Palaszczuk Government passes new parole board model to protect QLD

An improved, robust and professionalised parole board will be established in Queensland following legislation passed by Queensland Parliament today.

Minister for Corrective Services Mark Ryan said the old parole board model of separating responsibilities into three boards will cease and be replaced by a single professional entity – Parole Board Queensland.

“This change was a key recommendation following last year’s parole system review requested by the Premier and conducted by Mr Walter Sofronoff QC (the Sofronoff Review),” Minister Ryan said.

“The Palaszczuk Government accepted 89 of the review’s 91 recommendations, committing to the most comprehensive overhaul of Queensland’s parole system in a century to make our communities safer with tougher and stricter supervision of parolees and improved rehabilitation of offenders.”

The Corrective Services (Parole Board) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2017 featured several amendments recommended by Parole Board Queensland President-Designate Michael Byrne QC, the implementation team, and stakeholder submissions, since the original Bill was introduced to parliament in February.

“They will improve the operation of the new Parole Board Queensland, and remain consistent with the review’s vision of a highly professionalised single Parole Board,” Minister Ryan said.

Minister Ryan said amendments include a firm time period (two business days) for consideration of a suspension of parole; the types of parole matters to be determined by the entire five-person Board; and a new section to include the offence of strangulation under the definition of prescribed prisoners. This will ensure parole applications by prisoners who have been convicted of the strangulation offence will be subject to the highest level of scrutiny of the Parole Board Queensland.

The Board will feature at least four highly qualified full-time members, and will include a full-time President and Deputy Presidents, each of whom is equivalent in standing to a judge of a State or Federal court.

Commissioner Mark Rallings said Queensland Corrective Services is undertaking a significant program of work to support the commencement of the new parole board.

“Queensland Corrective Services has examined a significant volume of prisoner and offender data and offence types to support the functions of the new parole board,” he said.

Minister Ryan said community members, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, a police officer, and a public servant with expertise in probation and parole will also be appointed as parole board members.

“In addition to the new Parole Board, the Palaszczuk Government has committed $35.15 million over six years to expand GPS technology to monitor up to 500 parolees across Queensland. The Bill has clarified that Queensland Corrective Services officers may direct offenders on parole to wear, and be monitored by, GPS devices,” he said.

Commissioner Rallings noted the improvements the commencement of GPS tracking for parolees will have in delivering greater community safety.

“GPS is a proven technology we have used for several years with the State’s most dangerous offenders – by expanding GPS tracking to parolees we are putting better tools in the hands of our officers in the field,” Commissioner Rallings said.

In welcoming the new legislation, Minister Ryan also paid tribute to the former Parole Board president Peter McInnes, who passed away last month after a long illness.

“Peter will be remembered as a passionate parole board president who constantly strived for improvement,” Minister Ryan said.

“For over 15 years, he demonstrated a tireless commitment to his community as Deputy President and then President of the Queensland Parole Boards, as well as his work with a number of charitable foundations. His dedication and strong work ethic were pivotal during his tenure.”

ENDS

Media contact: Michelle Connolly 0478 325 738