{"id":"BILL-QLD-3247","name":"Making Queensland Safer (Adult Crime, Adult Time) Amendment Bill 2025","slug":"making-queensland-safer-adult-crime-adult-time-amendment-bill-2025","collection":"bill","jurisdiction":"qld","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":"2025-01-01","administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":446105,"registerId":"BILL-QLD-3247:current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2025-01-01","status":"in_force","reasons":null,"registeredAt":"2026-05-06T12:45:18.256Z"},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"retrieval-0001","sectionType":"document_chunk","heading":"Document excerpt 1","content":"# Making Queensland Safer (Adult Crime, Adult Time) Amendment Bill 2025\n\nQueensland\nMaking Queensland Safer\n(Adult Crime, Adult Time)\nAmendment Bill 2025\n\nQueensland\nMaking Queensland Safer (Adult Crime,\nAdult Time) Amendment Bill 2025\nContents\nPage\nPart 1 Preliminary\n1 Short title . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4\n2 Commencement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4\nPart 2 Amendment of Youth Justice Act 1992\nDivision 1 Preliminary\n3 Act amended . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4\nDivision 2 Amendments commencing on assent\n4 Amendment of s 50 (Dealing with children not brought before Childrens\nCourt in accordance with s 49) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4\n5 Amendment of s 175A (Sentence orders—significant offences to which\nadult penalties apply) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5\n6 Insertion of new pt 11, div 26 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6\nDivision 26 Transitional provision for Making Queensland Safer\n(Adult Crime, Adult Time) Amendment Act 2025\n442 Application of new s 175A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6\nDivision 3 Amendments commencing immediately after commencement of\nMaking Queensland Safer Act 2024, s 54\n7 Amendment of s 282A (Eligible persons register) . . . . . . . . . . . . 7\n8 Amendment of s 282E (Removing details from eligible persons register\netc.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7\n9 Amendment of s 282F (Releasing information) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7\n10 Amendment of sch 4 (Dictionary) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7\n\n2025\nA Bill\nfor\nAn Act to amend the Youth Justice Act 1992 for particular\npurposes\n\nPage 4\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 1]\nMaking Queensland Safer (Adult Crime, Adult Time) Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 1 Preliminary\nThe Parliament of Queensland enacts—\nPart 1 Preliminary\n1 Short title\nThis Act may be cited as the Making Queensland Safer (Adult\nCrime, Adult Time) Amendment Act 2025.\n2 Commencement\nPart 2, division 3 commences immediately after the\ncommencement of the Making Queensland Safer Act 2024,\nsection 54.\nPart 2 Amendment of Youth Justice\nAct 1992\nDivision 1 Preliminary\n3 Act amended\nThis part amends the Youth Justice Act 1992.\nDivision 2 Amendments commencing on\nassent\n4 Amendment of s 50 (Dealing with children not brought\nbefore Childrens Court in accordance with s 49)\nSection 50(3), ‘378 or’—\nomit.\n1\n2\nClause 3\n4\n5\nClause 6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\nClause 13\n14\n15\n16\nClause 17\n18\n19\n20\n\nPage 5\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 5]\nMaking Queensland Safer (Adult Crime, Adult Time) Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 2 Amendment of Youth Justice Act 1992\n5 Amendment of s 175A (Sentence orders—significant\noffences to which adult penalties apply)\n(1) Section 175A(1), before paragraph (a)—\ninsert—\n(aa) section 69;\n(ab) section 75;\n(2) Section 175A(1)—\ninsert—\n(ba) section 306;\n(bb) section 307;\n(bc) section 313(2);\n(3) Section 175A(1)—\ninsert—\n(ea) section 320A;\n(4) Section 175A(1)—\ninsert—\n(ga) section 328C;\n(gb) section 328D;\n(5) Section 175A(1)—\ninsert—\n(ha) section 349;\n(hb) section 350;\n(hc) section 351;\n(hd) section 352, if the circumstance stated in\nsection 352(2) or (3) applies;\n(he) section 354;\n(hf) section 354A;\n(hg) section 355;\nClause 1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n\nPage 6\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 6]\nMaking Queensland Safer (Adult Crime, Adult Time) Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 2 Amendment of Youth Justice Act 1992\n(hh) section 398, if item 12 or 14 applies;\n(6) Section 175A(1)—\ninsert—\n(ja) section 412, if the circumstance stated in\nsection 412(2) or (3) applies;\n(7) Section 175A(1)—\ninsert—\n(n) section 461;\n(o) section 462.\n(8) Section 175A(1)(aa) to (o)—\nrenumber as section 175A(1)(a) to (zf).\n(9) Section 175A—\ninsert—\n(1A) Also, this section applies if a court is sentencing a\nchild for an offence against the Drugs Misuse Act\n1986, section 5.\n6 Insertion of new pt 11, div 26\nPart 11—\ninsert—\nDivision 26 Transitional provision for\nMaking Queensland Safer\n(Adult Crime, Adult Time)\nAmendment Act 2025\n442 Application of new s 175A\nSection 175A, as amended by the Making\nQueensland Safer (Adult Crime, Adult Time)\nAmendment Act 2025, applies in relation to an\noffence only if the offence was committed after\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\nClause 17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n\nPage 7\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 7]\nMaking Queensland Safer (Adult Crime, Adult Time) Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 2 Amendment of Youth Justice Act 1992\nthe commencement.\nDivision 3 Amendments commencing\nimmediately after commencement\nof Making Queensland Safer Act\n2024, s 54\n7 Amendment of s 282A (Eligible persons register)\nSection 282A—\ninsert—\n(3A) A person registered under subsection (3) may\nnominate a person (a nominee) to receive the\ndetainee information for the person.\nExample—\na victim support worker from a victims’ support agency\n8 Amendment of s 282E (Removing details from eligible\npersons register etc.)\nSection 282E, ‘section 282BA(3)’—\nomit, insert—\nsection 282A(3A) or 282BA(3)\n9 Amendment of s 282F (Releasing information)\nSection 282F, ‘section 282BA(3)’—\nomit, insert—\nsection 282A(3A) or 282BA(3)\n10 Amendment of sch 4 (Dictionary)\nSchedule 4, definition nominee, ‘section 282BA(3)’—\nomit, insert—\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\nClause 6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\nClause 14\n15\n16\n17\n18\nClause 19\n20\n21\n22\nClause 23\n24\n25\n\nPage 8\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 10]\nMaking Queensland Safer (Adult Crime, Adult Time) Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 2 Amendment of Youth Justice Act 1992\nsection 282A(3A) or 282BA(3)\n© State of Queensland 2025\n1","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"summary":{"status_summary":"The Making Queensland Safer (Adult Crime, Adult Time) Amendment Bill 2025 has received royal assent and is now law.","complexity_score":4,"likely_questions":["What specific Criminal Code offences are now subject to adult sentencing for children?","Does the law apply to offences committed before the Bill was passed?","How does a victim nominate a person to receive detainee information?","When did each part of the Bill come into effect?","What is the difference between this Bill and the earlier Making Queensland Safer Act 2024?"],"complexity_factors":["Multiple amendments to section 175A with many new subsections and renumbering","Two separate commencement dates for different divisions","Cross-references to specific Criminal Code sections not fully listed in the bill text","Transitional provision limiting application to post-commencement offences","Changes to nomination mechanics in the eligible persons register"],"plain_english_summary":"The Bill amends the Youth Justice Act 1992 to expand the list of offences for which a child may be sentenced as an adult, adds a non‑retrospective transitional clause, and allows eligible persons to nominate someone (e.g., a victim support worker) to receive detainee information. \n\nIt affects children charged with the newly listed offences, sentencing courts, victims on the register, and the corrections system (potentially increasing custodial sentences and costs). Division 2 commenced at royal assent; Division 3 after the Making Queensland Safer Act provision."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":5,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The Bill stays within the apparent original policy scope signalled by its title: it expands which offences attract adult-penalty sentencing rules for children and tweaks information-sharing rules for the eligible persons register. It does not introduce unrelated subject-matter or administrative regimes beyond those two connected areas (sentencing triggers and detainee-information nominations). The principal changes are additive (more cross-references and a nomination mechanism) rather than an expansion into new policy fields."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple insertions into section 175A with many new cross-referenced offence provisions (e.g. s 69, s 75, s 306–307, s 313(2), s 320A, s 328C–328D, s 349–355, s 398 conditional, s 412 conditional, s 461–462).","Several added items are conditional on specific subsections applying (e.g. s 352(2) or (3); s 398 only if item 12 or 14 applies; s 412(2) or (3)).","Renumbering of newly inserted list entries (from (aa)–(o) to (a)–(zf)) indicates integration into an already long existing list — increases cross-reference complexity when applying the provision.","Short transitional provision (new s 442) that limits application to offences committed after commencement — requires courts and practitioners to check dating of offences.","Amendment to the eligible persons register creates a new nomination pathway (s 282A(3A)) and requires corresponding cross-reference updates in s 282E, s 282F and Schedule 4.","Minor textual deletion in s 50(3) removes a specific cross-reference ('378 or'), but the exact practical effect requires checking the provision that was referenced.","Bill is short in page length but dense in cross-references to many separate offence provisions in the Youth Justice Act and likely other statutes, increasing real-world interpretive workload."],"plain_english_summary":"**What this Bill does (mechanically)\n\n- Adds a list of additional Youth Justice Act 1992 provisions to the statute that governs when a child can be sentenced as if they were an adult (section 175A). The Bill inserts numerous new cross-references (for example, sections 69, 75, 306, 307, 313(2), 320A, 328C–328D, 349–355, 398 in some cases, 412 in some cases, and 461–462). Some of those additions only apply where a particular circumstance in the newly referenced section applies (the Bill records those conditions). (See proposed changes to s 175A.)\n\n- Makes the amended section 175A apply only to offences committed after the commencement date (a transitional rule — new s 442).\n\n- Removes the words \"378 or\" from section 50(3) of the Youth Justice Act 1992 (a narrow textual deletion of a cross-reference in the provision that deals with referrals of children who are not brought before the Children’s Court under s 49).\n\n- Changes the rules about the \"eligible persons register\" (used for detainee information). A person on the register can now nominate a person (a \"nominee\") to receive their detainee information — e.g. a victim support worker. The Bill updates two provisions that control removing and releasing register details (s 282E and s 282F) and updates the dictionary definition of \"nominee\" to include the new nomination power (see s 282A(3A), s 282E, s 282F and Schedule 4).\n\n- Renumbers the newly inserted list entries in s 175A so they integrate with the Act's existing long list of adult-penalty offences.\n\nWhy this matters and who it affects\n\n- Children charged with the newly listed offences: the amendments broaden the set of offences for which a court may impose adult penalties when sentencing a child (section 175A). In practice that changes the statutory triggers the court must consider when deciding whether a child should receive an adult-style sentence.\n\n- Courts, prosecutors and defence lawyers: the change alters sentencing law they must apply. Prosecutors may alter charging or case-conduct strategies in response to the expanded adult-penalty list; courts will apply the amended statutory list when considering adult penalties for children.\n\n- Victims and people who interact with detainees (and victim support agencies): the eligible persons register change allows a registered person to nominate someone (for example, a victim support worker) to receive detainee information. That creates an administrative pathway for third-party receipt of information about detainees.\n\n- The public purse and custodial services: if more children become eligible for adult penalties, that can affect the number and type of custodial orders imposed (prison versus youth detention), with associated cost and service-provision implications.\n\nOfficial purpose-claims and a practical test of effects (mechanism-focused)\n\n- The Bill’s stated operational change is to extend the catalogue of offences for which adult penalties may apply to children (amending s 175A) and to enable nominated recipients for detainee information (amending s 282A). The likely intended effect is to make certain serious offending by children subject to adult sentencing consequences and to give registered persons more control over who receives detainee information.\n\n- Costs and trade-offs: applying adult penalties to a broader set of offences changes incentives and imposes costs. Concrete mechanisms include: higher expected custody severity for affected children (who bear individual liberty costs); increased demand for adult-style sentencing resources and adult custodial capacity (paid by the state); and changes in prosecutorial charging incentives (prosecutors may pursue charges or remands differently where adult penalties are triggered). Those changes increase legal and administrative complexity at sentencing (courts must apply expanded cross-references in s 175A) and may shift where young offenders serve time (youth detention versus adult corrections).\n\n- Implementation, compliance and administrative effects: courts and corrections agencies must update procedures and staff training to apply new cross-references and the transitional rule (new s 442). The eligible persons register change requires updating registration forms, consent/nomination processes, privacy handling and information-release procedures (s 282A(3A), s 282E, s 282F).\n\n- Risks and substitution effects: expanding the statutory list does not itself change evidentiary thresholds or burden of proof — rather it changes the sentencing consequences if a child is convicted. That can produce substitution effects: for example, prosecutors might charge differently or seek transfer to adult jurisdiction where available, or defence strategy may shift toward diversion to avoid triggering adult penalties.\n\nWho pays, who decides, and what behaviour changes (section pointers)\n\n- Who pays: the state pays custodial and court costs; children and their families bear the direct liberty and social costs of adult sentencing; victims and support services may see administrative benefits from the nominee rule (s 282A(3A)).\n\n- Who decides: courts apply the revised s 175A when sentencing; prosecutors and police decide charging and diversion options; registered persons decide whether to appoint a nominee under s 282A(3A).\n\n- Behavioural change: charging and defence strategies may shift; courts will apply the expanded statutory triggers; corrections and youth justice administrators must adapt procedures for nominations and information release.\n\nConcrete citations to the Bill’s mechanics\n\n- List of added cross-references to s 175A: inserted items include (aa) section 69; (ab) section 75; (ba) section 306; (bb) section 307; (bc) section 313(2); (ea) section 320A; (ga) section 328C; (gb) section 328D; (ha)–(hg) sections 349–355 (with s 352 only if s 352(2) or (3) applies); conditional inclusion of section 398 (if items 12 or 14 apply); conditional inclusion of section 412 (if s 412(2) or (3) applies); and additions of sections 461 and 462 (see amendments to s 175A).\n\n- Transitional rule limiting retrospective application: new Part 11, Division 26, s 442 states the amended s 175A \"applies in relation to an offence only if the offence was committed after the commencement.\" \n\n- Eligible persons register nomination power: new s 282A(3A) allows a registered person to nominate a nominee to receive detainee information; cross-references in s 282E and s 282F and the definition of \"nominee\" in Schedule 4 are updated accordingly.\n\nLimitations of this analysis\n\n- The Bill primarily makes cross-references into existing offence and sentencing provisions; assessing the empirical impact (for example, how many more children will be sentenced under adult penalties) requires offence-by-offence data and prosecutorial practice information which are outside the text.\n\nBottom line\n\n- Mechanically, the Bill broadens the catalogue of offences in the Youth Justice Act that can attract adult penalties when a child is sentenced, adds a non-retrospective transitional rule, and allows registered persons to nominate someone to receive detainee information. The practical effects will fall on children facing the newly listed offences, courts and prosecutors who must apply the amended sentencing rules, corrections and youth-justice administrators who must adapt practice, and victims or support agencies who may receive detainee information by nomination.\n\n(Reference sections: amendments to s 50(3); broad insertion into s 175A; new transitional s 442; s 282A(3A), s 282E, s 282F and Schedule 4.)"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/making-queensland-safer-adult-crime-adult-time-amendment-bill-2025","history":"/api/acts/making-queensland-safer-adult-crime-adult-time-amendment-bill-2025/history","analysis":"/api/acts/making-queensland-safer-adult-crime-adult-time-amendment-bill-2025/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/making-queensland-safer-adult-crime-adult-time-amendment-bill-2025/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/making-queensland-safer-adult-crime-adult-time-amendment-bill-2025/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/making-queensland-safer-adult-crime-adult-time-amendment-bill-2025/documents"}}