Labor questions ‘integrity and transparency’ of crime panel selection process
Queensland’s opposition has questioned the “integrity and transparency” of the appointment process for a new panel advising on youth crime policy.
Youth Justice Minister Laura Gerber announced the five-member body on Wednesday. It includes several high-ranking legal professionals, a former police officer, and a First Nations elder.
The panel will advise the government on changes to youth crime policy – potentially including elements of the signature “adult time, adult crime” laws.
Chair April Freeman speaks at the announcement of the panel’s appointment, with Youth Justice Minister Laura Gerber (right) and fellow panel member Lyndy Atkinson.Credit: Catherine Strohfeldt
“We have three members who have over 20 years’ experience in legal practice and over 43 years of law enforcement, a victims’ advocate, and an Indigenous elder,” Gerber said.
“I think that represents the breadth of Queensland.”
Chair April Freeman did not say what matters the panel intended to discuss first.
“Understandably, there is considerable community concern about youth crime in Queensland,” she told reporters on Wednesday.
“At the bar, I have prosecuted juvenile offenders. I’ve also acted for juvenile offenders as their defence lawyer. I’ve seen both sides of the coin, and I can see what a vexed issue this is.”
The panel was chosen from more than 60 applications through an expressions of interest process.
Freeman, a barrister and former prosecutor, is also the wife of Treasurer David Janetzki’s chief of staff, Matt Tapsall.
Labor shadow minister for justice and shadow attorney general Meaghan Scanlon did not say if she believes this represents a conflict of interest, but she questioned the overall “integrity and transparency” of the appointment process.
“We just want to make sure that this body, which has been set up to review the government’s rushed legislation, was done with integrity and transparency, and those are just questions that we’re asking,” she said.
“I think it’s a matter for David Crisafulli to explain how all these people were appointed, and to just ensure that it’s transparent.
“These are important laws that we just want to make sure the government has done this right.”
Youth Justice Minister Laura Gerber says the expert panel comprises the “best of the best” in Queensland.Credit: Catherine Strohfeldt
Gerber denied any knowledge of political or financial ties to the LNP among panel members.
“That’s not something that was considered, and there was a really robust selection process done,” she said.
It comes amid reports the government struggled to fill the panel positions.
Gerber also announced that the government had begun work on its professional victims’ advocate service, launching consultations with key stakeholders this week.
“Our professional victims’ advocate service [is] today being co-designed with key stakeholders and victims to be able to deliver end-to-end support for the victims right through the process,” she said.
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