Terms of Reference
We advise the government on sentencing matters, when requested. This research involves reviewing matters about sentencing, consultation with key stakeholders and the general public to obtain their views on the issue, and publishing a final report.
Penalties for assaults of public officers
The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, the Honourable Yvette D’Ath MP, referred Terms of Reference to the Council in early December 2019 asking for its advice on penalties for assaults on police and other frontline emergency service workers, corrective service officers and other public officers.
The Council must report back to the Attorney-General by 30 June 2020.
Intermediate sentencing options and parole
In response to the 2016 Queensland Parole System Review Final Report (Sofronoff Report), we were asked by the Attorney-General to review community based sentencing orders and parole options.
Our review also looked at current sentencing and parole legislation, including the Penalties and Sentences Act 1992 and the Corrective Services Act 2006 to see if there were any laws that created inconsistency or constrained sentencing options available to a court.
The final report was released in August 2019.
Sentencing for child homicide offences
We were asked by the Attorney-General to review sentencing of child homicide offences.
This review is now finished. The Council made eight recommendations in response to the terms of reference provided by the Attorney-General.
The final report was released in October 2018.
Classification of child exploitation materials for sentencing purposes
We were asked by the Attorney-General to review the classification of child exploitation materials for sentencing purposes.
This review is now finished. The Council made 16 recommendations in response to the terms of reference provided by the Attorney-General.
The final report was released in July 2017
Previous Council publications
The Sentencing Advisory Council was first established in Queensland in December 2010 as an independent statutory body under the Penalties and Sentences Act 1992. It was dismantled in 2012.