Queensland Human Rights Commission’s silence on controversial new bill sparks alarm
Queensland’s human rights watchdog has chosen not to weigh in on a parliamentary review of the controversial government bill, in a move that raises concerns from civil society groups and the state’s only Green MP.
Bill will expand Crisafulli government’s jurisdiction “adult time” youth sentencing planrelax the state three-hit drug diversion programand give police new powers to search and remove people from designated areas.
Debbie Platz became the second person to assume the permanent role of Human Rights Commissioner earlier this year. Putting forward a less “contestational” vision for the office previously quite critical from similar laws.
The crime bill has been backed by victims’ groups, councils, retail and shopping center bodies, but peak groups in the state’s health, housing, social care, youth justice and legal sectors have called for the laws to be changed or repealed.
First Nations-focused agencies were alarmed after the government acknowledged the laws would disproportionately affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.
In submissions published this week, many groups questioned why the government had not yet published the advice of its “expert legal panel” that makes recommendations on adult time laws, despite requests and promises that it would be made public. Part of the committee process.
When asked about the decision not to apply, a spokesperson for the human rights commission told this imprint that it had applied for the previous two tranches of adult time laws.
“We remain concerned about the Queensland government’s human rights-overriding approach to sentencing children,” the spokesman said.
“The Commission will continue to consider how best to apply our limited resources to ensure our actions have maximum impact for all Queenslanders.
“In parallel, we expect to soon publish a position statement confirming our position on juvenile sentencing in Queensland.”
In an interview ABC Radio in Brisbane Shortly after the bill was announced earlier this month, Platz said his office would look at “how we can assist the government and parliament to refine or improve the law.”
Queensland Civil Liberties Council chief executive Michael Cope, whose organization made a highly critical submission to the government committee examining the bills, said he was extremely disappointed in the byline.
Cope said the commission made presentations on previous phases of the government’s work. Adult schedule and expansionThat’s not what the bulk of the bill was about.
“I cannot recall any instance in which a bill proposing a sweeping increase in police powers was not introduced by the Human Rights Commission during the time it existed,” Cope said.
“Looking at the memorandum, it appears that the committee was not consulted on this aspect of the bill… In our opinion, this is their job. [to be making such submissions]And this is an unprecedented decision in its history.
Greens Maiwar MP Michael Berkman said the move “bears all the hallmarks of a Trump-style takeover of this important body that is supposed to counter the excesses of the LNP government”.
“The commission was strongly in favor of the expanded Police Drug Diversion Scheme when it becomes law in 2023 and I cannot understand why nothing has been said to save it,” he said.
“The commission’s failure to speak out against this government overreach is a complete betrayal of its authority.”
Katherine Hayes, chief executive of the Youth Advocacy Centre, said the commission’s silence on human rights abuses in youth justice was worrying.
He had no further comment on concerns raised about the commission’s approach. Attorney General Deb Frecklington’s office deferred questions to the commission.
A series of parliamentary committee hearings on the bill will take place from Friday until the final report is presented on April 17 and parliament returns the following week.
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Matt Dennien is a reporter covering state politics and public services for the Brisbane Times. He previously worked for newspapers in Tasmania and Brisbane community radio station 4ZZZ. Contact him securely on Signal @mattdennien.15Connect via email.
