former CEO of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service, who has experience delivering programs for youth at Cleveland Youth Detention Centre.
- Robert Weir – retired Detective Superintendent, who served for 43 years in the Queensland Police Service.
Panelists will make recommendations to the Minister for Youth Justice and Victim Support and provide advice on how to best implement legislative amendments.
The appointment of the Panel is another important step towards bringing back consequences for actions and holding youth criminals accountable for their crimes.
Minister for Youth Justice and Victim Support Laura Gerber said the Crisafulli Government will continue to use every avenue to strengthen Labor’s watered down youth crime laws and restore community safety.
“Before the election, we promised Queenslanders an Expert Legal Panel would be established to review additional offences for inclusion in Adult Crime, Adult Time as part of the second tranche of Making Queensland Safer Laws,” Minister Gerber said.
“The panel members are all highly skilled and experienced professionals in the areas of legal practice, law enforcement, victim support and public policy.
“I am confident they will draw on their expertise to provide sound advice to the Government.
“After a decade of Labor, youth crime has spiraled out of control and that’s why we have already begun work to clean up Labor’s mess, by reforming youth crime laws and starting the tender process for two early intervention and rehabilitation programs.
“While it’s impossible to eliminate all crime, the rights of victims must always come before the rights of offenders, and we must restore community safety and have fewer victims in Queensland.”
Panel chair April Freeman KC said she is eager to start getting to work to consider the second tranche of the laws.
“The Expert Legal Panel has been tasked with considering important changes to the Youth Justice Act and to provide independent advice to the Government to assist navigation of these complex laws,” Ms Freeman said.
“I am looking forward to meeting my fellow panel members and to start getting to work as soon as possible.”
