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Call for Submissions

Submissions closed on Wednesday, 26 February 2014.

Consultation Draft of Amendments

On 4 March 2014, the Department of Justice and Attorney-General issued a consultation draft of amendments to the Youth Justice and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2014.

The amendments relate to proposed Boot Camp Orders for vehicle offences flagged by the Attorney-General in his introductory speech.

The Committee is still due to report on the Bill by Wednesday 12 March 2014.

Should you wish to provide any comments to the Committee on the additional amendments please provide your submission to the Committee secretariat by close of business on Thursday, 6 March 2014.

Copies of the consultation draft amendments are available here.

Objectives of the Bill

The policy objectives of the Bill are to:

1. Permit repeat offenders’ identifying information to be published and open the Childrens Court for youth justice matters involving repeat offenders;
2. Create a new offence where a child commits a further offence while on bail;
3. Permit childhood findings of guilt for which no conviction was recorded to be admissible in court when sentencing a person for an adult offence;
4. Provide for the automatic transfer from detention to adult corrective services facilities of 17 year olds who have six months or more left to serve in detention;
5. Provide that, in sentencing any adult or child for an offence punishable by imprisonment, the court must not have regard to any principle, whether under statute or at law, that a sentence of imprisonment (in the case of an adult) or detention (in the case of a child) should only be imposed as a last resort;
6. Allow children who have absconded from Sentenced Youth Boot Camps to be arrested and brought before a court for resentencing without first being given a warning; and
7. Make a technical amendment to the Youth Justice Act 1992.

Other Information

The Youth Justice and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2014 and Explanatory Notes are available from the Office of the Queensland Parliamentary Counsel at www.legislation.qld.gov.au.

The Hansard transcript of the explanatory speech for the Bill can be accessed here.

Public Hearing

The Committee held a public hearing on the Bill on Monday, 3 March 2014.  The Committee heard from invited witnesses, on the proposals being advanced under the Bill.

A copy of the schedule can be accessed here.

Copies of the final transcript can be accessed here or at Related Publications.

Reasons for the Bill

The reasons for the Bill appear on pages 1-2 of the Explanatory Notes which can be viewed here.

A copy of the report is available here or can be accessed at Related Publications

Referral

On 11 February 2014 the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, the Hon Jarrod Bleijie MP, introduced the Youth Justice and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2014 into the Queensland Parliament.  In accordance with Standing Order 131 of the Standing Rules and Orders of the Legislative Assembly, the Bill was referred to the Legal Affairs and Community Safety Committee (the Committee) for detailed consideration.

By resolution of the Committee of the Legislative Assembly, the Committee is required to report to the Parliament by Wednesday, 12 March 2014.

Report

On 12 March 2014, the Committee tabled its Report No. 58, Youth Justice and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2014. A copy of the report is available here or can be accessed at Related Publications.

The Government tabled its response to the Committee's report on 18 March 2014. A copy of the Government Response is available here or can be accessed at Related Publications.

The Youth Justice and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2014 was passed, with amendment, by the Legislative Assembly on 18 March 2014.