LAW REFORM SUBMISSIONS
Submission to Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matter
(Electoral Reform)
Shane Cuthbert Joins New South Wales Business man and Plaintiff in Camenzuli v Morrison (2022) NSWCA 51, Matthew Camenzuli, Ben Dawkins Member of the Legislative Assembly in Western Australia and the Plaintiff in Dawkins v the State Secretary, Australian Labor Party (WA Branch) (2022) WASC 75 and Tristan Cockman, former Federal candidate for the ALP in WA and Plaintiff in Cockman v Gorman (2023) WASCA 44, in a submission to the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters. CLICK HERE to view the Submission in full.
Queensland Climate Transition Bill 2023
Michael Berkman MP, Member for Maiwar, introduced the Queensland Climate Transition Bill 2023 into the Queensland Parliament, later referred to the State Development and Regional Industries Committee for consideration.
The Bill will support Queensland to meet its obligations under the Paris Agreement to keep global heating to 2°C, preferably 1.5°C, above pre-industrial levels, by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and establish a new statutory authority to develop and implement a strategic climate transition plan that manages compensation, training and job opportunities for workers and local communities affected by the transition away from fossil fuels. The Shane Cuthbert Queensland Climate Transition Bill submission requests the Queensland Government consider the Iron Boomerang Project, recently referred to the Federal Parliamentary Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee, supported by Federal Senators Malcolm Roberts of One Nation and Glenn Sterle of the Australian Labor Party. CLICK HERE to view the Submission in full.
The Bill will support Queensland to meet its obligations under the Paris Agreement to keep global heating to 2°C, preferably 1.5°C, above pre-industrial levels, by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and establish a new statutory authority to develop and implement a strategic climate transition plan that manages compensation, training and job opportunities for workers and local communities affected by the transition away from fossil fuels. The Shane Cuthbert Queensland Climate Transition Bill submission requests the Queensland Government consider the Iron Boomerang Project, recently referred to the Federal Parliamentary Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee, supported by Federal Senators Malcolm Roberts of One Nation and Glenn Sterle of the Australian Labor Party. CLICK HERE to view the Submission in full.
Inquiry into Support Provided to Victims of Crime
The Legal Affairs and Safety Committee has been tasked with investigating better coordination of state-wide services to ensure there is trauma informed, victim centric and timely support for victims, from the time of the incident and throughout the subsequent investigation and any prosecution, reporting on the effectiveness of the Victims of Crime Assistance Act 2009 (the Act) for victims of violence and the benefits, disadvantages and resourcing impacts of any recommendations.
Shane Cuthbert has been a victim of crime in the community and whilst in custody for offences later withdrawn due to a lack of evidence, sharing with the Legal Affairs and Safety Committee, his very personal experiences dealing with the police and the DPP, as a victim, under very different circumstances.
CLICK HERE to view the Submission in full.
Path to Treaty Bill 2023
The Path to Treaty is a negotiation process undertaken by the Queensland Government and Queensland’s First Nations Peoples and non-Indigenous Queenslanders, towards a treaty or treaties that will reframe and strengthen the relationship between Queensland’s First Nations and the wider community. The Path to Treaty recognises the process of colonisation has marginalised and disempowered Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Equally it is built on the enormous resilience of First Nations peoples and the strength drawn from the rich history, culture, law and knowledge.
Shane Cuthbert highlights the lack of accountability regarding the Queensland Governments proposed Path to Treaty Bill 2023 and their plans to legislate this very important framework. CLICK HERE to view the Submission in full.
Inquiry into the Monitoring of Places of Detention (Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture) Bill 2022
The primary purposes of this bill is to allow the United Nations Subcommittee on the Prevention of Torture access to places of detention in Queensland in order to carry out inspections. The Australian Government is a member of the United Nations and is a member of the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture.
Shane Cuthbert shares with this inquiry, a very personal story informed by his lived experiences within the criminal justice system (broadly) and places of detention in Queensland (specifically). Shane's submission contains allegations of verbal, physical and sexual abuse, as well as the inhumane treatment of others whilst in custody. CLICK HERE to view the Submission in full.
Shane Cuthbert shares with this inquiry, a very personal story informed by his lived experiences within the criminal justice system (broadly) and places of detention in Queensland (specifically). Shane's submission contains allegations of verbal, physical and sexual abuse, as well as the inhumane treatment of others whilst in custody. CLICK HERE to view the Submission in full.
Inquiry into the Corrective Services (Emerging Technologies and Security) and other Legislation Amendment Bill 2022
The Bill does many things, introduces new offences relating to the use of drones over Corrective Services facilities and climbing onto the roof of these facilities and other (restricted areas), introduces a new prisoner classification framework, additional CCTV, body-worn camera devices and the use of x-ray body scanners and other amendment allowing for better saftey outcomes and managment of prisoners within such facilities.
As an individual with lived experience in the Queensland justice system and specifically, as a former inmate of multiple detention centres in Queensland, and as a future legal practitioner, Shane Cuthbert has a personal and professional responsibility to engage in law reform. Shane Cuthbert shares with this inquiry, some of his personal experiences and suggestions with the Queensland Government Employment, Education and Training Committee. CLICK HERE to view the Submission in full.
As an individual with lived experience in the Queensland justice system and specifically, as a former inmate of multiple detention centres in Queensland, and as a future legal practitioner, Shane Cuthbert has a personal and professional responsibility to engage in law reform. Shane Cuthbert shares with this inquiry, some of his personal experiences and suggestions with the Queensland Government Employment, Education and Training Committee. CLICK HERE to view the Submission in full.
Police Powers and Responsibilities (Jacks Law) Amendment Bill 2022
The primary objective of the Bill is to extend and expand the trial of handheld body scanners, used to detect unlawfully possessed knives beyond the Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach safe night precincts (SNPs). Until recently, the Police have been granted powers to use these devices only within these precincts and, for a limited time. The proposed bill intends to extend the temporary use of these devices beyond the Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach safe night precincts (SNPs) to include all 15 (SNPs), public transport stations and public transport vehicles such as buses and trains until April 2025.
This proposed bill has been named in honour of Jack Beasley, a 17-year-old victim of a fatal stabbing on the Gold Coast in 2019. Jack’s parents Brett and Belinda have advocated strongly for these changes, successfully implemented temporarily on the Gold Coast since May 2021 resulting in the detection and seizure of more than 200 bladed weapons. CLICK HERE to view the Submission in full.
This proposed bill has been named in honour of Jack Beasley, a 17-year-old victim of a fatal stabbing on the Gold Coast in 2019. Jack’s parents Brett and Belinda have advocated strongly for these changes, successfully implemented temporarily on the Gold Coast since May 2021 resulting in the detection and seizure of more than 200 bladed weapons. CLICK HERE to view the Submission in full.
Inquiry into Police Powers and Responsibilities and Other Legislation Bill 2022
The primary objective of the Bill is to strengthen child protection laws by increasing the periods for which an offender is required to report under the Child Protection (Offender Reporting and Offender Prohibition Order) Act 2004 and improving the ability of the Queensland Police Service to investigate cybercrimes and offences committed by these types of offenders through the provision of controlled operations and surveillance device warrants available to officers investigating perpetrators of certain criminal offences.
This bill also seeks to enhance the capacity of the Queensland Police Service to investigate organised crime groups by facilitating the use of civilian participants in ‘controlled activities’ and, strengthen the laws deterring ‘hooning’ behaviours by creating additional offences under the Transport Operations (Road Use Management – Vehicle Registration) Regulation 2021 . CLICK HERE to view the Submission in full.
This bill also seeks to enhance the capacity of the Queensland Police Service to investigate organised crime groups by facilitating the use of civilian participants in ‘controlled activities’ and, strengthen the laws deterring ‘hooning’ behaviours by creating additional offences under the Transport Operations (Road Use Management – Vehicle Registration) Regulation 2021 . CLICK HERE to view the Submission in full.
Queensland Government Inquiry into the Decriminilisation
of Public Urination, Public Intoxication and Begging
Shane Cuthbert has made a submission supporting the decriminilisiation of public urination, public intoxication and begging. CLICK HERE to view the Submission in full.
Australian Spent Convictions Reform
As an advocate for Human Rights, Justice and Equality, Shane Cuthbert is advocating on behalf of those with 'spent convictions' to have access to better protections in Australia. CLICK HERE to learn more about spent convictions and how Shane Cuthbert is advocating for law reforms in this space.
Queensland Women's Safety and Justice Taskforce
on Coercive Control
As the President of Domestic Violence Anonymous and with personal, lived experience regarding domestic violence, Shane Cuthbert made a submission to the Taskforce against introducing Coercive Control
as a stand alone offence. CLICK HERE to view the submission in full.
Queensland Human Rights Commission Review
of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1991 (Qld)
As a future legal practitioner Shane Cuthbert has a professional and personal responsibility to protect the rule of law, the integrity of the legal system and the rights of others. Shane Cuthbert was strongly encouraged to his personal story in a written submission to the Qld Human Rights Commission’s review of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1991 (Qld) supporting changes that would provide more protections to Australian's. CLICK HERE to view the Submission in full.