Posted: 2024-07-27 01:14:35

The government has also rejected a recommendation that Parole Board Queensland be more independent of the executive, and will not establish an independent strategic panel to devise ways to reduce remand numbers, rates of re-offending, over-representation of certain groups in prisons, and other reforms.

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Opposition frontbencher Tim Nicholls on Saturday accused the government of shutting down questions over alleged integrity issues in Parole Board Queensland, which were raised by the LNP in a budget estimates committee hearing on Friday.

Nicholls also rejected the government’s claim that the latest data showed improvement in rates of crime, saying Queenslanders would disagree.

“The number one job of government is to make sure that people, law-abiding citizens, are safe in their homes, safe at business, their cars aren’t being stolen, they’re not being assaulted, and their kids aren’t being assaulted,” he said.

Police Minister Mark Ryan said he was heartened by the latest data but “one victim is one too many”.

“Victims always come first with this government,” Ryan said on Saturday.

In relation to the budget estimates committee hearing, Ryan suggested the LNP was being “disorderly” and some matters needed to follow due process before being discussed publicly.

The government has vowed to consider a recommendation there be another review of the parole system but only in the context of its ongoing reform work. It said the new Justice Reform Office has been authorised to “develop, test and implement” solutions, while the First Nations Justice Office will look at the issue of over-representation.

“The report raises primary concerns in relation to the continuing growth of prisoner numbers and costs associated with keeping prisoners incarcerated and urges for focus be placed, by both QCS and the Queensland Government, on evidence-based strategies to support successful rehabilitation and reintegration,” the government said in its response.

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