Barbaro amendments herald important changes for legal profession

The Palaszczuk Government has today passed amendments to improve the consistency of sentencing and efficiency of Queensland’s courts.

Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Yvette D’Ath said the laws passed by Queensland’s Parliament today would reinstate the ability of a court to receive submissions from both prosecution and defence on the appropriate sentence, or the bounds of the range of appropriate sentences that should be imposed.

“As part of the legislation passed today, important changes have been made to how sentencing submissions will be made in Queensland courts,” Mrs D’Ath said.

“The Palaszczuk Government has listened to the concerns of the legal profession and the judiciary and has secured vital legislative reform that will return sentencing procedures to those in place in Queensland prior to the 2014 High Court decision in Barbaro & Zirilli v The Queen.

“This is a great outcome for the legal profession and our Queensland Courts, and will allow for better and more fulsome submissions to be made on sentencing. It reflects the significant contribution which should rightfully be made to the sentencing process by lawyers on both sides of the bar table.

“It will improve consistency in sentencing, as well as assist in the efficient running of courtrooms across Queensland.”

Media contacts:

Minister D’Ath 0417 272 875