QUEENSLAND ENCOURAGES INTERSTATE PROGRESS ON DRINK SPIKING
Published Friday, 10 November, 2006 at 05:05 PM
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Minister Assisting the Premier in Western Queensland
The Honourable Kerry Shine
The Queensland Government has encouraged other States and Territories to also outlaw drink spiking.
Attorney-General and Justice Minister Kerry Shine said State Parliament last week passed laws to create a new offence of “unlawful drink spiking” in Queensland.
The new offence is now in place and a maximum penalty of five years jail applies.
“Drink spiking is a serious issue. The Government took the view that it’s irrelevant whether a spiked drink is consumed or not, Mr Shine said.
The Government committed to introduce specific drink-spiking offences at the State election in September.
Speaking from the Standing Committee on Attorneys-General meeting in Fremantle (Western Australia) today, Mr Shine said he was pleased other States, particularly South Australia, also recognised the seriousness of the issue.
“To make drink spiking a specific offence across Australia would send a clear signal to the community and that is – drink spiking is not trivial and that offenders can face tough penalties, which in Queensland is up to five years jail,” Mr Shine said.
The offence applies to a person who administers or attempts to administer, in drink, a substance to another person, without that other person’s knowledge of the presence of the substance – whether at all or in the quantity added – with intent to cause the other person to become stupefied or overpowered
10 November 2006
Media contact: Kirby Anderson 0418 197 350 or kirby.anderson@ministerial.qld.gov.au
Attorney-General and Justice Minister Kerry Shine said State Parliament last week passed laws to create a new offence of “unlawful drink spiking” in Queensland.
The new offence is now in place and a maximum penalty of five years jail applies.
“Drink spiking is a serious issue. The Government took the view that it’s irrelevant whether a spiked drink is consumed or not, Mr Shine said.
The Government committed to introduce specific drink-spiking offences at the State election in September.
Speaking from the Standing Committee on Attorneys-General meeting in Fremantle (Western Australia) today, Mr Shine said he was pleased other States, particularly South Australia, also recognised the seriousness of the issue.
“To make drink spiking a specific offence across Australia would send a clear signal to the community and that is – drink spiking is not trivial and that offenders can face tough penalties, which in Queensland is up to five years jail,” Mr Shine said.
The offence applies to a person who administers or attempts to administer, in drink, a substance to another person, without that other person’s knowledge of the presence of the substance – whether at all or in the quantity added – with intent to cause the other person to become stupefied or overpowered
10 November 2006
Media contact: Kirby Anderson 0418 197 350 or kirby.anderson@ministerial.qld.gov.au