Corrective Services (Emerging Technologies and Security) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2022
Bill Story
The journey of this bill through Parliament, including debate and recorded votes.
Referred to Legal Affairs and Safety Committee
▸1 procedural vote
Vote to grant leave
Vote on whether to allow KAP member Nick Dametto to move an amendment outside the long title of the bill that would extend the rooftop offence to youth detention centres with a 12-month maximum penalty. The motion was defeated 36-48, with LNP, Greens, KAP and PHON voting in favour and ALP voting against.
Permission was refused.
A vote on whether to grant permission — for example, to introduce an amendment or vary normal procedure.
▸Show individual votesHide individual votes
Ayes (36)
Noes (48)
▸10 members spoke7 support3 mixed
As Minister for Police and Corrective Services, moved the bill and defended it as necessary to modernise emergency response powers, tackle drone threats, enable body scanner trials, and enhance safety for corrective services officers.
“The amendments in this bill provide that Queensland's correctional and youth justice systems are responsive and flexible to emerging threats and opportunities; support the ongoing safety and security of the correctional system for prisoners, young people, corrective services officers, detention centre workers, visitors and service providers; and ensure community safety.”— 2023-05-23View Hansard
As shadow minister, stated the opposition would not oppose the bill but criticised the government for delayed action on safety issues and raised concerns about drone buffer zones, body camera footage use, and removal of maximum security classification.
“While the opposition will not be opposing this bill, there are several issues that I would ask the minister to clarify during consideration in detail. It is all well and good to speak about addressing issues, especially when it comes to community and staff safety, but it is action that is needed.”— 2023-05-23View Hansard
As committee chair, supported the bill and defended the committee's examination process, noting the bill met policy objectives and addressed emerging threats including drones and the need for body scanning technology.
“The committee was satisfied that the bill met those policy objectives, and our first recommendation was that the bill be passed.”— 2023-05-23View Hansard
Criticised the government for not imposing minimum penalties for assaults on corrective services officers, noting that despite doubled maximum penalties, no offenders had received the maximum sentence. Defended the statement of reservation.
“This is what we see from the Palaszczuk government. We see them turning to maximum penalties as a way to hoodwink the community into thinking they are being tough on crime when in actual fact they are making no difference whatsoever.”— 2023-05-23View Hansard
Supported the bill and highlighted the rooftop offence and drone provisions, noting the 2021 riots at Capricornia Correctional Centre and praising corrective services staff who responded.
“As a government, we are committed to the safety and security of adult corrective services facilities and youth detention centres.”— 2023-05-23View Hansard
Supported the bill as sensible modernisation of corrective services facilities, praising the use of body scanners as less invasive than strip searches and the provisions for emergency responses.
“It is important across government that we keep up with technology—for public safety, for the basic rights of those in the system and, of course, for workplace health and safety for our staff.”— 2023-05-23View Hansard
Supported the bill on behalf of KAP, particularly the drone offence and body scanning provisions, but moved an amendment to extend the rooftop offence to youth detention centres (which was defeated).
“At the outset I want to say that the KAP supports the legislation. Anything we can do to make it easier for our corrective services staff and people working within our facilities to do their job, which is one of the toughest roles in this state, is something that the KAP will always support.”— 2023-05-23View Hansard
As Minister for Youth Justice, supported the bill's provisions for temporary youth detention centres during emergencies, outlining the safeguards including the 21-day maximum duration and notification requirements to oversight bodies.
“These events have highlighted the need for legislation which provides for the broadest possible range of options to deal with emergency situations that present real risks to the health, wellbeing and safety of detainees, staff and visitors to youth detention centres.”— 2023-05-23View Hansard
Supported the bill and praised correctional staff, while strongly criticising the KAP amendment to extend rooftop offences to youth detention centres, arguing young people have different cognitive abilities to adults.
“To suggest that a minor in a detention centre could face up to a year imprisonment if they enter a restricted area is fundamentally refusing to accept the difference in cognitive ability in a developing brain.”— 2023-05-23View Hansard
Raised concerns about drone provisions not establishing adequate buffer zones around prisons and questioned whether penalty increases had effectively protected corrective services officers from assaults.
“The legislation talks about being over corrective services land. The issue I have with it is you can fly a drone up from Southwood Road at quite a high altitude over that area and take photographs of the prison itself so that you could do surveillance of the prison.”— 2023-05-23View Hansard
Plain English Summary
Overview
This bill modernises Queensland's prison and youth detention systems to handle emergencies better and address new security threats. It creates new criminal offences for flying drones over prisons or accessing restricted areas, authorises body scanners and surveillance technology, and improves how agencies share information about prisoners.
Who it affects
Prisoners and youth detainees face new security measures but may benefit from better emergency responses and health care coordination. Drone operators face criminal penalties for flying over prisons or detention centres. Prison visitors may be subject to body scans.
Emergency powers for prisons and youth detention
Replaces outdated emergency provisions with a modern framework that can respond to natural disasters, health emergencies, and internal incidents. For youth detention, allows temporary relocation of detainees when a centre is affected by disaster.
- Chief executive can declare emergencies for up to 21 days for health emergencies, 14 days for disasters, or 3 days for other situations
- Powers to restrict access, isolate prisoners, and limit privileges during emergencies
- Youth detainees can be temporarily relocated to alternative facilities during disasters
- Temporary staff can be appointed during emergencies at youth detention centres
New criminal offences for drones and restricted areas
Creates offences to deter growing security threats from drones flying over prisons and prisoners accessing rooftops. Both carry penalties of up to 2 years imprisonment.
- Flying a drone over a prison or youth detention centre is now an offence with up to 2 years jail or 100 penalty units
- Prisoners entering restricted areas like rooftops face up to 2 years imprisonment
- Exceptions for law enforcement and emergency services using drones
Body scanners and surveillance technology
Provides legal authority for using x-ray body scanners to detect contraband and for surveillance devices like CCTV and body-worn cameras in prisons.
- Body scanners can be trialled and used as a less invasive search method
- Clear authority for CCTV and body-worn cameras to monitor prison activity
- Safeguards for privacy and storage of recordings
- Covert surveillance not permitted under these provisions
Information sharing and prisoner classification
Improves information sharing with health services and law enforcement, and updates the prisoner security classification system.
- Prisoner health information can be proactively shared with health practitioners
- Families can receive general updates about a prisoner's condition
- Intelligence can be shared with law enforcement agencies
- 'Maximum' security classification removed - prisoners now classified as 'high' or 'low'
- New risk sub-categories for more tailored prisoner management