In the media

Judicial review begins following Carmody resignation
The Palaszczuk Government has announced progress on the review into judge picking protocol with a discussion paper released this week. The review follows the controversial appointment of former chief justice Tim Carmody (16 October 2015). More...

CCC reaches $200 million proceeds of crime milestone
 This week the CCC obtained its 715th restraining order in the Supreme Court, taking the total value of assets restrained by the CCC to $200,129,381. The CCC recover the proceeds of crime under the civil confiscation scheme (which includes the unexplained wealth provisions) and the serious drug offender confiscation order scheme (16 October 2015). More...

VLAD laws: Anti-association charges dropped against alleged bikies trio arrested at Gold Coast hotel
The case against the first people to be charged under Queensland's anti-association laws have been dropped. The special taskforce reviewing the laws is due to report to Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk in December (15 October 2015). More...

Palaszczuk Government passes laws to strengthen Queensland's domestic violence response
The Palaszczuk Government has passed a suite of laws to strengthen Queensland's response to domestic and family violence (15 October 2015). More...

Judicial appointment protocol discussion paper released for public input
The Palaszczuk Government is pushing forward with its plan to deliver a transparent protocol for judicial appointments in Queensland (15 October 2015). More...

Second Magistrate Allocated to Domestic and Family Violence Magistrates Court trial at Southport
A second magistrate will be allocated to help meet the demand for services at the trial of the specialist domestic and family violence magistrates court at Southport (15 October 2015). More...

In practice and courts

Qld discussion paper: protocol for judicial appointments in Queensland
The paper identifies the current process for judicial appointments to the Supreme, District and Magistrates Courts in Queensland but also sets out the legislation, policies and procedures for appointments in other Australian jurisdictions, as well as in England and Wales (15 October 2015). More...

CCC reports released, October 2015

Fighting crime – results for 1 April to 31 August 2015.

Corruption investigations and related activities – results for 1 April to 31 August 2015.

Published – articles, papers, reports

Natural justice or procedural fairness
Robertson, Justice Alan (FCA) [2015] FedJSchol 12
It is not useful to begin the inquiry about procedural fairness by looking at what the particular decision-maker or Tribunal said in their reasons. More...

Queensland Parliamentary Service Annual Report 2014-15
 This report covers activities that occurred during the 2014-2015 financial year. More...

QueenslandDepartment of Justice and Attorney-General - Annual Report 2014-15
 The Department of Justice and Attorney-General's annual report summarises its financial and corporate performance for 2014-15. More...

Queensland Office of the Information Commissioner - Annual Report 2014-15
 This report covers activities that occurred during the 2014-2015 financial year. More...

Cases

Mentink v Minister for Justice[2015] FCA 1094
PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – discovery – whether documents not seen by the Minister are directly relevant to proceedings for review of a decision by the Minister – whether the Minister has power to obtain documents from the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity as non-parties – failure to afford the opportunity to those two non- parties who may have to produce the documents concerning whether the Minister has the power to obtain documents from them. Australian Federal Police Act 1979 (Cth) ss 37, 37(2), 37(3), 60A; Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth). More...

Legislation

Bills

Criminal Law (Domestic Violence) Amendment Bill 2015
Introduced on 15/09/2015 Passed with amendment on 15/10/2015.

Coroners (Domestic and Family Violence Death Review and Advisory Board) Amendment Bill 2015
Introduced on 15/09/2015 Passed on 15/10/2015.

Family Responsibilities Commission Amendment Bill
Introduced on 13/10/2015; Referred to Committee on 13/10/2015 - Amendment of s 34 (Eligibility for appointment as registrar); Amendment of s 37 (Delegation by registrar) ; Replacement of s 43 (Notice about offences.

Subordinate Legislation

No 136: Police Powers and Responsibilities Amendment Regulation (No. 1) 2015 – 09 October 2015.
This Regulation is made under the Police Powers and Responsibilities Act 2000. The objectives of the Regulation are to enable Western Australian law enforcement officers to utilise controlled operations and assumed identity powers in Queensland as part of a nationally agreed scheme of mutually recognised corresponding laws; and to enable Commonwealth law enforcement officers to utilise assumed identity powers in Queensland as part of the same scheme.

Current reprints

Police Powers and Responsibilities Regulation 2012 - 09 October 2015. More...

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