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Call for submissions

Submissions for this Inquiry closed on 6 October 2016 at 4.00pm.

Committee Report

The Committee's report on the Bill was tabled on 1 November 2016.  A copy of the Report can be viewed here - Report No 42, 55th Parliament - Serious and Organised Crime Legislation Amendment Bill 2016. 

The second reading debate on the Bill is available here (from page 4490) and continues here (from page 4599).  To view footage of the debate, click the movie camera icon next to the speaker’s name.

Inquiry timeline

Public Briefings

Brisbane 

The committee was briefed on the Bill by representatives from the Queensland Police Service, and the Department of Justice and Attorney-General on 26 September 2016.   A copy of the transcript of the briefing can be accessed here.

Gold Coast 

A further briefing by representatives of the Queensland Police Service was held on the Gold Coast on 4 October 2016.  A copy of the transcript of the briefing can be accessed here.

Public Hearings

Gold Coast

The committee held a public hearing on 4 October 2016 on the Gold Coast.  A copy of the transcript of the hearing can be accessed here.

Brisbane

The committee held public hearings in Brisbane on 12 and 13 October 2016.  Copies of the transcripts can be accessed below:

      - 12 October 2016
      - 13 October 2016

Referral

On 13 September 2016 the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Minister for Training and Skills, the Hon Yvette D’Ath MP, introduced the Serious and Organised Crime Legislation Amendment Bill 2016.

In accordance with Standing Order 131 of the Standing Rules and Orders of the Legislative Assembly, the Bill was referred to the Legal Affairs and Community Safety Committee (the committee) for detailed consideration. The committee is required to report by Tuesday, 1 November 2016.

The Bill

The objectives of the Bill, as set out in the explanatory notes, are to:

• implement a new Organised Crime Regime to tackle serious and organised crime in all its forms, drawing on the recommendations of the Queensland Organised Crime Commission of Inquiry, Taskforce on Organised Crime Legislation and statutory review of the Criminal Organisation Act 2009, and

• improve the clarity, administration and operation of particular occupational and industry licensing Acts.

Some of the key matters provided for in the Bill are outlined below. This is not a complete list of all matters addressed in the Bill, and is not a substitute for reading the Bill and the explanatory notes (see links above):

• access to electronic information - allow Crime and Corruption Commission officers and police officers to request an order requiring a person to provide information necessary to gain access to electronic information stored

• child exploitation material - introduce new offences, create new circumstances of aggravation, and increase maximum penalties in relation to the distribution and promotion of child exploitation material and concealing offences involving child exploitation material

• financial crimes  - create new circumstances of aggravation and increase maximum penalties for offences in relation to fraud and obtaining or dealing with identification documents

• drug offences  - increase the maximum penalty for trafficking in certain dangerous drugs and remove the minimum 80 percent non-parole period for trafficking in a dangerous drug

• wearing or carrying colours  - introduce a new offence prohibiting the wearing or carrying of a prohibited item in a public place, reduce the maximum penalties for offences related to wearing or carrying colours in licensed premises, and create a defence for licensees, permittees and staff in relation to the requirement for them to refuse entry or require a person wearing colours to leave a licensed premises

• protection and serious organised crime orders - create a scheme of three new public safety protection orders (public safety, restricted premises and fortification removal orders), and introduce a conviction based control order to impose conditions to prevent, restrict or disrupt involvement in serious criminal activity

• consorting - introduce a new offence of consorting with two recognised offenders after being given an official warning

• ‘VLAD laws’ - repeal the Vicious Lawless Association Disestablishment Act and Criminal Organisation Act, and provisions in other Acts relating to ‘participants in a criminal organisation’ such as anti-association offences, and prisoner segregation orders

• tattoo industry - adopt a more traditional and transparent approach to licensing of the body-art tattoo industry and improve the administration and operation of the body-art tattoo licensing legislation

• licensees under the Liquor Act - enable the Commissioner of Police to notify the Commissioner for Liquor and Gaming if a licensee is charged with an offence, ensure consistency in probity tests to hold a licence, and allow approvals to let or sublet licensed premises or enter into franchise or management agreements to be cancelled if a person becomes disqualified or is no longer a fit and proper person.