An Expert Legal Panel to provide advice on the next stages of reform to Queensland’s Youth Justice Act, relevant to Adult Crime, Adult Time, was appointed this week.
The panel will be tasked with identifying additional and more complex offences for inclusion in Adult Crime, Adult Time, as part of the second tranche of Making Queensland Safer Laws.
All five members of the panel have extensive experience in legal practice, law enforcement or victim support.
The members of the panel are: Chair April Freeman KC, who has 17 years of legal experience in criminal law, including role of Crown Prosecutor for Queensland; Douglas Wilson, a barrister with 17 years of experience working on complex criminal trials and appeals, including many youth justice matters; Lyndy Atkinson, founder of Voice for Victims advocacy group; Randal Ross, a former CEO of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service; and Robert Weir, retired Detective Superintendent, who served for 43 years in the Queensland Police Service. Â
They will make recommendations to the Minister for Youth Justice and Victim Support and provide advice on how to best implement legislative amendments.
The panel chair said she was eager to get to work to consider the second tranche of the laws.
“The Expert Legal Panel has been tasked with considering important changes to the Youth Justice Act and to provide independent advice to the government to assist navigation of these complex laws,” Ms Freeman said.
“I am looking forward to meeting my fellow panel members and to start getting to work as soon as possible.”
Minister for Youth Justice and Victim Support Laura Gerber said: “The panel members are all highly skilled and experienced professionals in the areas of legal practice, law enforcement, victim support and public policy.
“I am confident they will draw on their expertise to provide sound advice to the Government.”
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