Independent-led group to get rare powers in Qld youth justice debate

The news

A rare powerful independently chaired parliamentary committee will take a bipartisan look at “all aspects” of the youth justice space and propose fresh reforms.

As MPs returned to a rowdy sitting week, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk used one of her first statements after a two-week break to announce the establishment of a new select committee with Independent Noosa MP Sandy Bolton at the helm.

Noosa MP Sandy Bolton (centre) will chair a powerful new parliamentary select committee on youth justice – the first independent policy committee head in at least two decades.Credit: Matt Dennien

The government will write to the LNP opposition on Tuesday asking which of their MPs will be nominated to join the group.

While the scope of its work is yet to be determined, the committee could have the power to hold hearings, order people to attend and produce information, publish documents and evidence, and make recommendations to parliament.

How we got here

The development is the latest request from the newly formed Voice for Victims group, unsuccessfully sought by others, to be accepted by a government which is facing pressure from all sides of the debate.

Talks are already underway to set up an independent advisory group – announced by the government last week – which will include victims and be chaired by a retired judge.

Crime, and youth justice in particular, are among a handful of topics placing significant political pressure on the government this year, and heading into next year’s October state election.

Why it matters

With the Labor government’s majority in parliament, all but one of the 11 committees meant to make up for the lack of an upper house are chaired by a government MP.

“This will allow for a bipartisan approach examining all aspects of this complex issue.”

Annastacia Palaszczuk on the new parliamentary committee

However, even in that committee, the government still holds a majority and ultimate control. Bolton appears to be the first independent policy committee chair in at least two decades.

Under parliamentary rules, after nominating the chair, the government can usually only place three other people on a seven-member committee, meaning Labor would not have ultimate control under an independent chair.

But, as a select committee, the group’s membership will be determined by a motion voted on by MPs, meaning the government may still be able to exert some power over its structure and abilities.

What they said

“This will allow for a bipartisan approach examining all aspects of this complex issue,” Palaszczuk told parliament of the new committee.

The premier also gave a nod to Cooper MP Jonty Bush, a long-time crime victim advocate and first-term MP who has been the most outspoken Labor figure on the need for evidence-based justice reform.

“Our party and this parliament are all the better because of her advocacy on behalf of victims,” Palaszczuk said.

Speaking after Palaszczuk, D’Ath said the government would also ensure there was a “victims’ representative” on both the sentencing council and parole board.

The question time that followed, coming after two weeks of simmering internal Labor leadership frustrations being aired in Palaszczuk’s absence, then repeatedly descended into loud interjections.

LNP Opposition Leader David Crisafulli sought to suggest the premier could not “govern her ministers”, let alone “govern Queensland”.

Palaszczuk and her ministers focused on the LNP’s past controversial term in government under Campbell Newman and accused Crisafulli of seeking to “sneak into office” with limited policies.

“Everyone on this side is up for the fight,” Palaszczuk said of the state election – still 13 months away – to cheers from Labor MPs.

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