Queensland’s human rights watchdog has chosen not to weigh in on parliamentary scrutiny of a controversial government bill, in a move that has raised concerns from civil society groups and the state’s sole Greens MP.
The bill would expand the Crisafulli government’s “adult time” youth sentencing scheme, unwind the state’s three-strike drug diversion program, and give police new powers to search and move people on from declared precincts.
Debbie Platz became only the second person to hold the permanent role of Human Rights Commissioner earlier this year, and has set out a less “combative” vision for the office, which was previously highly critical of similar laws.
The crime bill has been backed by victim groups, councils, retail and shopping centre bodies, but peak groups across the state’s health, housing, social service, youth justice and legal sectors have called for the laws to be altered or dumped.
First Nations-focused bodies have raised alarm at the government’s admission that the laws would likely disproportionately affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.
In submissions published this week, several groups questioned why the government was yet to release the advice of its “expert legal panel” advising on the adult time laws, despite requests and a promise it would be made public as part of the committee process.
Asked about its decision to not lodge a submission, a spokesperson for the human rights commission told this masthead it had made submissions to the two previous tranches of adult time laws.
“We maintain our concerns regarding the approach taken by the Queensland government to override human rights in relation to the sentencing of children,” the spokesperson said.
“The commission will continue to consider how best to apply our finite resources to ensure our actions deliver maximum impact for all Queenslanders.
“In line with this, we anticipate soon publishing a position statement confirming our position on the sentencing of children in Queensland.”
In an interview on ABC Radio Brisbane shortly after the bill’s announcement earlier this month, Platz said her office would be looking at how it could “assist government and the parliament to improve or enhance the legislation”.
Queensland Council for Civil Liberties president Michael Cope, whose organisation also made a highly critical submission to the government committee examining the draft laws, told this masthead he was extremely disappointed.
Cope said that while the commission had made submissions on previous stages of the government’s adult time scheme and expansion, large portions of the bill were not related to that.
“I can’t recall any previous occasion in which a bill which proposes extensive increase in police powers has not been the subject of a submission by the Human Rights Commission in the time that it exists,” Cope said.
“Looking at the explanatory note, it would appear that the commission wasn’t consulted in relation to this aspect of the bill … In our view, it’s their job [to be making such submissions], and in its history, this is an unprecedented decision.”
Greens Maiwar MP Michael Berkman said the move had “all the hallmarks of a Trump-style takeover of this important body that is supposed to stand up to the LNP government’s overreach”.
“The commission was strongly in favour of the expanded Police Drug Diversion Program when it was legislated in 2023, and I can’t fathom why it’s said nothing to save it,” he said.
“For the commission not to speak up against this government overreach is a total betrayal of its mandate.”
Youth Advocacy Centre chief executive Katherine Hayes said the commission’s silence on the issue of human rights breaches in youth justice was concerning.
The commission had no further comment on the concerns raised about its approach. Attorney-General Deb Frecklington’s office deferred questions to the commission.
A series of parliamentary committee hearings into the bill will take place from Friday until a final report is due on April 17, before parliament’s return the following week.
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Matt Dennien is a reporter at Brisbane Times covering state politics and the public service. He has previously worked for newspapers in Tasmania and Brisbane community radio station 4ZZZ. Contact him securely on Signal @mattdennien.15Connect via email.
