A Fresh Start for Queensland: Making Queensland Safer Laws to restore community safety
- The Premier has introduced the Making Queensland Safer Bill to the Queensland Parliament today, delivering on a key commitment for the first 100 days.
- 13 Offences to be subject to Adult Crime, Adult Time, under first tranche of laws including mandatory life detention for murder, with a non-parole period of 20 years.
- Bill will also remove Detention as a Last Resort, put victims' rights ahead of offenders' rights and see youth offenders' full criminal history considered in sentencing.
- Bill set to be considered by Committee before being debated by Parliament in December and in place before the end of 2024.
The Crisafulli Government has taken the first step to restoring community safety and legislating Adult Crime, Adult Time with the introduction of the landmark Making Queensland Safer Bill 2024 to Parliament today.
The Making Queensland Safer Laws deliver on a key commitment to Queenslanders to restore community safety and turn the tide on the Youth Crime Crisis.
Under the laws, juvenile offenders who commit some of the most serious crimes will face the same penalties as adult offenders and the rights of victims will be put ahead of the rights of offenders.
Under the proposed laws, the Youth Justice Act 1992 would be amended so young offenders committing particular crimes would be subject to the same penalties as adults.
The tough provisions contained in the Bill complement plans for Gold Standard Early Intervention, crime prevention and effective rehabilitation to ensure fewer Queenslanders fall victim to crime.
Adult Crime, Adult Time offences include:
- Murder
- Manslaughter
- Unlawful striking causing death
- Grievous bodily harm
- Wounding
- Serious assault
- Home and business break-ins and robbery
- Dangerous operation of vehicles.
The principle of detention as a last resort would also be removed from the Act to prioritise community safety.
The Making Queensland Safer laws also make changes to how offenders are sentenced.
Courts will be empowered to consider an offender's full criminal history when sentencing, making their criminal history as a juvenile available to the court when they are sentenced as an adult for a five-year period.
Consideration of victims will be prioritised during sentencing, raising the rights of victims ahead of the rights of offenders.
The Bill also includes measures to fully open the Childrens Court for victims and the media.
Premier David Crisafulli said restoring community safety would be the first order of business with the Making Queensland Safer Laws.
"The Making Queensland Safer Laws are the first strike back against a youth crime crisis a decade in the making," Premier Crisafulli said.
"This is Adult Crime, Adult Time, the tough laws with consequences for actions, voted for by Queenslanders.
"Where we are today is the result of decisions made a decade ago; a fresh start is what we need, Queenslanders demanded it and we are delivering it with the Making Queensland Safer Laws.
"No one is suggesting there will be no crime, but these laws will start to restore safety to our community and mean fewer Queenslanders fall victim to crime.
"Youth who choose to commit the most serious crimes will serve the time under these strong laws, but with Gold Standard Early Intervention and effective rehabilitation they will have every opportunity to stay on the right track."
Attorney-General Deb Frecklington said the Bill made important changes to fundamental provisions that determined how courts dealt with serious juvenile offending.
"The purpose of our justice system must be to hold people accountable for their actions and to break cycles of reoffending," Minister Frecklington said.
"Under the changes we are introducing, courts will be able to consider an offender's full criminal history to better address patterns of offending when sentencing.
"We're giving our judges and magistrates every tool they need to impose sentences that meet community expectations and keep violent offenders off our streets.
"I am proud to be part of a Government that is taking immediate action to restore community safety."
Youth Justice and Victim Support Minister Laura Gerber said the Bill was the tough on crime response Queenslanders had been pleading for.
"When Labor watered down youth justice laws, it created a generation of hardcore repeat offenders," Minister Gerber said.
"That ends now, with the Crisafulli Government's Making Queensland Safer Bill.
"Adult Crime, Adult Time will make young offenders think twice but there will also be early intervention measures and proper rehabilitation."
Police Minister Dan Purdie said the Bill would give hardworking police the laws they needed to do their job effectively.
"Under Labor, Queensland became the crime capital of the country," Minister Purdie said.
"Dedicated officers were trying to keep our streets safe but they were left to do it with one arm tied behind their back.
"The Making Queensland Safer Bill gives police the stronger laws they need to protect Queensland."
