Top cops and legal eagles reject invite to ‘Adult Crime, Adult Time’ advisory panel

The legal community is questioning how the state government will fill positions on its Adult Crime, Adult Time advisory panel after multiple experts declined invitations to join.

Premier David Crisafulli. Picture: Liam Kidston.

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The legal community is questioning how the state government will fill positions on its Adult Crime, Adult Time advisory panel after multiple experts declined invitations to join.

The panel, responsible for advising the government on offences to include in the second tranche of the laws needs to be appointed by February 18.

It requires at least three members with legal qualifications but The Courier-Mail can reveal several top legal experts and former high-ranking police officers have turned down personal offers from the government.

Members of the legal community have now questioned how the government will form the panel with individuals who are both qualified and considered experts in youth justice or criminal code fields.

Criminal lawyer Bill Potts speculated those who accept positions may do so to advance their careers.

“People seeking magistrate appointments or those with a strong punitive stance might be interested,” he said.

“But the panel lacks authority and genuine consultation. The government just wants a scapegoat.”

One source claimed that LNP-affiliated experts had also refused to join, calling the panel a “poisoned chalice.”

“I’m aware of people who have been approached and don’t have any faith the government will listen to their advice,” they said.

“Everyone is questioning who the final people will be.”

Criminologist Dr Terry Goldsworthy criticised the panel’s narrow advisory scope and warned that joining could restrict experts from publicly commenting on legal issues.

“They’ll get people on it but it won’t be the people they want,” he said.

“The applicant package for the panel and the scope is extremely narrow and limited to what they can provide advice on and it’s only one aspect of the Making Queensland Safer laws.

“It should be called the adult crime adult time panel.”

Criminologist Dr Terry Goldsworthy speaking about youth criminal gangs. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

Expressions of interest for the panel closed on January 30, with members set to earn $400 per day.

The government has promised further reforms and additional offences in the second tranche of Making Queensland Safer Laws.

Queensland Council of Civil Liberties vice president Terry O’Gorman said if approached, he would reject an offer to join.

“Why would anyone who values their professional reputation be part of this?” he said.

“The appointing of experts is to hide the thoroughly rushed and botched piece of legislation.

“If it was to advise the government as to problems, we’ll I and others might be interested, but the panel is their to add some sort of cloak of respectability.

“That’s why no one is interested in joining the panel.”

A spokeswoman for Youth Justice Minister Laura Gerber said recruitment was ongoing. “As promised, the panel will be in place before parliament resumes,” she said.

Originally published as Top cops and legal eagles reject invite to ‘Adult Crime, Adult Time’ advisory panel