Australia's National
Prison Newspaper

Australia's National
Prison Newspaper

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About Time is the national newspaper for Australian prisons and detention facilities

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ISSUE NO. 11

June 2025

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Legal Corner

Legal Q&A

By

Brian

Brian writes from Wolston CC in Queensland.

Ethan Cassidy

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My name is Brian. A lot of guys here are talking about new legislation coming in the near future, but I haven’t found it anywhere. It is called “Daniel’s Law”. I was wondering if you could explain it and when it will take effect and who it will apply to?

Thank you and take care,

Brian.  

My name is Brian. A lot of guys here are talking about new legislation coming in the near future, but I haven’t found it anywhere. It is called “Daniel’s Law”. I was wondering if you could explain it and when it will take effect and who it will apply to?

Thank you and take care,

Brian.  

Legal Q&A

Do you have a general legal query that you want answered?
Is  there an area of law that you think people inside should know more about? Submit your question in the provided form, and we might publish an answer in the paper.

Submit Your Question

Response from About Time:

Hi Brian,

Thank you for your letter. Daniel’s Law is incoming legislation in Queensland which involves the creation of a Public Child Sex Offender Register. The Queensland government has allocated $10 million to set up this register, and has said it plans for it to be launched by the end of this year.

It is proposed to include information of individuals convicted of a child sex-related offence, with further information on the type of offences to be included to be announced by the state government.

The current register in Queensland, which cannot be accessed by members of the public, applies to a long list of offences connected with child sexual abuse or possession or production of material that depicts sexual abuse of children.

The new register under Daniel’s Law proposes to operate across three tiers, with the only publicly available information being on individuals who have convicted a “reportable” crime and who have breached bail. Further information on convicted offenders will be available upon request by individuals, while parents and carers will be able to directly ask for information on an individual.

The Queensland government plans to establish a public website where photographs and personal details of “offenders” who have breached bail and their location is unknown will be publicly available.

Under the plan, individuals will be able to ask for a photograph of a convicted offender if they are identified in their area. The details of what is your “local area” have not yet been announced by the state government.

The plan will also allow parents or guardians to directly ask about someone who has regular, unsupervised access to their child and see whether they are on the register.

The laws are based on a similar scheme which has been running in Western Australia for more than a decade, while the Tasmanian and South Australian governments have also announced plans to introduce sex offender registers.

The Western Australian register covers high-risk serious sexual offenders subject to supervision orders, serious repeat reportable offenders and individuals convicted of an offence punishable by imprisonment for five years and more and concern is held that they may pose a risk to the lives or sexual safety of one or more persons.

The law however has yet to pass in Parliament, and further details on how it will operate and what convictions it will cover will be revealed later this year.

Important Note:

The information provided in this article is information only and is no substitute for legal advice. If you would like advice about your situation, you should consult
a lawyer.

Solitary Confinement as a Sentencing Factor

Solitary Confinement as a Sentencing Factor

Solitary Confinement as a Sentencing Factor

By Prisoners Legal Service
By Prisoners Legal Service

If a prisoner is detained in solitary confinement, the conditions they face in custody are significantly more challenging compared to the general prison population. In some cases, this may be taken into account by a sentencing court and result in a shorter sentence being imposed.

Legal Corner

ISSUE NO. 13

2 MIN READ

Around the Country: Parole

Around the Country: Parole

Around the Country: Parole

By Fitzroy Legal Service, Prisoners Legal Service (NSW Legal Aid), Prisoners Legal Service (QLD) and About Time
By Fitzroy Legal Service, Prisoners Legal Service (NSW Legal Aid), Prisoners Legal Service (QLD) and About Time

Parole is a process that gives some people the ability to get out of prison and serve the last part of their sentence in the community, under the supervision of Community Corrections (which used to be known as Probation and Parole).

Legal Corner

ISSUE NO. 6

10 MIN READ

Legal Q&A – Varying Intervention Orders

Legal Q&A – Varying Intervention Orders

Legal Q&A – Varying Intervention Orders

Question from Dylan, Port Phillip Prison
Question from Dylan, Port Phillip Prison

I was reading a section of ‘Australia’s National Prison Newspaper’ where it gave some information about bail but I couldn’t find any information about people trying to vary intervention orders (I.V.O).

Legal Corner

ISSUE NO. 10

4 MIN READ

Freedom of Information (Part Two): Review Options

Freedom of Information (Part Two): Review Options

Freedom of Information (Part Two): Review Options

By Daniel Vansetten
By Daniel Vansetten

This is the second part of a two-part series on Freedom of Information (or Right to Information) laws. This part discusses ‘review processes’ – that is, what can be done if you are unhappy with the FOI decision, particularly if you were refused information and you think this was incorrect.

Legal Corner

ISSUE NO. 5

10 MIN READ

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Explainer of Prison Offence Laws

By About Time

There are major differences between how offences in prisons are dealt with around Australia. These offences typically range from minor ones, such as keeping an untidy cell, to more serious ones and others that can become criminal charges.

Legal Corner

ISSUE NO. 17

3 MIN READ

FAQs: Security Classifications in Queensland

By Prisoners’ Legal Service

Your security classification impacts which prison you are placed in and the level of security that is imposed on you.

Legal Corner

ISSUE NO. 16

2 MIN READ

Whistleblowing Laws: Protecting Those Who Speak Out

By Human Rights Law Centre lawyers Madeleine Howle and Kieran Pender

Wrongdoing thrives in the darkness. Too often, it is only because of brave people who speak out that the public learns what is happening in the shadows.

Legal Corner

ISSUE NO. 16

3 MIN READ

Legal Q&A

Question from someone imprisoned in VIC

There are lots of reasons why people may get lighter or heavier sentences than someone else who has committed the same crime.

Legal Corner

ISSUE NO. 15

2 MIN READ

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