‘Represents the breadth of Queensland’: Youth crime panel appointed
The Queensland government has unveiled its five-member “expert legal panel” advising on youth crime policies, which includes several high-ranking legal professionals, a former police officer, and a First Nations elder.
Youth Justice Minister Laura Gerber said the panel was “the best of the best across Queensland”, and would consult on future changes to the state government’s youth justice legislation.
“We have three members who have over 20 years’ experience in legal practice and over 43 years of law enforcement, a victims’ advocate, and an Indigenous elder,” Gerber said.
Chair April Freeman speaks at the announcement of the panel’s appointment, with Youth Justice Minister Laura Gerber (right) and fellow panel member Lyndy Atkinson.Credit: Catherine Strohfeldt
“I think that represents the breadth of Queensland.”
The panel is yet to meet, and its chair, barrister April Freeman, declined to comment on any matters it might discuss – including adding attempted murder to the list of eligible “adult time” offences, after a Coles worker was stabbed last month.
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“Understandably, there is considerable community concern about youth crime in Queensland,” Freeman said.
“At the bar, I have prosecuted juvenile offenders. I’ve also acted for juvenile offenders as their defence lawyer. I’ve seen both sides of the coin, and I can see what a vexed issue this is.”
The panel’s other members include victims’ advocacy expert Lyndy Atkinson, former police officer and barrister Douglas Wilson, former detective superintendent Robert Weir, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service chief executive and First Nations elder Randal Ross.
