Penalties and Sentences (Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council) Amendment Bill 2016 (Qld)

An Act to amend the Penalties and Sentences Act 1992 to establish a Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council and to amend the Criminal Law (Criminal Organisations Disruption) and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2013 and the Acts mentioned in schedule 1 for particular purposes The Parliament of Queensland enacts—

Part 1 Preliminary

1 Short title This Act may be cited as the Penalties and Sentences (Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council) Amendment Act 2016 .

Part 2 Amendment of Penalties and Sentences Act 1992

2 Act amended This part amends the Penalties and Sentences Act 1992 . Note— See also the amendments in schedule 1.

3 Amendment of s 4 (Definitions) Section 4— insert— council means the Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council established under section 198.

4 Amendment of s 15AK (Use of evidence in giving or reviewing guideline judgments) Section 15AK— insert— Example of matter court may consider— any written views of the council about giving or reviewing a guideline judgment

5 Insertion of new pt 12 After part 11— insert—

Part 12 Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council

Division 1 Establishment and functions

198 Establishment The Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council is established.

199 Functions of council (1) The functions of the council are— (a) if asked by the Court of Appeal, to give the court the council's views, in writing, about the giving or reviewing of a guideline judgment; and (b) if asked by the Attorney-General, to advise the Attorney-General on matters relating to sentencing; and (c) to give information to the community to enhance knowledge and understanding of matters relating to sentencing; and (d) to publish information about sentencing; and (e) to research matters about sentencing and publish the outcomes of the research; and (f) to obtain the community's views on sentencing and matters about sentencing. (2) To help in performing its functions, the council may consult with, and ask for information from, the judiciary, government departments and other entities. Example of information that may be requested— statistical information about crime held by a government department (3) In this section— publish includes give information to the judiciary, government departments and other entities.