State government blasted over failure to appoint victim of crime to sentencing council

The Miles government is yet to appoint a victim of crime to the sentencing council more than four months after passing legislation.

The Miles government is yet to appoint a victim of crime to the sentencing council more than four months after passing legislation – a move that was spruiked at the time as “putting the needs of victims front and centre”.

Laws passed in November featured a suite of measures to support those affected by crime, including an increase to payments for victims, a boost to victim support services and the expansion of the Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council (QSAC).

The beefed-up council from 12 to 14 members was to feature someone with lived experience as a victim to “ensure the views of victims are represented in its important deliberations about sentencing”.

Shadow attorney-general Tim Nicholls.

But the specific member is yet to be appointed, which shadow attorney-general Tim Nicholls showed the government had “flippantly disregarded victims”.

“Alarmingly, Labor is out of touch with community expectations – they’re only focused on grabbing media headlines instead of delivering the genuine reform Queenslanders are demanding,” he said.

“This is yet another sign Labor doesn’t take crime seriously and can’t be trusted to fix the youth crime crisis.

The Logan Crime Reduction Unit targets youth offenders in a property crime blitz. Picture: Queensland Police

“If elected, the LNP’s ‘making Queensland safer laws’ will put victims’ rights first by rewriting the sentencing principles and automatically provide victims with updates about their cases.”

A spokesman for Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath said the criticism from the opposition was “bewildering considering they abolished QSAC altogether when last in government”.

Premier Steven Miles. Picture: John Gass

“The Department of Justice and Attorney-General is in the process of recruiting additional QSAC members, including two new members to strengthen victims of crime representation on the Council,” he said.

“The Miles government also acknowledges how important it is to listen and support victims and their advocates, which is why we have been delivering a range of measures to better support them.

“Late last year we announced s suite of reforms including $200m to boost victims support services, increasing financial assistance payments, establishing the Office of the Victims Commissioner and a creating victims of crime community response pilot.”