The Queensland Government will create an Expert Legal Panel to review new laws it introduced last month to combat youth crime.
The Making Queensland Safer Laws were passed in State parliament in December and detailed 13 offences where juvenile offenders, who committed serious crimes, would face the same penalties as adult offenders.
Youth Justice Minister Laura Gerber said expressions of interest were now open for the panel to advise on the next tranche of the laws and future reform of the Youth Justice Act.
Minister Gerber said the Government was seeking panel members, who would be appointed for an initial period of 12 months, with extensive experience in legal practice, law enforcement or victim support.
She said the panel would be tasked with a review of the Youth Justice Act to identify additional and more complex offences for inclusion in the Making Queensland Safer Laws.
“When we announced Adult Crime, Adult Time we were clear further reform and further offences would be added in the second tranche of the Making Queensland Safer Laws, after a detailed legal assessment by the panel.”
Minister Gerber said expressions of interest would close on January 30 with details on the Department of Youth Justice and Victim Support website.
