A Crisafulli govt bill under parliamentary processes would expand harsher youth sentencing a third time, unwind Qld’s three-strike drug diversion program, and extend police search and move-on powers
The Qld Human Rights Commission, under new boss Debbie Platz, has decided not to make a submission
The commission tells me it made submissions to the first stages of “adult crime, adult time”, still maintains those concerns, & cited finite resourcing. It was not drawn on the bill’s other elements
Peak health, housing, social service, youth justice & legal groups want the bill altered or dumped
Qld Council for Civil Liberties has described the commission’s decision not to weigh in as “unprecedented”.
Berkman said: “For the commission not to speak up against this government overreach is a total betrayal of its mandate.”
Matt Dennien