Queensland Corrective Services Legislation.

Under the Intergovernmental Partnership Agreement on State Service Delivery to Norfolk Island between the Queensland and Australian Governments, Queensland is to provide corrective services to Norfolk Island.

At present Norfolk Island people convicted of an offence and sentenced to a custodial sentence, serve their sentences in NSW prisons.

This service is to shift to Queensland as soon as practical.

The shift to Queensland has required amendments to be made to the Queensland Corrective Services Act prior to the Australian Government applying the Act to Norfolk Island.

On 13 February 2024, Hon Nikki Boyd MP, Minister for Fire and Disaster Recovery and Minister for Corrective Services, introduced the Corrective Services (Promoting Safety) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2024 into the Queensland Parliament.

The Bill was referred to the Community Safety and Legal Affairs Committee for detailed consideration. The Committee must report back to the Queensland Parliament by 12 April 2024.

Among other things, the Bill if passed will enable Queensland Corrective Services to lawfully detain prisoners from Norfolk Island in line with the Queensland Government’s commitments under the Intergovernmental Partnership Agreement.

No changes are required to Norfolk Island legislation to effect this new arrangement, the Queensland Corrective Services Act will be applied to Norfolk Island once the amendments are made. Additionally, the amendments in the Bill will not interfere with the criminal law framework and the Court system on Norfolk Island.

The Parliamentary Committee consideration includes calling for public submissions and considering the views of community stakeholders.

Information on the Committee’s process, and on how to make a submission to the Committee is available on the Queensland Parliamentary website (www.parliament.qld.gov.au) here.

The Bill can be accessed through the Committee page or directly through the Parliamentary website here.

Norfolk Islanders are welcome to provide a submission to the Parliamentary Committee.

Please note that the Parliamentary Committee have set a due date for submissions of 29 February 2024.