Far North leaders on campaign to push for inclusion of rape in Adult Crime, Adult Time laws
A regional Queensland mayor says it is appalling that rape has not been considered a serious offence in the latest law reform.
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A regional Queensland mayor says it is appalling that rape has not been considered a serious offence in the latest law reform.
The Cairns Post and sister Queensland publications are campaigning the state government to include to include rape in the next round of Adult Crime, Adult Time law changes.
The tougher penalties which were legislated in December included 13 categories of offences for which magistrates are now permitted to hand down longer sentences, and no longer had to consider detention as a last resort.
But the legislation has come under fire for failing to include rape and attempted murder.
It comes after a teen who targeted, beat, and raped a woman walking from home from work in the Toowoomba CBD was sentenced to serve half of a three-year term.
While his offending took place in 2023, prior to the change of legislation, even under the current Making Queensland Safer Laws, there would be no requirement for a judge to impose a harsher sentence.
Cassowary Coast Regional Council Mayor Teresa Millwood said it was appalling to think rape hadn’t been considered a serious offence in the new Making Queensland Safer Laws.
“My personal opinion is that I don’t hope its included, I expect it to be included,” she said.
“If we’re gonna do serious adult time for adult crime, it needs to cover all aspects of adult crime and I agree rape is more serious than car theft.
“At the time (of the state election) there was so much car crime. That’s why they went hard on that.”
Cairns Mayor Amy Eden, who met with Premier David Crisafulli last week, backed the LNP’s reforms.
“I support the state government’s initial measures to address youth crime and understand further legislative changes will be made in due course,” she said.
Cairns MP Michael Healy who agreed convictions recorded for rape and sexual assault offences for youth should be carried into adulthood, said the government needed to look at “societal issues” instead of punishment when asked if he would support including rape in the new legislation.
“Experts have said there is no evidence to say that harsher legislation in relation to ‘you’ll be serving more time’ has impact on reduction of crime,” he said.
Barron River MP Bree James did not specifically speak to the inclusion of rape in the new laws, but referenced her government’s establishment of its Expert Legal Panel which is expected to guide politicians on which offences need to be considered in amendments.
“We are unravelling the impacts of a decade of Labor’s weak laws and fewer police, we will continue to implement the reforms needed to restore safety for Cairns and ensure fewer Queenslanders fall victim to Labor’s youth crime crisis,” she said.
In December 2024, during debate of the Making Queensland Safer Bill Hinchinbrook MP
Nick Dametto put on the parliamentary record his concerns that other serious crimes such as attempted murder, rape, accessory after the fact, and the killing of an unborn child, were omitted from the list of adult offences, despite carrying maximum life imprisonment penalties.
“It begs belief why certain crimes such as rape and attempted murder would be left out of the LNP’s bill,” he said.
Originally published as Far North leaders on campaign to push for inclusion of rape in Adult Crime, Adult Time laws
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