A prominent youth advocate and lawyer has accused a state parliamentary committee of "shallow" scrutiny of youth justice legislation, saying it "cements Queensland as a backwater state with echoes of the Bjelke-Peterson era".
Katherine Hayes, CEO of the Youth Advocacy Centre, made the comments after the parliament's Economics and Governance Committee – made up of Labor and LNP MPs — on Friday released a report recommending the Palaszczuk government's proposed youth justice law changes be passed.
"The Youth Advocacy Centre is alarmed by the lack of analysis and understanding of the proposed youth crime laws demonstrated by the Economics and Governance Committee in its report on the Strengthening Community Safety Bill 2023," she said in a statement.
"The committee, which has responsibility for the premier and cabinet, treasury and tourism and sport portfolios, is clearly out of its depth when dealing with complex laws on crimes with highly complex causes.
"Further, there is absolutely no proper consideration of the overriding of human rights in the report, cementing Queensland as a backwater state with echoes of the Bjelke-Peterson era."
In a subsequent interview, Ms Hayes said YAC found the committee's report "shallow and disappointing".
The Queensland government moved to strengthen youth justice laws after the death of Emma Lovell, who was allegedly stabbed by two teenagers on Boxing Day.
The legislation, introduced to state parliament last month, proposes sweeping changes including making breach of bail an offence for children and expanding a trial of GPS monitoring devices to eligible 15-year-olds.
The government has also made the decision to expressly override its own Human Rights Act for the first time in the process – a move the state's Human Rights Commission warned would set a "dangerous precedent".
'The bill's impact on human rights has been justified'
When approached about YAC's comments, the chair of the Economics and Governance Committee, Logan MP Linus Power said the committee held public hearings in Brisbane, Townsville and Cairns.
"We understand there are strong views on this issue from a variety of stakeholders and we did our best to reflect the wide diversity of views," he said.
Queensland does not have an upper house, so committees are tasked with examining legislation and reporting back to parliament.
The Economics and Governance Committee has been considering the bill, including whether it has "sufficient regard" to rights and liberties.
The committee said in its report it had considered the concerns raised by submitters and was satisfied the bill struck "an appropriate balance" between protecting the rights of young people and strengthening community safety.
"We are therefore satisfied that the bill's impact on human rights is justified in the circumstances," the report said.
"In reaching this conclusion, we have considered the concerns raised by submitters regarding the principle of overriding the HRA and the evidence base on which the bill's impact on human rights has been justified.
"Further, we note that the changes in the bill are not in isolation and the government has announced a number of investments in intervention and rehabilitation programs."
The committee recommended the bill be passed and it is expected to be debated next week.
