Deadline locked in for tough crime laws

The new Queensland government is pushing through its plans to legislate its Adult Crime Adult Time policy before Christmas, despite only a leaving a few days for parliament to scrutinise the new laws.

Newly elected Premier David Crisafulli recommitted to his promise to the voters that he would deliver tougher justice laws by Christmas.

Mr Crisafulli said the draft Making Queensland Safer laws were being undertaken ahead of his cabinet announcement on Friday.

“I said that we were determined to make sure that he business of government would continue and that meant passing some important legislation,” Mr Crisafulli said on Thursday.

“I made a commitment to Queenslanders that would include the debating and passing of the Making Queensland Safer laws.

“They will be laws by the end of the year and we intend to make sure that we introduce them in the first sitting of parliament and following that committee process that they become law and gazetted before Christmas.”

Parliament will reconvene for its first sitting days under the new government on November 26, with the first formal sitting day listed for November 28.

Mr Crisafulli said a second sitting week has been scheduled for December 10-12 to ensure the Making Queensland Safer laws are passed before Christmas.

The new laws will look to include mandatory sentences for murder, while also increasing the threshold for manslaughter, for unlawful wounding, for aggravated circumstances of breaking and entering and motor vehicle theft.

When questioned whether the lack of consultation about the proposed laws could be an issue, Mr Crisafulli said he was “determined” to uphold his promise to voters that the new laws were passed by Christmas.

“We had a really big consultation process called an election on Adult Crime Adult Time,” he said.

“Queenslanders spoke overwhelmingly.

“I did make a commitment to Queenslanders that ti will go through committee process and that it will.

“It has to work, the legislation has to be fit for purpose.

“But I made a commitment and told somebody I respect very much that it will be law by Christmas and it will be.

“Drafting of the laws are well and truly underway, parliament will sit, the committees will review it and by the end of that second sitting week it’ll be law.

“I’m not going to Christmas and seeing a generation of Queensland exposed to no consequences for actions.

“We’re going to take decisive action.”

Mr Crisafulli confirmed the first cabinet meeting will sit on Monday before he heads to the regions next week.