Greater say for victims of crime on Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council

• Four new members appointed to Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council.
• Council expanded from 12 to 14 representatives.
• Member with personal experience of violent crime appointed for first time.

Queensland victims of crime will have a greater say on sentencing issues, now that a person with lived experience of violent crime and the Interim Victims’ Commissioner have been appointed to the Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council (QSAC).

For the first time, a position is being explicitly reserved for a victim of crime to sit on the QSAC, alongside legal experts and community advocates experienced in criminal law, domestic and family violence, youth justice and First Nations justice issues.

The four new members are:

Mr Jon Rouse APM – Queensland’s Interim Victims’ Commissioner.

Mr Rouse previously served with the Queensland Police Service for 39 years, notably leading Taskforce Argos, and continues to be an ambassador for victim-survivors, with a particular focus on child exploitation and sexual abuse.

Mr Jakub Lodziak – Acting Public Defender, Legal Aid Queensland (LAQ).

Mr Lodziak is a qualified barrister, working in a range of roles at LAQ since 2005.

Ms Thelma Schwartz – Principal Legal Officer, Queensland Indigenous Family Violence Legal Service (QIFVLS).

Ms Schwartz is currently a member of QSAC’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Panel and is of Torres Strait Islander heritage. She was a member of the Women’s Safety and Justice Taskforce, is a member of the Queensland Human Rights Commission and the Queensland Police Service’s Advisory Panel supporting a review into diversity and inclusion in the police service, and is co-chair of the Queensland Justice Police Partnership Cross Agency Working Group.

Ms Sherrie Meyer – Chair of Board of Management, Queensland Homicide Victims’ Support Group (QHVSG).

Ms Meyer became a founding member of QHVSG following her son’s murder in 1993. An accredited mental health social worker specialising in child trauma counselling, Ms Meyer has also been a victim support case manager, child safety support officer, and domestic and family violence support worker.  

New laws to expand the council’s membership, increase payments for victims and boost victim support services were passed in December 2023.

The new appointments fill two additional places and two current vacancies, with the council’s membership increasing from 12 to 14 independent members.

Members are appointed for three years. Mr Rouse has been appointed until a permanent Victims’ Commissioner is appointed.

Last year we announced $200 million boost to victim support services. This included:

• increasing financial assistance to victims, including increasing the maximum financial assistance from $75,000 to $120,000
• increasing resources in Victims Assist Queensland to provide greater assistance to victims and improve processing times; and
• establishing the Victims Commissioner’s office.

Quotes attributable to Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence, Yvette D’Ath:

“The Miles Labor Government is committed to listening to and supporting victims of crime and their advocates.

“That’s why, we passed laws to ensure victims of crime with lived experience were represented on our Sentencing Advisory Council.

“It should be noted, not only has the Miles Government expanded the QSAC board to include a victim of crime with lived experience, we brought QSAC back after the LNP scrapped the Council altogether when last in government.

“David Crisafulli and the LNP need to be upfront with Queenslanders about their plans for QSAC.

“Because one of the council’s key roles is obtaining the community’s views on sentencing and these appointments ensure victims of crime have a seat at the table so their voices are heard.

“These four new appointees bring a wealth of knowledge from their areas of experience that will help the council in its work on sentencing, including advice to government when asked.

“We’re serious about ensuring our communities are safe, and vulnerable victims of crime get the emotional, financial and community support and assistance they need.

“We’re currently in the process of appointing a permanent Victims’ Commissioner to continue the important work that’s already been done by Interim Commissioner John Rouse, to raise awareness of the rights of victims of crime.

“We’ve committed more than $45 million to provide a targeted victim’s support package to help people through what can be a traumatic and distressing time.

“This will help ensure victims of crime receive timely financial assistance through Victim Assist Queensland and expand our Victims of Crime Community Response, among our other important victim-centred reforms.”

ENDS