Youth crime law advice kept secret to avoid ‘bullying, political interference’

David Crisafulli is withholding advice from the legal panel informing the government’s Making Queensland Safer Laws over concerns of backroom ‘bullying and political interference’.

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli. Picture: Richard Walker

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Queensland Premier David Crisafulli says he is withholding the advice from the expert legal panel informing the government’s flagship adult crime, adult time crackdown over concerns of backroom “bullying and political interference”.

The advice provided by the five person panel to the Liberal Nat­ional Party government ahead of amendments to the legislation, which were expected to be passed on Wednesday night, has been kept secret from the parliament and Queenslanders.

The second tranche of its Making Queensland Safer Laws will make youths charged with 20 extra crimes – including attempted murder, rape and arson – punishable with adult sentences.

The changes will bring the total number of offences included to 33.

Mr Crisafulli said it would be inappropriate to provide the advice of the panel as its work continued. “Over the last 10 years … was governments always hiding behind the process when they needed to ask accountability, but behind closed doors, bully and intimidate and badger,” he said.

“I want people to provide advice free from any form of interference. I want it to be fearless and frank.”

The 2022 Coaldrake review of the public sector ordered by the Palaszczuk Labor government uncovered a culture that was “too tolerant of bullying”.

Mr Crisafulli would not be drawn on whether he was concerned his ministers or staffers would “bully” the panel, led by barrister April Freeman.

A victim of crime who stood up alongside Mr Crisafulli, Brisbane businessman Simon West, said any advice should be “absolutely” be released. “That just backs up what we’ve experienced here as a victims,” he said.

Youth Crime Minister Laura Gerber said she would “consider” releasing a report of the recommendations once the panel’s work was complete.

Coinciding with the extra charges, the state’s temporary youth crime taskforce was made a permanent fixture and moved to sit with the crime intelligence command, alongside crime groups tackling homicide and drugs.

Mr Crisafulli said the restructure highlighted the seriousness of the state government’s youth crime agenda. “It’s permanent, It’s strengthened,” he said. “It’s a single point of accountability and elevated to the same way we deal with bikies and pedophiles and organised crime.”

A parliamentary committee review of the legislation found the laws were at odds with the human rights of children, allocating concern from the Labor, the Greens, and welfare groups.

Mr Crisafulli did not bow to criticism from the UN. “You don’t control me, and I don’t answer to you,” he said. “I answer to the Queenslanders.”