Mackay glamour Chloe Victoria Smith charges with dangerous driving, drugs

A fiery exchange has erupted between a longstanding regional magistrate and a Brisbane-based solicitor over how fresh charges against a Mackay beauty worker should be handled. Read what happened.

Chloe Victoria Smith, 29, is facing fresh charges of dangerous driving on the Bruce Hwy at Bakers Creek and possessing dangerous drugs at Rural View.

Mackay glamour Chloe Victoria Smith has been arrested on fresh charges, but her push to have the matters finalised at her first mention resulted in a fiery exchange between her solicitor and a longstanding magistrate.

The 29-year-old beauty worker and mum spent Thursday night in Mackay watch house and appeared dishevelled when she fronted court via video link.

Ms Smith is charged with dangerous driving on the Bruce Hwy at Bakers Creek and possessing dangerous drugs including alprazolam, buprenorphine and fentanyl at Rural View – both on November 10 this year.

Solicitor Daniel Hannay told Mackay Magistrates Court Ms Smith wanted to plead guilty and have the matters finalised immediately.

After noting her pleas, Magistrate Damien Dwyer said he was “not prepared” to do a sentence until Ms Smith’s “other matters” had been completed in the higher courts, citing “I’ve got to look at totality”.

Chloe Victoria Smith, 29, is facing fresh charges of dangerous driving on the Bruce Hwy at Bakers Creek and possessing dangerous drugs at Rural View.

In March 2020 she was charged over allegations she was involved in an ice trafficking gang linked to the Finks Outlaw Motorcycle Gang after police operation Romeo Suitcase targeted an alleged network spanning from Gold Coast to Cairns.

Ms Smith is also charged with possessing an aggravated amount of ice as well as cash from drug trafficking sales after police raided her home in April 2021.

Two counts of trafficking, five counts of supplying and three counts of possessing dangerous drugs have since been committed to the Mackay Supreme Court, while other charges are adjourned to March 10 for mention.

The dangerous driving allegedly occurred on the Bruce Hwy at Bakers Creek on November 10.

Mr Hannay said it “could be months” until those matters were finalised and pushed for recent charges to be dealt with immediately.

“Your honour she has a right to plead guilty and she’s entered a plea,” Mr Hannay said.

“I’ve taken it but she doesn’t have a right to be dealt with … straight away, there’s a law to be taken into account Mr Hannay, totality,” Mr Dwyer fired back.

There was a fiery exchange between Magistrate Damien Dwyer and a southeast Queensland-based solicitor over Ms Smith’s case.

Mr Hannay then questioned whether or not Mackay Magistrates Court did not have the time.

“No … the case is that she has other serious matters and they should be dealt with first in my view,” Mr Dwyer said.

Mr Hannay said “I disagree” and continued to push for the fresh charges to be dealt with, even requesting for the case to be adjourned to Brisbane so he could finalise them in that jurisdiction.

“No I won’t,” Mr Dwyer said.

Her new matters were adjourned until March 2023.

“I’ll almost refer you to the litigation commission if you want to try that Mr Hannay. You think you’re going to go around shopping for judges because you didn’t get what you want.

“That’s a very very thin line you’re treading.”

Mr Hannay argued, “If your honour’s going to make the allegation, I’m trying to deal with the matters by way of a plea of guilty today.”

Mr Hannay then said if the matter was to be adjourned he would seek a copy of the transcript “and we’ll deal with the matter that way”.

“Mr Hannay are you threatening me,” Mr Dwyer said.

“No I’m not,” Mr Hannay said.

“You better not be otherwise I will refer this to the litigation commission,” Mr Dwyer said.

A copy of the transcript was ordered and Ms Smith’s new charges were adjourned to March 10. She was granted bail on her own undertaking.