Queensland’s Childrens Court will be opened to victims and the media under new laws introduced into State Parliament today, which also place a mandatory life sentence on children convicted of murder.
Premier David Crisafulli said under laws featured in the Making Queensland Safer Bill 2024, juvenile offenders who committed serious crimes would face the same penalties as adult offenders.
Premier Crisafulli said 13 offences would be covered under the first tranche of laws, including mandatory life detention for murder, with a non-parole period of 20 years.
He said other offences included:
- Manslaughter.
- Unlawful striking causing death.
- Grievous bodily harm.
- Wounding.
- Serious assault.
- Home and business break-ins and robbery.
- Dangerous operation of vehicles.
“The principle of detention as a last resort would also be removed from the Act to prioritise community safety.”
Premier Crisafulli said courts would be empowered to consider an offender’s full criminal history when sentencing, making their criminal history as a juvenile available to the court when they were sentenced as an adult for a five-year period.
He said consideration of victims would be prioritised during sentencing.
“The Bill also includes measures to fully open the Childrens Court for victims and the media.”
Attorney-General Deb Frecklington said the Bill made important changes to fundamental provisions that determined how courts dealt with serious juvenile offending.
“The purpose of our justice system must be to hold people accountable for their actions and to break cycles of reoffending,” Minister Frecklington said.
