Queensland Attorney-General Deb Frecklington to review state laws after Ezra Mam’s ‘slap on the wrist’

Queensland Attorney-General Deb Frecklington will review the state’s laws after declaring Ezra Mam’s sentence ‘did not pass the pub test’.

Broncos star Ezra Mam on Monday. Picture: NewsWire / Glenn Campbell

Queensland Attorney-General Deb Frecklington will review the state’s laws after declaring Ezra Mam’s sentence “did not pass the pub test”.

The 21-year-old rugby league player on Monday pleaded guilty and apologised, with Magistrate Mark Nolan disqualifying his licence for six months – even though he didn’t have a licence at the time of the accident – and issuing an $850 fine.

No criminal conviction was recorded.

Mam was on what Mr Nolan described as a “cocktail of cocaine and other matters” on October 18 when he crashed his ute head-on into an Uber, injuring a four-year-old girl and her mother.

The fine issued to Mam, who signed a five-year $4m contract with the Brisbane Broncos a year ago, is less than the one for drivers caught using their mobile phone, which is about $1200.

Queensland Attorney-General Deb Frecklington.

In a statement, Ms Frecklington said she understood “that for many Queenslanders, this outcome doesn’t pass the pub test”.

“Most Queenslanders would expect that the penalty for a driver who’s found to have drugs in their system would be more severe than the penalty for using a mobile phone behind the wheel.

“I will be consulting with my colleagues, in particular the Transport Minister, and considering what changes can be made to our laws.”

Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie was also unimpressed by the sentence, calling it “disgraceful.”

“When many Queenslanders are fined for far lesser offences, fined far greater than what Ezra did, I don’t think it passes the pub test at all,” he said.

“And I think it’s disgraceful that someone on drugs driving a car dangerously, injures a four-year-old, has a slap on the wrist.”