Legislative reviews
 From time to time, the CMC is required to engage in projects with a significant criminal justice and public policy focus.Matters may be referred from the Attorney General under the Crime and Misconduct Act; arise from investigations; or be required under other legislation. |
From time to time, we are required to review legislation:
- at the request of the Attorney-General
- as a result of a matter arising out of an investigation, or
- under the requirements of other legislation.
In conducting such reviews, we may hold a public inquiry and request submissions from the public, thus enabling them to be involved in the process of reform.
When conducting a review, we are required to research the issue and table a report in Parliament, in which we may recommend legislative, procedural or policy reform. The government considers our recommendations and supports them, supports them in principle, or rejects them. Further action by us, the government or other parties may arise out of the government’s considerations.
Since 2002, we have conducted the following reviews:
- Review of the Child Protection Act 2008
- The CMC will begin a review of the operation of this Act in 2013 and prepare a report to Parliament.
- Review of the Prostitution Act 1999 (Qld)
- The CMC's 2011 review of the Prostitution Act found that the Act effectively regulates the licensed brothel sector in Queensland
- Review of off-road motorbike noise laws
- A CMC review of Queensland noise laws found they were ineffective in reducing excessive motorbike noise in off-road areas.
- Escort agency hearings
- Following public hearings in September 2005, we recommended in a 2006 report to State Parliament that outcall prostitution services from licensed brothels and independent ‘escort agencies’ should not be legalised. We also suggested in this report methods to prevent illegal prostitution from negatively affecting the legal sex industry, providing a fairer solution for legal operators.
- Police radio communication access
- In the wake of the Queensland Police Service’s decision to begin a roll-out of digital radio technology, the government asked the CMC to determine what level of access, if any, the media should have to police radio communications.
- Abuse of children in foster care
- A CMC public enquiry into the abuse of foster children in Queensland resulted in 110 recommendations for reform of the foster care system.
- Sexual offence matters
- Findings and recommendations of a public inquiry into the handling of sexual offence matters in the Queensland criminal justice system.
