MEDIA STATEMENT: Making Queensland Safer Laws: Expressions of interest now open for Expert Legal Panel 

Making Queensland Safer Laws: Expressions of interest now open for Expert Legal Panel 

• The Crisafulli Government is delivering on its commitment to establish an expert legal panel to advise on the next tranche of the Making Queensland Safer Laws and future reform of the Youth Justice Act.
• Experts with legal, law enforcement or victim support experience invited to nominate for the panel.
• Panel will recommend additional offences for Adult Crime, Adult Time as well as provide advice on ongoing reform of the Youth Justice Act.  

The Crisafulli Government has established an Expert Legal Panel to provide advice on the next stages of reform to the Youth Justice Act, taking steps to fulfil an election commitment to deliver future tranches of the Making Queensland Safer Laws.  

Expressions of interest are now open, and the Government is seeking panel members with extensive experience in legal practice, law enforcement or victim support.  

The Expert Panel will be tasked with a review of the Youth Justice Act to identify additional and more complex offences for inclusion for Adult Crime, Adult Time, as well as additional opportunities to reform the Act.   

This is exactly what the LNP promised before the last election. 

The panel will make recommendations about delivering additional offences and will provide advice on how best to implement the legislative amendments.  

Panelists will be appointed by the Minister for Youth Justice and Victim Support for an initial period of twelve months. 

Minister for Youth Justice and Victim Support Laura Gerber said this was an important step to restoring safety across Queensland and delivered on a key commitment to Queenslanders.  

“The Crisafulli Government promised Queenslanders action to turn the tide on Labor’s Youth Crime Crisis and the five initial areas included in Adult Crime, Adult Time were delivered before Christmas exactly as promised before the election,” Minister Gerber said. 

“When we announced Adult Crime, Adult Time we were clear further reform and further offences would be added in the second tranche of the Making Queensland Safer Laws, after a detailed legal assessment by the panel. 

“This is exactly what we are delivering on just as we promised we would before the election.  

“The work of the panel will occur while the Crisafulli Government progresses commitments to make Jack’s Law permanent and introduce Daniel’s Law, as part of the next stages of the Making Queensland Safer Laws. 

“Unravelling a decade of weak youth crime laws is a process, but we must reform our youth crime laws and this is the next step in delivering on that. 

“While you can’t eradicate all crime, we must take steps to restore community safety following a decade of chaos and crisis under Labor.” 

Expressions of interest will close 30 January 2025. For further information or to submit an EOI, visit the Department of Youth Justice and Victim Support website. 

ENDS 

MEDIA CONTACT: Phoebe Powell 0450 572 822