Overview
- The Allan government says cabinet has signed off on the package, with legislation to be introduced before year‑end and changes expected to take effect next year.
- Cases involving aggravated home invasion, carjacking, gross‑violence injuries, and specified serious or repeat aggravated burglary and armed robbery would shift to the County Court.
- Children’s Court guidance that jail be a last resort would be removed, with judges told to give greater weight to victims and community safety; youths would serve time in youth facilities and may later transition to adult prisons.
- Maximum penalties would rise, including lifting aggravated home invasion and aggravated carjacking from 25 years to life, while recruiting a child to commit violent crimes would carry up to 15 years or life for the most serious offences.
- Rights groups and Aboriginal legal advocates warn the plan breaches child‑rights obligations and will worsen over‑representation, the police union offers guarded support, the opposition calls it too limited, and experts question evidence citing disputed crime figures in Queensland’s similar regime.