Head of gov’s ‘Adult Crime, Adult Time’ panel married to LNP staffer
The Youth Justice Minister has defended the appointment of the wife of the Treasurer’s chief of staff as the head of the state government’s legal expert panel that will advise on its Adult Crime Adult Time legislation.
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The state government failed to declare the head of a legal expert panel that will advise on its “adult crime, adult time” legislation is the wife of the Treasurer’s chief of staff.
Youth Justice Minister Laura Gerber unveiled the panel of five today, touting it as “the best of the best” with a breadth of experience.
April Freeman KC, whose married name is April Tapsall, has been appointed as the chair of the legal expert panel. She is married to Treasurer David Janetzki’s chief of staff.
South Burnett Barrister Douglas Wilson, retired detective superintendent Robert Weir, Voice for Victims founder Lyndy Atkinson and Juru Elder Randall Ross will make up the panel.
Mr Wilson made an application for King’s Counsel in 2023 and 2024, according to the Bar Association of Queensland, however has not been appointed.
Ms Freeman is married to Mr Janetzki’s chief of staff Matt Tapsall.
Asked how Ms Freeman’s appointment was not a conflict of interest, Ms Gerber defended the reputable lawyer.
“Ms Freeman KC is a distinguished Kings Counsel whose reputation and experience is unquestionable,” she said.
“Ms Freeman KC has practised criminal law for more than two decades and under the former Labor Government has worked as a Crown Prosecutor for Queensland, a Member of a Queensland Tribunal and appeared for the former Labor Government in Commissions of Inquiry, multiple inquests and worked across Government Departments including Education, the Queensland Police Service, Corrective Services and Queensland Health.
“For the desperate Labor Opposition to now criticise an esteemed and highly-qualified woman because of who her partner is, is quite frankly deplorable”.
The Courier Mail makes no suggestion that Ms Freeman did not merit the appointment.
Ms Gerber, asked whether any of the panel appointees were LNP members, replied “not that I’m aware of”.
“But that’s not something that was considered,” she said.
The Minister argued the selection progress had been “robust” with more than 60 applicants.
She sidestepped questions over how many legal experts rejected offers from her department.
“We’ve got a King’s Counsel … who has over 20 years experience in criminal law, we’ve got an advocate for victims who is a founding member of Voice for Victims, the organisation that has championed the rights of victims before the rights of offenders,” she said.
“We’ve got a long standing retired police officer, 43 years in the police service as a detective superintendent on the front line serving regional Queensland.
“We’ve got an indigenous elder who’s based in Townsville, who brings the perspective needed to ensure that our laws deliver not just for the people of Brisbane or the people of the Gold Coast or the people of the Sunshine Coast, but the people in our regions, in Townsville, in Cairns, in Mount Isa in western Queensland.
“We have a breadth of experience on this panel.”
Ms Gerber did not respond to questions over Ms Freeman’s involvement in handing out how to vote cards at the St Stephen’s Coorparoo polling booth.
The government will consider all advice provided by the panel, including advice on repealing existing Adult Crime Adult Time legislation.
“Absolutely, that will be considered,” Ms Gerber said.
“If the panel gives me advice … that is their job to give me advice and for me to take that into consideration.
“But let’s not forget also that the people of Queensland mandated it, they overwhelmingly wanted stronger laws in this state.”
Just two of the panel members are qualified lawyers.
Ms Gerber defended the ratio, saying all members had “touchpoints” with the legal system.
“Lyndy Atkinson has a legal background and Rob Ross the Indigenous Elder was the CEO of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Center in Townsville,” she said.
“We promised Queenslanders there would be an expert legal panel with at least three members with law enforcement or legal practice experience.
“We have three members who have over 20 years experience in legal practice and law enforcement.”
Originally published as Head of gov’s ‘Adult Crime, Adult Time’ panel married to LNP staffer
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