Dirty dozen list boosts ‘adult crime, adult time’ laws
The sweeping bill, which also gives police new powers, adds more offenses to the state’s controversial “adult crimes, adult statute of limitations” laws.
A further 12 serious offenses have been included in the Queensland government’s latest reforms, bringing the total to 45.
Amendments that put “victims” at the heart of the justice system were passed by the Queensland parliament on Thursday after a heated debate.
This is the third expansion of the “adult crime, adult time” reforms since the Liberal National government comes to power in late 2024.
“We stand firmly and unrepentantly with victims, because they are at the heart of everything we do,” Youth Justice Minister Laura Gerber told parliament. he said.
The minister had previously told parliament there had been a 27 per cent drop in the number of “adult crimes, adult timing” offenses under the LNP government.
Some of the new crimes added are rare; A parliamentary inquiry into the bill found that two of these offenses – assisting suicide and drugging (drugging) to commit a criminal offense – had not been committed by a child in the last decade.
Ms Gerber argued it would be “flawed logic” to wait for such crimes to become more common before imposing harsher consequences.
The dozens of crimes include rioting, aggravated assault causing bodily harm, conspiracy to commit murder, and unlawful stalking, intimidation, harassment or abuse.
A key provision of the bill gives police powers to respond more forcefully to disorder, threats and violence in designated business and community areas, including shopping centres.
The legislation also scraps the government’s three-strikes policy, which Labor has repeatedly described as “soft on drugs”, replacing it with a new illicit drug enforcement and diversion framework.
Under Labour’s three-strike policy, first-time offenders will be warned, while second- and third-time offenders will be offered a place in a diversionary programme.
Ms Gerber said frontline officers were left “frustrated, frustrated, embarrassed and disempowered” by having to repeatedly issue verbal warnings to known criminals that they were in possession of illegal drugs.
“You can’t be tough on crime while being soft on drugs,” the minister said.
Under the LNP reforms, first-time offenders can be referred to a drug diversion centre, but repeat offenders face immediate fines or charges.
The Australian Medical Association Queensland said the Labor Party abandonment policy was short-sighted and a blow to mental and preventive health.
“Treating these people as criminals rather than patients will not reduce drug use in our society,” AMA Queensland president Nick Yim said.
The official said the AMA was not called ahead of a parliamentary inquiry into the scheme, despite a written application and request being made to the committee.
“Timely intervention helps prevent other major problems such as dementia, cognitive decline, seizures and chronic liver disease,” Dr Yim said.
“We argue that illicit drug use should be treated as a health problem that requires compassionate and appropriate treatment.”
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