New Parole Boards appointed

Minister for Corrective Services Bill Byrne has today announced the new Queensland Regional Parole Boards.

“An expert cross-section of business leaders, correctives specialists, eminent psychologists and dedicated community workers are among 23 appointees to Queensland’s regional parole boards,” Minister Byrne said.

“Parole boards play an important part in community safety by determining whether eligible offenders were ready for supervised release into the community.

“These boards operate independent to government and are established under the Corrective Services Act 2006.

“It is the boards’ responsibility to make decisions in relation to prisoners serving a term of imprisonment of between three and less than eight years, and all sex offenders and offenders determined to be serious violent offenders who are serving sentences of less than eight years.

“The Parole Boards also have authority to suspend or cancel court ordered parole orders.”

The Southern Queensland Regional Parole Board is responsible for offenders based in correctional centres in the south-east of the State, while the Central and Northern board considers applications from offenders who are in prison at Maryborough, Rockhampton, Townsville, and Mareeba. 

The third parole board in the State, the Queensland Parole Board, makes decisions on parole for serious offenders serving sentences of eight years or more.

Minister Byrne said the appointees include former chief executive officers of major national health and charity organisations, Australia Day honours nominees and recipients, high-ranking former bank and real estate specialists, some of the State’s leading psychologists, Supreme Court barristers, a former police superintendent, and Human Rights advocates.   

“The appointees come from diverse backgrounds and provide a whole range of perspectives that ensure all parole applications are appraised in the most professional and fairest way possible,” Minister Byrne said.

“Of the other appointed members, at least one must be an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person, one must be a doctor or psychologist and at least two must be women. One member is a nominated representative of Queensland Corrective Services.

“Each of the appointees is of the highest integrity and I commend them for performing a challenging and valuable role for the community.”

Minister Byrne said the board members being appointed are for a period up to and including 27 November 2017.

ENDS

Media contacts

Minister Byrne: 0400 622 433