Latest news with #LiberalNationalgovernment
Perth Now
18-07-2025
- Health
- Perth Now
Troubled DNA lab boss resigns after being suspended
A troubled forensic testing boss has resigned a month after being suspended over "contamination issues". Forensic Science Queensland director Linzi Wilson-Wilde received a show cause notice for her removal by the Liberal National government in June following another setback. Attorney-General Deb Frecklington made the call after learning the beleaguered lab had paused routine DNA testing for seven days following the discovery of "contamination issues". Ms Frecklington on Friday announced Dr Wilson-Wilde had resigned from her position effective immediately. She said Forensic Biology Executive Manager Natasha Mitchell would continue acting in the director role until a permanent appointment was made. "The Crisafulli government is firmly committed to the future of Forensic Science Queensland," Ms Frecklington said in a statement. The LNP government did not disclose the nature of the contamination issues but routine DNA testing has since resumed. Forensic Science Queensland was established in 2023 after two inquiries exposed major failings over a number of years at the lab. They included a "fundamentally flawed" automated testing method that may have led to offenders potentially escaping conviction for nine years from 2007. Dr Wilson-Wilde was appointed director in September 2024 after serving as interim chief executive. She received the role from the former Labor government prior to it entering caretaker mode before the 2024 state election. The LNP government chose Dr Kirsty Wright to oversee forensic lab reforms when it won the October 2024 election. The LNP launched reforms after it emerged more than 40,000 of the state's most serious cases were "under a forensic cloud" following the back-to-back inquiries. It moved amendments in parliament in April to ensure current DNA sample retention was extended from three to seven years to tackle the retesting backlog, which may take years. It was a recommendation of Dr Wright, who will oversee a DNA Lab Review and hand down recommendations with renowned FBI expert Bruce Budowle. Forensic scientist Dr Wright spoke out about the lab, triggering the two inquiries held in as many years.
The Advertiser
26-06-2025
- Politics
- The Advertiser
Games get the tick, renewables the stick under new laws
The construction of 2032 Olympic venues will be fast-tracked, and renewable energy projects will face greater scrutiny, after a state parliament passed a controversial bill. Queensland's Liberal National government rammed through laws late on Thursday that will see Brisbane 2032 venues exempt from local planning laws. Victoria Park in Brisbane's inner-city is expected to become the Games hub, with a 63,000-seat main stadium and a nearby national aquatic centre set to be built. The Games infrastructure authority, tasked with orchestrating the construction of venues, will not be subject to 15 planning laws, including the Environmental Protection, Queensland Heritage and Nature Conservation Acts. Final planning sign-off will fall to the state government for all venues and athletes' villages, not local councils. Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie said the bill is about getting on with the job and delivering the 2032 Games. "Queenslanders have put trust in the Crisafulli government and we will get on with the job," he told parliament. "We are ending the inertia plaguing the Olympic and Paralympic Games and getting the games back on track after 1,200 days of chaos and crisis from those opposite." The bill was subject to committee scrutiny, where stakeholders claimed it would set a dangerous precedent for future planning and energy infrastructure projects across Queensland. Renewable energy developers will need to undertake community consultation prior to project approvals under the legislation. Opposition leader Steven Miles labelled the bill a disaster soaked in ideology. "It's a smoke screen. It is ideological zealotry from a party that has always hated renewables," he told parliament. "Under the premier's leadership, the LNP has no energy road-map, no modelling and no plan, just roadblocks, confusion and chaos. "Queenslanders are getting an LNP ideology masquerading as policy." Greens MP Michael Berkman inferred the bill is taking Queensland back to the era under former premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen, beginning his submission on the laws with "Here we Joh again". "There's one promise that the LNP is clearly determined to keep, and that's taking us backwards on renewable energy," he said. "This bill rule results in stricter regulatory requirements for a two-hectare solar farm than for a coal mine that extracts any less than two million tons per annum of coal." But government MPs rejected any criticism of the bill. "We're not afraid to say coal on this side of the chamber," Natural Resources and Mines Minister Dale Last said. Hervey Bay MP David Lee queried how "Labor members would think about wind or solar farms in their city electorates." Budget papers on Tuesday locked in the LNP's pre-election promise to scrap targets from the former Labor government's renewable energy goals in the energy power grid. Those were 50 per cent renewable energy by 2030, 70 per cent by 2032 and 80 per cent by 2035. The state will no longer track how much renewable energy is contributing to the grid, calling it a "discontinued measure". Wind, solar and hydro projects accounted for more than a quarter of the state's power in 2024/25 while coal contributed nearly 65 per cent, with the remainder supplied from gas. After the government budget was delivered earlier this week with a record $205 billion debt weighing down the bottom line, the state opposition will deliver its response on Thursday. The construction of 2032 Olympic venues will be fast-tracked, and renewable energy projects will face greater scrutiny, after a state parliament passed a controversial bill. Queensland's Liberal National government rammed through laws late on Thursday that will see Brisbane 2032 venues exempt from local planning laws. Victoria Park in Brisbane's inner-city is expected to become the Games hub, with a 63,000-seat main stadium and a nearby national aquatic centre set to be built. The Games infrastructure authority, tasked with orchestrating the construction of venues, will not be subject to 15 planning laws, including the Environmental Protection, Queensland Heritage and Nature Conservation Acts. Final planning sign-off will fall to the state government for all venues and athletes' villages, not local councils. Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie said the bill is about getting on with the job and delivering the 2032 Games. "Queenslanders have put trust in the Crisafulli government and we will get on with the job," he told parliament. "We are ending the inertia plaguing the Olympic and Paralympic Games and getting the games back on track after 1,200 days of chaos and crisis from those opposite." The bill was subject to committee scrutiny, where stakeholders claimed it would set a dangerous precedent for future planning and energy infrastructure projects across Queensland. Renewable energy developers will need to undertake community consultation prior to project approvals under the legislation. Opposition leader Steven Miles labelled the bill a disaster soaked in ideology. "It's a smoke screen. It is ideological zealotry from a party that has always hated renewables," he told parliament. "Under the premier's leadership, the LNP has no energy road-map, no modelling and no plan, just roadblocks, confusion and chaos. "Queenslanders are getting an LNP ideology masquerading as policy." Greens MP Michael Berkman inferred the bill is taking Queensland back to the era under former premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen, beginning his submission on the laws with "Here we Joh again". "There's one promise that the LNP is clearly determined to keep, and that's taking us backwards on renewable energy," he said. "This bill rule results in stricter regulatory requirements for a two-hectare solar farm than for a coal mine that extracts any less than two million tons per annum of coal." But government MPs rejected any criticism of the bill. "We're not afraid to say coal on this side of the chamber," Natural Resources and Mines Minister Dale Last said. Hervey Bay MP David Lee queried how "Labor members would think about wind or solar farms in their city electorates." Budget papers on Tuesday locked in the LNP's pre-election promise to scrap targets from the former Labor government's renewable energy goals in the energy power grid. Those were 50 per cent renewable energy by 2030, 70 per cent by 2032 and 80 per cent by 2035. The state will no longer track how much renewable energy is contributing to the grid, calling it a "discontinued measure". Wind, solar and hydro projects accounted for more than a quarter of the state's power in 2024/25 while coal contributed nearly 65 per cent, with the remainder supplied from gas. After the government budget was delivered earlier this week with a record $205 billion debt weighing down the bottom line, the state opposition will deliver its response on Thursday. The construction of 2032 Olympic venues will be fast-tracked, and renewable energy projects will face greater scrutiny, after a state parliament passed a controversial bill. Queensland's Liberal National government rammed through laws late on Thursday that will see Brisbane 2032 venues exempt from local planning laws. Victoria Park in Brisbane's inner-city is expected to become the Games hub, with a 63,000-seat main stadium and a nearby national aquatic centre set to be built. The Games infrastructure authority, tasked with orchestrating the construction of venues, will not be subject to 15 planning laws, including the Environmental Protection, Queensland Heritage and Nature Conservation Acts. Final planning sign-off will fall to the state government for all venues and athletes' villages, not local councils. Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie said the bill is about getting on with the job and delivering the 2032 Games. "Queenslanders have put trust in the Crisafulli government and we will get on with the job," he told parliament. "We are ending the inertia plaguing the Olympic and Paralympic Games and getting the games back on track after 1,200 days of chaos and crisis from those opposite." The bill was subject to committee scrutiny, where stakeholders claimed it would set a dangerous precedent for future planning and energy infrastructure projects across Queensland. Renewable energy developers will need to undertake community consultation prior to project approvals under the legislation. Opposition leader Steven Miles labelled the bill a disaster soaked in ideology. "It's a smoke screen. It is ideological zealotry from a party that has always hated renewables," he told parliament. "Under the premier's leadership, the LNP has no energy road-map, no modelling and no plan, just roadblocks, confusion and chaos. "Queenslanders are getting an LNP ideology masquerading as policy." Greens MP Michael Berkman inferred the bill is taking Queensland back to the era under former premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen, beginning his submission on the laws with "Here we Joh again". "There's one promise that the LNP is clearly determined to keep, and that's taking us backwards on renewable energy," he said. "This bill rule results in stricter regulatory requirements for a two-hectare solar farm than for a coal mine that extracts any less than two million tons per annum of coal." But government MPs rejected any criticism of the bill. "We're not afraid to say coal on this side of the chamber," Natural Resources and Mines Minister Dale Last said. Hervey Bay MP David Lee queried how "Labor members would think about wind or solar farms in their city electorates." Budget papers on Tuesday locked in the LNP's pre-election promise to scrap targets from the former Labor government's renewable energy goals in the energy power grid. Those were 50 per cent renewable energy by 2030, 70 per cent by 2032 and 80 per cent by 2035. The state will no longer track how much renewable energy is contributing to the grid, calling it a "discontinued measure". Wind, solar and hydro projects accounted for more than a quarter of the state's power in 2024/25 while coal contributed nearly 65 per cent, with the remainder supplied from gas. After the government budget was delivered earlier this week with a record $205 billion debt weighing down the bottom line, the state opposition will deliver its response on Thursday. The construction of 2032 Olympic venues will be fast-tracked, and renewable energy projects will face greater scrutiny, after a state parliament passed a controversial bill. Queensland's Liberal National government rammed through laws late on Thursday that will see Brisbane 2032 venues exempt from local planning laws. Victoria Park in Brisbane's inner-city is expected to become the Games hub, with a 63,000-seat main stadium and a nearby national aquatic centre set to be built. The Games infrastructure authority, tasked with orchestrating the construction of venues, will not be subject to 15 planning laws, including the Environmental Protection, Queensland Heritage and Nature Conservation Acts. Final planning sign-off will fall to the state government for all venues and athletes' villages, not local councils. Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie said the bill is about getting on with the job and delivering the 2032 Games. "Queenslanders have put trust in the Crisafulli government and we will get on with the job," he told parliament. "We are ending the inertia plaguing the Olympic and Paralympic Games and getting the games back on track after 1,200 days of chaos and crisis from those opposite." The bill was subject to committee scrutiny, where stakeholders claimed it would set a dangerous precedent for future planning and energy infrastructure projects across Queensland. Renewable energy developers will need to undertake community consultation prior to project approvals under the legislation. Opposition leader Steven Miles labelled the bill a disaster soaked in ideology. "It's a smoke screen. It is ideological zealotry from a party that has always hated renewables," he told parliament. "Under the premier's leadership, the LNP has no energy road-map, no modelling and no plan, just roadblocks, confusion and chaos. "Queenslanders are getting an LNP ideology masquerading as policy." Greens MP Michael Berkman inferred the bill is taking Queensland back to the era under former premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen, beginning his submission on the laws with "Here we Joh again". "There's one promise that the LNP is clearly determined to keep, and that's taking us backwards on renewable energy," he said. "This bill rule results in stricter regulatory requirements for a two-hectare solar farm than for a coal mine that extracts any less than two million tons per annum of coal." But government MPs rejected any criticism of the bill. "We're not afraid to say coal on this side of the chamber," Natural Resources and Mines Minister Dale Last said. Hervey Bay MP David Lee queried how "Labor members would think about wind or solar farms in their city electorates." Budget papers on Tuesday locked in the LNP's pre-election promise to scrap targets from the former Labor government's renewable energy goals in the energy power grid. Those were 50 per cent renewable energy by 2030, 70 per cent by 2032 and 80 per cent by 2035. The state will no longer track how much renewable energy is contributing to the grid, calling it a "discontinued measure". Wind, solar and hydro projects accounted for more than a quarter of the state's power in 2024/25 while coal contributed nearly 65 per cent, with the remainder supplied from gas. After the government budget was delivered earlier this week with a record $205 billion debt weighing down the bottom line, the state opposition will deliver its response on Thursday.
Perth Now
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Perth Now
Games get the tick, renewables the stick under new laws
The construction of 2032 Olympic venues will be fast-tracked, and renewable energy projects will face greater scrutiny, after a state parliament passed a controversial bill. Queensland's Liberal National government rammed through laws late on Thursday that will see Brisbane 2032 venues exempt from local planning laws. Victoria Park in Brisbane's inner-city is expected to become the Games hub, with a 63,000-seat main stadium and a nearby national aquatic centre set to be built. The Games infrastructure authority, tasked with orchestrating the construction of venues, will not be subject to 15 planning laws, including the Environmental Protection, Queensland Heritage and Nature Conservation Acts. Final planning sign-off will fall to the state government for all venues and athletes' villages, not local councils. Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie said the bill is about getting on with the job and delivering the 2032 Games. "Queenslanders have put trust in the Crisafulli government and we will get on with the job," he told parliament. "We are ending the inertia plaguing the Olympic and Paralympic Games and getting the games back on track after 1,200 days of chaos and crisis from those opposite." The bill was subject to committee scrutiny, where stakeholders claimed it would set a dangerous precedent for future planning and energy infrastructure projects across Queensland. Renewable energy developers will need to undertake community consultation prior to project approvals under the legislation. Opposition leader Steven Miles labelled the bill a disaster soaked in ideology. "It's a smoke screen. It is ideological zealotry from a party that has always hated renewables," he told parliament. "Under the premier's leadership, the LNP has no energy road-map, no modelling and no plan, just roadblocks, confusion and chaos. "Queenslanders are getting an LNP ideology masquerading as policy." Greens MP Michael Berkman inferred the bill is taking Queensland back to the era under former premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen, beginning his submission on the laws with "Here we Joh again". "There's one promise that the LNP is clearly determined to keep, and that's taking us backwards on renewable energy," he said. "This bill rule results in stricter regulatory requirements for a two-hectare solar farm than for a coal mine that extracts any less than two million tons per annum of coal." But government MPs rejected any criticism of the bill. "We're not afraid to say coal on this side of the chamber," Natural Resources and Mines Minister Dale Last said. Hervey Bay MP David Lee queried how "Labor members would think about wind or solar farms in their city electorates." Budget papers on Tuesday locked in the LNP's pre-election promise to scrap targets from the former Labor government's renewable energy goals in the energy power grid. Those were 50 per cent renewable energy by 2030, 70 per cent by 2032 and 80 per cent by 2035. The state will no longer track how much renewable energy is contributing to the grid, calling it a "discontinued measure". Wind, solar and hydro projects accounted for more than a quarter of the state's power in 2024/25 while coal contributed nearly 65 per cent, with the remainder supplied from gas. After the government budget was delivered earlier this week with a record $205 billion debt weighing down the bottom line, the state opposition will deliver its response on Thursday.
The Advertiser
20-05-2025
- Politics
- The Advertiser
UN slams 'adult crime, adult time' expansion
International human rights experts have slammed one state, accusing its government of causing undue harm to children as it bolsters controversial youth crime laws. The Queensland government is set to add 20 more offences to its landmark "adult crime, adult time" laws, meaning children will face lengthy sentences for committing a raft of crimes. New offences include sexual assault and rape, attempt to murder, kidnapping, arson and attempted robbery. The Liberal National government quickly passed the laws central to its 2024 election win to ensure children as young as 10 serve a life sentence for murder and manslaughter, while prison time for offences like grievous bodily harm doubled. The decision to expand the laws came in the wake of several serious crimes, including a teenager who was charged with attempted murder following the alleged stabbing attack on a supermarket worker in Ipswich. The "adult crime, adult time" laws have previously been slammed by youth advocates who say the scheme breaches the human rights of children. But the state government has again earned the ire of international human rights experts who say the laws disproportionately impact Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. "Children are suffering undue harm to their safety and well-being, as well as to their educational and life prospects as a result of short-sighted approaches to youth criminality and detention," the United Nations' Alice Jill Edwards and Albert K Barume said. The UN has previously criticised the Queensland government for its controversial laws. Chair of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, Ann Skelton, posted a video before the laws were passed in December, saying they were a "flagrant disregard" for children's human rights. Now the two UN human rights experts have written a letter to Australian authorities expressing concerns about the expansion of Queensland's "adult crime, adult time" laws. They said the amended laws would harm the lives of Aboriginal children and urged members of the state parliament to vote against the bill. "The first goal should always be keeping children out of prison," the experts said. "We are extremely concerned that present approaches are creating a future underclass of Australians." It is not the only state pursuing tough youth crime laws after Victoria recently passed an amendment to bail laws that included removing the principle of remand as a last resort for children. In NSW, controversial youth bail laws passed in 2024 make it harder for 14 to 18-year-olds to be released on serious charges while out on bail for similar offences. Bail laws in the Northern Territory were strengthened after a teenager was charged following a 71-year-old Darwin store owner's fatal stabbing. The UN experts said Australia may be violating its international obligations to children with Queensland's harsh criminal laws and the country's criminal age of responsibility, which is 10 in the Sunshine State and the Northern Territory and 14 in other states. International human rights experts have slammed one state, accusing its government of causing undue harm to children as it bolsters controversial youth crime laws. The Queensland government is set to add 20 more offences to its landmark "adult crime, adult time" laws, meaning children will face lengthy sentences for committing a raft of crimes. New offences include sexual assault and rape, attempt to murder, kidnapping, arson and attempted robbery. The Liberal National government quickly passed the laws central to its 2024 election win to ensure children as young as 10 serve a life sentence for murder and manslaughter, while prison time for offences like grievous bodily harm doubled. The decision to expand the laws came in the wake of several serious crimes, including a teenager who was charged with attempted murder following the alleged stabbing attack on a supermarket worker in Ipswich. The "adult crime, adult time" laws have previously been slammed by youth advocates who say the scheme breaches the human rights of children. But the state government has again earned the ire of international human rights experts who say the laws disproportionately impact Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. "Children are suffering undue harm to their safety and well-being, as well as to their educational and life prospects as a result of short-sighted approaches to youth criminality and detention," the United Nations' Alice Jill Edwards and Albert K Barume said. The UN has previously criticised the Queensland government for its controversial laws. Chair of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, Ann Skelton, posted a video before the laws were passed in December, saying they were a "flagrant disregard" for children's human rights. Now the two UN human rights experts have written a letter to Australian authorities expressing concerns about the expansion of Queensland's "adult crime, adult time" laws. They said the amended laws would harm the lives of Aboriginal children and urged members of the state parliament to vote against the bill. "The first goal should always be keeping children out of prison," the experts said. "We are extremely concerned that present approaches are creating a future underclass of Australians." It is not the only state pursuing tough youth crime laws after Victoria recently passed an amendment to bail laws that included removing the principle of remand as a last resort for children. In NSW, controversial youth bail laws passed in 2024 make it harder for 14 to 18-year-olds to be released on serious charges while out on bail for similar offences. Bail laws in the Northern Territory were strengthened after a teenager was charged following a 71-year-old Darwin store owner's fatal stabbing. The UN experts said Australia may be violating its international obligations to children with Queensland's harsh criminal laws and the country's criminal age of responsibility, which is 10 in the Sunshine State and the Northern Territory and 14 in other states. International human rights experts have slammed one state, accusing its government of causing undue harm to children as it bolsters controversial youth crime laws. The Queensland government is set to add 20 more offences to its landmark "adult crime, adult time" laws, meaning children will face lengthy sentences for committing a raft of crimes. New offences include sexual assault and rape, attempt to murder, kidnapping, arson and attempted robbery. The Liberal National government quickly passed the laws central to its 2024 election win to ensure children as young as 10 serve a life sentence for murder and manslaughter, while prison time for offences like grievous bodily harm doubled. The decision to expand the laws came in the wake of several serious crimes, including a teenager who was charged with attempted murder following the alleged stabbing attack on a supermarket worker in Ipswich. The "adult crime, adult time" laws have previously been slammed by youth advocates who say the scheme breaches the human rights of children. But the state government has again earned the ire of international human rights experts who say the laws disproportionately impact Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. "Children are suffering undue harm to their safety and well-being, as well as to their educational and life prospects as a result of short-sighted approaches to youth criminality and detention," the United Nations' Alice Jill Edwards and Albert K Barume said. The UN has previously criticised the Queensland government for its controversial laws. Chair of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, Ann Skelton, posted a video before the laws were passed in December, saying they were a "flagrant disregard" for children's human rights. Now the two UN human rights experts have written a letter to Australian authorities expressing concerns about the expansion of Queensland's "adult crime, adult time" laws. They said the amended laws would harm the lives of Aboriginal children and urged members of the state parliament to vote against the bill. "The first goal should always be keeping children out of prison," the experts said. "We are extremely concerned that present approaches are creating a future underclass of Australians." It is not the only state pursuing tough youth crime laws after Victoria recently passed an amendment to bail laws that included removing the principle of remand as a last resort for children. In NSW, controversial youth bail laws passed in 2024 make it harder for 14 to 18-year-olds to be released on serious charges while out on bail for similar offences. Bail laws in the Northern Territory were strengthened after a teenager was charged following a 71-year-old Darwin store owner's fatal stabbing. The UN experts said Australia may be violating its international obligations to children with Queensland's harsh criminal laws and the country's criminal age of responsibility, which is 10 in the Sunshine State and the Northern Territory and 14 in other states. International human rights experts have slammed one state, accusing its government of causing undue harm to children as it bolsters controversial youth crime laws. The Queensland government is set to add 20 more offences to its landmark "adult crime, adult time" laws, meaning children will face lengthy sentences for committing a raft of crimes. New offences include sexual assault and rape, attempt to murder, kidnapping, arson and attempted robbery. The Liberal National government quickly passed the laws central to its 2024 election win to ensure children as young as 10 serve a life sentence for murder and manslaughter, while prison time for offences like grievous bodily harm doubled. The decision to expand the laws came in the wake of several serious crimes, including a teenager who was charged with attempted murder following the alleged stabbing attack on a supermarket worker in Ipswich. The "adult crime, adult time" laws have previously been slammed by youth advocates who say the scheme breaches the human rights of children. But the state government has again earned the ire of international human rights experts who say the laws disproportionately impact Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. "Children are suffering undue harm to their safety and well-being, as well as to their educational and life prospects as a result of short-sighted approaches to youth criminality and detention," the United Nations' Alice Jill Edwards and Albert K Barume said. The UN has previously criticised the Queensland government for its controversial laws. Chair of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, Ann Skelton, posted a video before the laws were passed in December, saying they were a "flagrant disregard" for children's human rights. Now the two UN human rights experts have written a letter to Australian authorities expressing concerns about the expansion of Queensland's "adult crime, adult time" laws. They said the amended laws would harm the lives of Aboriginal children and urged members of the state parliament to vote against the bill. "The first goal should always be keeping children out of prison," the experts said. "We are extremely concerned that present approaches are creating a future underclass of Australians." It is not the only state pursuing tough youth crime laws after Victoria recently passed an amendment to bail laws that included removing the principle of remand as a last resort for children. In NSW, controversial youth bail laws passed in 2024 make it harder for 14 to 18-year-olds to be released on serious charges while out on bail for similar offences. Bail laws in the Northern Territory were strengthened after a teenager was charged following a 71-year-old Darwin store owner's fatal stabbing. The UN experts said Australia may be violating its international obligations to children with Queensland's harsh criminal laws and the country's criminal age of responsibility, which is 10 in the Sunshine State and the Northern Territory and 14 in other states.
West Australian
20-05-2025
- Politics
- West Australian
UN slams 'adult crime, adult time' expansion
International human rights experts have slammed one state, accusing its government of causing undue harm to children as it bolsters controversial youth crime laws. The Queensland government is set to add 20 more offences to its landmark "adult crime, adult time" laws, meaning children will face lengthy sentences for committing a raft of crimes. New offences include sexual assault and rape, attempt to murder, kidnapping, arson and attempted robbery. The Liberal National government quickly passed the laws central to its 2024 election win to ensure children as young as 10 serve a life sentence for murder and manslaughter, while prison time for offences like grievous bodily harm doubled. The decision to expand the laws came in the wake of several serious crimes, including a teenager who was charged with attempted murder following the alleged stabbing attack on a supermarket worker in Ipswich. The "adult crime, adult time" laws have previously been slammed by youth advocates who say the scheme breaches the human rights of children. But the state government has again earned the ire of international human rights experts who say the laws disproportionately impact Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. "Children are suffering undue harm to their safety and well-being, as well as to their educational and life prospects as a result of short-sighted approaches to youth criminality and detention," the United Nations' Alice Jill Edwards and Albert K Barume said. The UN has previously criticised the Queensland government for its controversial laws. Chair of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, Ann Skelton, posted a video before the laws were passed in December, saying they were a "flagrant disregard" for children's human rights. Now the two UN human rights experts have written a letter to Australian authorities expressing concerns about the expansion of Queensland's "adult crime, adult time" laws. They said the amended laws would harm the lives of Aboriginal children and urged members of the state parliament to vote against the bill. "The first goal should always be keeping children out of prison," the experts said. "We are extremely concerned that present approaches are creating a future underclass of Australians." Queensland parliament is set to continue debating the amended laws which are expected to pass late on Wednesday. It is not the only state pursuing tough youth crime laws after Victoria recently passed an amendment to bail laws that included removing the principle of remand as a last resort for children. In NSW, controversial youth bail laws passed in 2024 make it harder for 14 to 18-year-olds to be released on serious charges while out on bail for similar offences. Bail laws in the Northern Territory were strengthened after a teenager was charged following a 71-year-old Darwin store owner's fatal stabbing. The UN experts said Australia may be violating its international obligations to children with Queensland's harsh criminal laws and the country's criminal age of responsibility, which is 10 in the Sunshine State and the Northern Territory and 14 in other states.
