The Making Queensland Safer (Adult Crime, Adult Time) Amendment Bill 2025 was introduced into the Queensland Parliament on 1 April 2025.
The Bill has been referred to the Justice, Integrity and Community Safety Committee for inquiry with closing date for submissions to be confirmed.
Queensland Law Society will participate in the Parliamentary Committee legislative review process to ensure that the proposed laws have no unintended consequences.
QLS acknowledges that youth justice has a broad impact on our community, and we recognise the grief of victims and their families. We acknowledge the concerns held by community members and those who have been impacted by youth crime in Queensland and support the right of all Queenslanders to be and feel safe in their community. We also understand community expectation for steps to be taken to address youth crime.
We as the Queensland Law Society, with over 150 years of legal experience, support measures that will work effectively and efficiently to keep Queenslanders safe. QLS strongly advocates for a thorough evaluation of the proposed amendments to the Adult Crime, Adult Time legislation to ensure a whole of system approach to address this complex issue.
We acknowledge the Premier has said early intervention and rehabilitation will be considered for youth offenders. We strongly urge the government to invest in diversionary programs that have been proven to reduce recidivism and therefore keep the community safe.
Under the Making Queensland Safer Act 2024 (MQS Act) passed in December 2024, young offenders may be sentenced to the same maximum, minimum and mandatory penalties as adults for 13 specified offences.
The Amendment Bill prescribes 20 new ‘Adult Crime, Adult Time’ offences (including three where only certain aggravated forms of the offences are prescribed) to the existing 13 offences, following advice from an expert legal panel about offences that cause most harm to individuals and to the community more broadly.
The Explanatory Notes indicate that for some of the new offences, the maximum penalty for a child will increase to life detention, where that is currently only the maximum penalty if the offence is particularly heinous and involves the commission of violence against a person. For those offences, if a child is sentenced to life they will be liable to the same 15 year mandatory minimum non-parole period that applies to an adult.
The new offences to be inserted into section 175A of the Youth Justice Act 1992 (YJ Act) to which the ‘Adult Crime, Adult Time’ policy will apply are:
From the Criminal Code 1899 (Qld):
- s.69 Going armed so as to cause fear
- s.75 Threatening violence
- s.306 Attempt to murder
- s.307 Accessory after the fact to murder
- s.312(2) Assaulting a pregnant person and killing, or doing grievous bodily harm to, or transmitting a serious disease to the unborn child
- s.320A Torture
- s.328C Damaging emergency vehicle when operating a motor vehicle
- s.328D Endangering a police officer when driving a motor vehicle
- s.349 Rape
- s.350 Attempt to commit rape
- s.351 Assault with intent to commit rape
- s.352 Sexual assault, if the circumstance in subsection (2) (involving any part of the mouth) or (3) (while armed, in company, or involving penetration) applies
- s.354 Kidnapping
- s.354A Kidnapping for ransom
- s.355 Deprivation of liberty
- s.398 Stealing, if item 12 (a vehicle) or 14 (a firearm for use in another indictable offence) applies
- s.461 Arson
- s.462 Endangering particular property with fire
From the Drugs Misuse Act 1986 (Qld):
- s.5 Trafficking in dangerous drugs
The statement of compatibility for the Bill concludes that these amendments are not compatible with the human rights protected by the Human Rights Act 2019. The provisions inserted by the amendments are subject to the override declaration in existing section 175A(12) of the YJ Act.
The Bill also makes minor amendments to the MQS Act including a technical amendment to omit a redundant cross-reference to the Police Powers and Responsibilities Act 2000.
More information about the proposed amendments is available from the following materials:
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