Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie says Ezra Mam punishment ‘slap on wrist’

Attorney-General Deb Frecklington confirmed the government would be discussing what changes need to be made to existing laws following the penalty dished out to Broncos star Ezra Mam.

Broncos player Ezra Mam outside Brisbane Magistrates Court. Picture: NewsWire / Glenn Campbell

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Ezra Mam’s light fine for drug driving could spark harsh changes to Queensland’s laws.

Attorney-General Deb Frecklington confirmed the government would be discussing what changes need to be made to existing laws following the penalty dished out to the Brisbane Broncos star player.

“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,” she said.

The Queensland Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Minister for Integrity Deb Frecklington. Picture: Glenn Campbell

“I can understand that for many Queenslanders, this outcome doesn’t pass the pub test.

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

Mam walked from Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday with an $850 fine and a six-month disqualification on a licence that was already suspended after pleading guilty to charges of driving without a licence and driving while a relevant drug was present in his blood.

No conviction was recorded.

The financial penalty for the five-eighth, who signed a $4m contract with the Broncos a year ago, is less than the fine for drivers caught using their mobile phone, which is about $1200.

Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie also slammed the sentence.

Brisbane, 17 December 2024. Queensland Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie during a press conference in Brisbane. Picture: Supplied

Mr Bleijie said it was “disgraceful” someone on drugs and involved in an accident that injures a four-year-old gets a “slap on the wrist”.

“I think the sentence handed down to Ezra does not pass the pub test.”

Mr Bleijie said he had spoken to the Attorney-General Deb Frecklington but said any moves to appeal the sentence were a matter for her.

Labor will support a state government review of drug driving laws in the wake of Ezra Mam’s crash, with frontbencher Mark Bailey declaring the penalty was “pretty small”.

“I don’t care who you are, if you’re out there endangering other people’s lives you deserve a good kick in the pants whether you’re a Bronco or not a Bronco,” he said.

“The signal it sends out I think is pretty weak.

“It could have cost someone their lives.”

Speaking for the first time since the October 18 crash, Mam apologised for his actions, addressing a media scrum outside court.

“Today is an important step in owning my actions and starting to make things right,” he said.

“To all the people involved in this accident, I’m truly sorry.

“This incident isn’t a reflection of who I want to be or what is expected of me as a role model.

Brisbane Broncos player Ezra Mam on the footpath following a crash in Brisbane in October. Source: Supplied.

“And, to the NRL, the Broncos, my teammates, the fans, and my family – I am sorry, and I promise to be a better person and representative of the club and the game that I love.”

A female passenger in the Uber told 9 News that Mam had called her but did not visit.

“To be honest I am in shock. I cried instantly, I cried,” she said. “He (Mam) told me he would take it all back if he could.”

Uber driver Marcel van den Camp said he felt the punishment did not fit the crime.

“Absolutely disgusting. There’s not talk of compensation for his victims,” he told 9 News.

Queensland police charged the 21-year-old in November following the crash with an Uber driver at Bardon in Brisbane’s inner west on October 18.

Originally published as Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie says Ezra Mam punishment ‘slap on wrist’