Students quiz Attorney-General on points of law
Published Wednesday, 30 July, 2008 at 12:50 PM
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Minister Assisting the Premier in Western Queensland
The Honourable Kerry Shine
Students at Cleveland District State High School had the opportunity to ask the tough questions of the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Kerry Shine, when he visited the school today.
Mr Shine and the Member for Cleveland, Phil Weightman, were there to talk to students about important changes to Queensland legal system in recent years.
“The students I met with today demonstrated an excellent understanding of the law in Queensland,” Mr Shine said.
“It is important that students who will soon leave school and be important members of society must understand the legal structure we rely so much upon.
“We discussed the change in the law which now makes the assault of a public servant an automatic serious assault.
“We also talked about recent changes to the criminal code including the introduction of a new law of abandoning children and the removal of some provisions relating to piracy and duels.
Mr Weightman said the Cleveland students undertaking legal studies at the school will benefit from Mr Shine’s visit.
“Who better to talk to our students about the world of law than Queensland’s top law maker, the Attorney-General,” he said.
“I was very impressed with some of the questions the students had for the Attorney and they clearly understood the legal issues and how they relate to young people.”
Mr Shine will continue to visit schools around Queensland to raise the interest of students in the law.
“Who knows, some of the students I am visiting may one day become Queensland’s Chief Justice of the Supreme Court or even the Director of Public Prosecutions,” he said.
“I believe it is vital that those who want to become lawyers or barristers gain an early understanding of the law and that is what my visit to Cleveland State High School is all about.”
Mr Shine and Mr Weightman also attended a morning tea for local Justices of the Peace (JPs) and other court volunteers from the Cleveland area at the Cleveland Court House.
“There are 831 registered JPs in the Cleveland electorate, including the many who generously commit their own time to operate JP in the Community sites such as the one at Cleveland Court House , “said Mr Weightman.
“Court processes are unfamiliar to most people and as a result, many people can feel overwhelmed and intimidated.
“Both the highly trained Bayside Domestic Violence Initiative and the Catholic Prison Ministry provide a valuable service to victims of crime and people accused of crimes.
“These volunteers are able to engage with people in an informal way and direct them to the appropriate court staff for service, support and specific advice, “ he said.
Mr Shine said the Queensland Government was committed to increasing the accessibility of justice of the peace services across the state.
Media Contact: Troy Davies 3239 6400 or 0488 799 273
Mr Shine and the Member for Cleveland, Phil Weightman, were there to talk to students about important changes to Queensland legal system in recent years.
“The students I met with today demonstrated an excellent understanding of the law in Queensland,” Mr Shine said.
“It is important that students who will soon leave school and be important members of society must understand the legal structure we rely so much upon.
“We discussed the change in the law which now makes the assault of a public servant an automatic serious assault.
“We also talked about recent changes to the criminal code including the introduction of a new law of abandoning children and the removal of some provisions relating to piracy and duels.
Mr Weightman said the Cleveland students undertaking legal studies at the school will benefit from Mr Shine’s visit.
“Who better to talk to our students about the world of law than Queensland’s top law maker, the Attorney-General,” he said.
“I was very impressed with some of the questions the students had for the Attorney and they clearly understood the legal issues and how they relate to young people.”
Mr Shine will continue to visit schools around Queensland to raise the interest of students in the law.
“Who knows, some of the students I am visiting may one day become Queensland’s Chief Justice of the Supreme Court or even the Director of Public Prosecutions,” he said.
“I believe it is vital that those who want to become lawyers or barristers gain an early understanding of the law and that is what my visit to Cleveland State High School is all about.”
Mr Shine and Mr Weightman also attended a morning tea for local Justices of the Peace (JPs) and other court volunteers from the Cleveland area at the Cleveland Court House.
“There are 831 registered JPs in the Cleveland electorate, including the many who generously commit their own time to operate JP in the Community sites such as the one at Cleveland Court House , “said Mr Weightman.
“Court processes are unfamiliar to most people and as a result, many people can feel overwhelmed and intimidated.
“Both the highly trained Bayside Domestic Violence Initiative and the Catholic Prison Ministry provide a valuable service to victims of crime and people accused of crimes.
“These volunteers are able to engage with people in an informal way and direct them to the appropriate court staff for service, support and specific advice, “ he said.
Mr Shine said the Queensland Government was committed to increasing the accessibility of justice of the peace services across the state.
Media Contact: Troy Davies 3239 6400 or 0488 799 273