Legal Affairs, Police, Corrective Services and Emergency Services Committee
Estimates - 2011
Volume of Additional Information
Contents
Correspondence from the Leader of the House Copy of correspondence from Hon Judy Spence MP, Leader of the House to Hon John Mickel MP, Speaker, dated 17 June 2011. Copy of correspondence from Hon Judy Spence MP, Leader of the House to Hon John Mickel MP, Speaker, dated 24 June 2011. Copy of correspondence from Hon Judy Spence MP, Leader of the House to Hon John Mickel MP, Speaker, dated 25 July 2011.
Minutes of meetings 17 June 2011 19 July 2011 19 July 2011 26 July 2011
Minister for Justice and Attorney-General Questions on notice and the Minister’s answers Documents tabled at the hearing Answers to questions taken on notice at the hearing
Minister for Police, Corrective Services and Emergency Services Questions on notice and the Minister’s answers Documents tabled at the hearing Answers to questions taken on notice at the hearing Correspondence from the Minister dated 25 July 2011
Correspondence from the Leader of the House 17 June 2011 24 June 2011 25 July 2011
Minutes of meetings 17 June 2011 19 July 2011 19 July 2011 26 July 2011 - M I N U T E S -
Minutes of a meeting of the Legal Affairs, Police, Corrective Services and Emergency Services Committee on Friday 17 June 2011 at 1.28pm Present: Hon Dean Wells MP (Chair) Mr John-Paul Langbroek MP (Deputy Chair) Mrs Julie Attwood MP Mr Jarrod Bleijie MP Mr Chris Foley MP Mrs Betty Kiernan MP (until 1.59pm)
Apologies:
In attendance: Ms Barbara Stone MP Mr Stephen Finnimore, Research Director Ms Amanda Honeyman, Principal Research Officer Hearing schedule: At the meeting, members were provided with two draft hearing schedule options, and copies of all departmental structures, statutory authorities and senior officers of the departments. The Chair stressed that the draft hearing schedules were offered as a basis for discussion only. Discussion ensued. On the motion of Mrs Kiernan, seconded by Mr Langbroek, the committee resolved to adopt the following hearing schedule for the hearing on 19 July 2011 and to authorise its release:
PORTFOLIO: TIME:
MINISTER FOR JUSTICE AND ATTORNEY-GENERAL Department of Justice and Attorney- 9.30am – 11.30am General Morning tea 11.30am – 11.45am Department of Justice and Attorney- 11.45am – 1.15pm General Lunch 1.15pm – 2.15pm Department of Justice and Attorney- 2.15pm – 3.45pm General Afternoon tea 3.45pm – 4.00pm MINISTER FOR POLICE AND MINISTER FOR CORRECTIVE SERVICES AND EMERGENCY SERVICES Police 4.00pm – 6.30pm Dinner 6.30pm – 7.00pm Corrective Services 7.00pm – 9.30pm Emergency Services 2
Mrs Kiernan left the meeting at 1.59pm. Ministers’ opening speeches The committee agreed that Ministers should be allowed 5 minutes for an opening speech at the commencement of each portfolio. Timetable Prior to the meeting members were provided with a draft timetable for the Estimates process. Discussion ensued. The timetable was amended to reflect the committee’s pre-hearing meeting on 19 July commencing at 9:00am. On the motion of Mr Foley, seconded by Mr Bleijie, the committee adopted the draft timetable, as amended. Attendance of non-committee members Discussion ensued. On the motion of Mr Langbroek, seconded by Mr Foley, the committee resolved to grant leave for non-committee members to attend and ask questions at the committee’s public hearing on 19 July 2011.
Broadcasting of hearing The research director informed members that a meeting of the chairs and deputy chairs held prior to the committee’s meeting had been advised that the broadcasting rules were under consideration and future advices would be provided with a view to a standard, more open approach to broadcasting rules being adopted. The Committee agreed to consider this matter at a future meeting. The Chair requested that the secretariat establish whether computers and internet access will be available to members during the hearing. Adjournment: The meeting adjourned to allow the Committee to consider the Estimates timetable and other issues. Close: The meeting closed at 2:15pm
Confirmed this 19th day of July 2011
Hon Dean Wells MP Chair
- M I N U T E S -
Minutes of a meeting of the Legal Affairs, Police, Corrective Services and Emergency Services Committee on Tuesday 19 July 2011 at 9.07am Room A.35 Parliament House Present: Hon Dean Wells MP (Chair) Mr John-Paul Langbroek MP (Deputy Chair) Mrs Julie Attwood MP Mr Jarrod Bleijie MP Mr Chris Foley MP Mrs Betty Kiernan MP
Apologies:
In attendance: Mr Stephen Finnimore, Committee Office Manager Ms Amanda Powell, Research Director Ms Amanda Honeyman, Principal Research Officer Mrs Gail Easton, Executive Assistant Minutes: Prior to the meeting, members were provided with the draft minutes of the meeting held on Friday 17 June 2011, starting at 1.28pm.
On the motion of Mr Bleijie, seconded by Mr Foley, the committee confirmed those minutes. Public hearing The Chair reminded members of the following matters relating to the procedures: hearing: • The Chair has the same powers as the Speaker regarding questions – SO 182(5). • As per the committee’s agreement, each Minister may make an opening statement of up to 5 minutes, per portfolio. • Questions may be put to the Minister, a Director-General or a CEO (only those set out in Schedule 7) – SO 181(d). Questions to D-Gs and CEOs should focus on facts and not seek comment on government policy. • Advisors may answer questions referred to them by the Minister, Director-General or CEO – SO 181(f). • Questions may be taken on notice by the Minister only – SO183(1). • Documents may only be tabled by a Minister or witness with the leave of the committee – SO 184(2). • Committee members may table documents without leave of the committee, provided the tabling does not offend the Standing Orders. • Documents tabled at the hearing are deemed to be released by the committee upon tabling unless the Committee expressly directs otherwise – SO 184(3). • Committee deliberations are to be held in private. • The committee had, at its previous meeting, given leave for 2
non-committee members to attend and ask questions, however no members had subsequently indicated that they wished to attend. • A quorum of the Committee is 4 members – s. 91 Parliament of Queensland Act 2001.
Broadcast of hearing: Prior to the hearing the members were provided with a copy of the conditions for Broadcasters of Proceedings and Guidelines for Camera Operators in Estimates Hearings. The Chair advised members that since the last meeting of the committee, the Committee of the Legislative Assembly had developed the attached conditions relating to the broadcast of Estimates hearings. On the motion of Mrs Kiernan, seconded by Mr Langbroek, the committee resolved to authorise the broadcast of the hearing and to adopt the attached conditions for Broadcasters of Proceedings and Guidelines for Camera Operators in Estimates Hearings for the hearing. Answers to questions on The Principal Research Officer informed the committee that, under notice: Standing Order 182(8), the Ministers’ answers to the committee’s questions on notice are deemed to be authorised for release by the committee and published upon the commencement of the committee’s hearing, unless the committee expressly orders otherwise. The committee endorsed the full release and disclosure of the Ministers’ answers to the questions on notice. Release of inquiry On the motion of Mr Bleijie, seconded by Mrs Attwood, the documents: committee authorised, pursuant to s. 50 (2) Parliament of Queensland Act 2001, the publication of all documents so far presented to it in the course of its Estimates inquiry and letters from the committee Chair to Ministers. Other business: Members discussed procedural matters relating to the conduct of the hearing. The Chair indicated that he intended to give the call so as to enable a free-flowing line of questioning. Close: 9.19am
Confirmed this 26th day of July 2011
Mrs Betty Kiernan MP Chair
- M I N U T E S -
Minutes of a meeting of the Legal Affairs, Police, Corrective Services and Emergency Services Committee on Tuesday 19 July 2011 at 3.50pm Room A.35 Parliament House Present: Hon Dean Wells MP (Chair) Mr John-Paul Langbroek MP (Deputy Chair) Mrs Julie Attwood MP Mr Jarrod Bleijie MP Mr Chris Foley MP Mrs Betty Kiernan MP
In attendance: Mr Neil Laurie, Clerk of the Parliament Mr Stephen Finnimore, Committee Office Manager Ms Amanda Powell, Research Director Ms Amanda Honeyman, Principal Research Officer Procedural matter Mr Bleijie raised a matter pertaining to the line of questioning of the pertaining to line of Chairperson of the Crime and Misconduct Commission. questioning: The Clerk provided advice on the options available to the committee. Discussion ensued.
Close: 3.53pm
Confirmed this 25th day of July 2011
Mrs Betty Kiernan MP Chair
- M I N U T E S -
Minutes of a meeting of the Legal Affairs, Police, Corrective Services and Emergency Services Committee on Tuesday 26 July 2011 at 10.31am Room 5.04a Parliament House
Present: Mrs Betty Kiernan MP (Chair) - via teleconference Mr John-Paul Langbroek MP (Deputy Chair) Mrs Julie Attwood MP - via teleconference Mr Jarrod Bleijie MP - via teleconference (from 10.40am) Mr Chris Foley MP - via teleconference (until 10.50am) Ms Carolyn Male MP - via teleconference
Apologies:
In attendance: Ms Amanda Powell, Research Director Ms Amanda Honeyman, Principal Research Officer Mrs Gail Easton, Executive Assistant
Committee membership: Prior to the meeting members were provided with a copy of a letter from the Leader of the House, dated 25 July 2011, advising that Hon. Wells had stepped down as Chair of the committee and that Mrs Kiernan had been appointed as Chair, and Ms Male had been appointed as a member until close of business on 1 August 2011. The Chair welcomed Ms Male to the committee.
Minutes: Prior to the meeting, members were provided with the draft minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 19 July 2011, starting at 9.07am. On the motion of Mr Langbroek, seconded by Mrs Attwood, the committee confirmed those minutes.
Prior to the meeting, members were provided with the draft minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 19 July 2011, starting at 3.50pm. On the motion of Mr Langbroek, seconded by Mr Foley, the committee confirmed those minutes.
Consideration of Chair’s The Chair brought forward for consideration her draft report. draft report Discussion ensued. The committee made the following changes to the Chair’s draft report: • the reference to the Public Trustee office in Birtinya on page 6 should state that it is on the Sunshine Coast; and • the list of questions taken on notice on page 8 should reflect the order in which the Minister had answered them. On the motion of Mr Foley, seconded by Ms Male, the committee resolved to adopt, as amended, the Chair’s draft report as the report of the committee.
2
Statements of The Research Director advised that pursuant to Standing Order Reservation 187(2) and (3), members’ statements of reservation or dissenting reports must be provided to the Research Director within 24 hours. Mr Langbroek and Mr Bleijie advised that each would be providing a Statement of Reservation.
Publication of remaining The Research Director advised the committee of the receipt of a inquiry documents letter from the Minister for Police seeking changes to the transcript and providing additional comment in relation to a specific question about drug testing. Item noted. The committee noted that the changes sought to numbers and percentages reported in Hansard were inconsistent with Hansard editorial policy. On the motion of Mrs Attwood, seconded by Mr Foley, the committee resolved, pursuant to s. 50(2) Parliament of Queensland Act 2001 and standing order 183(3)(e), to authorise for release and publication all remaining documents presented to it in the course of the estimates inquiry, subject to the removal of all names not mentioned during the Estimates hearing and contact details from the documents tabled at that hearing.
Additional material to be On the motion of Ms Male, seconded by Mr Langbroek, the tabled with report committee resolved to table with the report, a file titled “Additional Information”, containing: • Minutes of meetings; • Letters of appointment from the Leader of the House; • Questions on notice and answers from the Minister’s; • Questions taken on notice at the hearing and answers from the Minister’s; • Documents tabled at the hearing; and • Letter from the Minister for Police dated 25 July 2011.
Other business: Mr Bleijie informed the committee that he had sought advice from the Clerk of the Parliament on procedural options for the committee to obtain documents from the Crime and Misconduct Commission (CMC), subsequent to Mr Bleijie’s questioning of the CMC Chairperson at the committee’s Estimates hearing on the termination of several of CMC senior officers’ employment, and of the cost of the payments made under the terms of those contracts. Discussion ensued. On the motion of Mr Bleijie, seconded by Mr Langbroek, the committee resolved to write to the Attorney-General, including the relevant extract from Hansard, to seek his assistance to obtain copies of the employment contracts and determination notices relating to the former Executive Director, Peter Scanlan, and the former Director, Misconduct Investigations, Russell Pearce.
On the motion of Mr Bleijie, seconded by Ms Male, the committee resolved to authorise the Chair and Deputy Chair to confirm the minutes of this meeting to enable those minutes to be included in 3
the volume of additional information to be tabled with the report by 1 August 2011.
Close: The meeting closed at 11.00am.
Confirmed this 29th July day of 2011
Mrs Betty Kiernan MP Chair
Minister for Justice and Attorney-General
Questions on notice and the Minister’s answers GOVERNMENT QUESTION ON NOTICE
Question on Notice No. 1, Tuesday, 19 July 2011
LEGAL AFFAIRS, POLICE, CORRECTIVE SERVICES AND EMERGENCY SERVICES COMMITTEE asked the Deputy Premier and Attorney-General, Minister for Local Government and Special Minister of State (Mr Lucas) -
With reference to page 3-170 of the SDS regarding the construction of the new $570 million Supreme and District Court building in Brisbane, will the Minister update the committee on the progress of this major infrastructure project and how the new courthouse will contribute to a stronger justice system for Queensland?
MR LUCAS:
Construction of the new Brisbane Supreme Court and District Court is proceeding extremely well as the project is anticipated to be completed within budget and scope. Due to good cost control, I am pleased to advise the project budget has been revised from the original estimate of $600 million to $570 million.
The construction of this new world class facility will deliver a unique structure as it will be the only Court building in Australia that combines the facilities of the Supreme Court and District Court in one building. This innovative, state of the art infrastructure project will significantly contribute to the efficiency of the justice system.
The structure has now reached its maximum height and the construction of the façade and internal fit-out are well advanced. The building and the new adjoining public square will be a major feature of the Brisbane cityscape and create a new Brisbane CBD legal precinct.
A strong justice system needs an adequate number of properly equipped courtrooms and judicial accommodation to allow cases to be disposed of quickly and efficiently.
With a capacity of 45 courtrooms and 62 judges’ chambers, the building will provide sufficient courtroom space and judicial areas for at least a 50% increase in the work- load of both courts in the future.
This building sets new standards in public facilities and ensures that people attending the courts will be amongst state of the art facilities.
There is a secure circulation system for juries to enable empanelled jurors to move around the building without public contact. There is a large jury assembly room and a secure lounge dedicated for jurors. As part of stress management when juries are confined, jury rooms are spacious and all have large windows.
General public areas in the building are spacious and have external views. Accommodation is provided for the court volunteers who assist members of the public and there is also a coffee shop, family lounge and a secure garden for members of the public during their attendance at court.
Vulnerable witnesses, who are predominately child witnesses, have a secure suite with lounges and rooms for giving video evidence. This area has a secure entrance away from the general public areas.
The courtroom technology in the building is of the highest possible standard with all courts able to record proceedings remotely and display electronic evidence. Fourteen courtrooms have additional computer facilities to conduct trials that rely more heavily on electronic evidence and fifteen courtrooms are able to receive evidence from video sources outside the building.
Security in the new building is a major improvement on the old buildings. There will be X-ray scanning of bags on entry, video monitoring of all public areas and a modern cell block for management of persons in custody.
Members of the media, Legal Aid Queensland, Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the private legal profession all have dedicated rooms.
In summary, the new Brisbane Supreme Court and District Court will be a fitting centrepiece of the Queensland justice system and enable the Queensland court system to operate efficiently and carry out its essential functions in the best possible facilities for the foreseeable future.
As announced on 23 March 2011 in Parliament, the current advised date of completion is mid 2012.
GOVERNMENT QUESTION ON NOTICE
Question on Notice No. 2, Tuesday, 19 July 2011
LEGAL AFFAIRS, POLICE, CORRECTIVE SERVICES AND EMERGENCY SERVICES COMMITTEE asked the Deputy Premier and Attorney-General, Minister for Local Government and Special Minister of State (Mr Lucas) -
With reference to page 3-172 of the SDS regarding the state’s new Sentencing Advisory Council, will the Minister outline the council’s priorities for its first full year of operation in 2011-12?
MR LUCAS:
The Sentencing Advisory Council (the Council) was established in 2010 to help bridge the gap between expectations of the community, courts and Government on the issue of sentencing.
The Council performs an important role in providing advice to Government, gauging community views, and releasing research and information on sentencing.
The Council is chaired by Professor Geraldine Mackenzie, the Dean of Law at Bond University and its members represent a broad range of interests and areas of expertise related to the operation of the criminal justice system.
To carry out its work, the Council’s budget of $1.3 million last year has been increased to $1.8 million this financial year.
One of the legislative functions of the Council is to provide advice to the Attorney- General on sentencing matters on request.
The Government’s first reference to the Council follows an announcement by the Queensland Government in October last year to introduce a minimum standard non- parole period scheme for a number of serious violent offences and sexual offences.
The Council has been tasked with providing advice to me by 30 September 2011 on what offences the scheme should apply to and at what level standard non-parole periods should be set. The Council has also requested community feedback and input on this issue and submissions can be made by accessing the Sentencing Advisory Council’s website at www.sentencingcouncil.qld.gov.au.
I intend introducing legislation into the Parliament establishing this scheme by the end of this year.
Research on sentencing trends is a key focus of the Sentencing Advisory Council with a research paper to be published in 2011-12 that focuses on the sentencing outcomes of the Queensland courts. This information will prove invaluable as it will provide an important resource for key stakeholders, the courts, community and others with an interest in sentencing.
The Council has also commenced a project working with victims of crime to understand their experiences and views of the sentencing process. This research will produce evidence to assist in developing the best way to support the needs of victims of crime.
Furthermore, the Sentencing Advisory Council will identify new and innovative sentencing initiatives that have been shown to promote the rehabilitation of offenders and lead to a reduction in crime. Such initiatives will increase the cost-effectiveness of the Government’s responses to law and justice issues, while continuing to ensure community safety.
GOVERNMENT QUESTION ON NOTICE
Question on Notice No. 3, Tuesday, 19 July 2011
LEGAL AFFAIRS, POLICE, CORRECTIVE SERVICES AND EMERGENCY SERVICES COMMITTEE asked the Deputy Premier and Attorney-General, Minister for Local Government and Special Minister of State (Mr Lucas) -
With reference to pages 3-169 and 3-171 of the SDS regarding the vital role played by the Adult Guardian, will the Minister inform the committee how the government is supporting this important work as demand increases for guardianship services?
MR LUCAS:
In 2010-11, the Office of the Adult Guardian received an extra $20.3 million over four years to respond to the increasing demand for guardianship, and enhance its frontline service delivery capacity across the State. This funding strengthens the successful delivery of guardianship services in Queensland, by helping to ensure that the human rights of the most vulnerable members of the community are upheld and protected. In 2010-11, the Office of the Adult Guardian:
• employed an additional 22 frontline staff to support its guardianship work across all regions of Queensland;
• commenced a State-wide guardianship information service to assist appointed non-statutory guardians; and
• established a new guardianship office in Ipswich for the western corridor and west/south western regions of the State, to provide more responsive service delivery to clients and stakeholders in these regions. In 2011-12, the average number of guardianship caseloads was 116. This is a slight reduction from 2009-10 and can attributed to the employment of additional frontline staff. In 2011-12, the Office of the Adult Guardian proposes to:
• employ an additional 10 frontline staff to support its guardianship work; and
• upgrade the north/far north Queensland office to larger premises, in response to increasing demand for guardianship services. Resources were also invested in expanding training to frontline staff, updating policies and procedures to facilitate the successful expansion of frontline guardianship services, and the implementation of a new database to support the work of the Office. GOVERNMENT QUESTION ON NOTICE
Question on Notice No. 4, Tuesday, 19 July 2011
LEGAL AFFAIRS, POLICE, CORRECTIVE SERVICES AND EMERGENCY SERVICES COMMITTEE asked the Deputy Premier and Attorney-General, Minister for Local Government and Special Minister of State (Mr Lucas) -
With reference to pages 3-170 and 3-171 of the SDS regarding financial and professional support for victims of crime, will the Minister inform the committee of the services being provided through Victim Assist Queensland and the government’s grants funding to community organisations?
MR LUCAS:
The Queensland Government established Victim Assist Queensland (Victim Assist) to provide victims of violent crime with timely access to professional support services and financial assistance. Access to professional support services includes referral to specialist counselling through the Victims Counselling and Support Service, referral to specialist court support such as Protect All Children Today and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women’s Legal Service and enabling access to a range of health practitioners as part of a financial assistance grant.
In 2010-11, Victim Assist received 1,593 applications for financial assistance and made payments totalling over $8.4 million to assist victims in their recovery.
Victims LinkUp, the primary point of contact for Victim Assist, anticipates that it will provide information, referral and support to 13,300 client contacts in 2010/11.
As part of the Queensland Government’s commitment to ensuring victims have access to support, Victim Assist commenced its court support program in 2010. Senior court support officers are located in five regional courthouses in Queensland. These officers work closely with local community services to ensure appropriate and timely referral to support services. In 2010/11 the court support program assisted over 600 clients with victim impact statements, information and court support.
To assist victims in rural, remote and Indigenous communities, Victim Assist also employs regional coordinators in North and Far North Queensland to improve awareness and access to services for victims.
Victim Assist has developed a suite of targeted resources for victims of crime including a comprehensive plain English Guide for Victims of Crime in Queensland which is available on-line or in hard copy.
Under the Victim of Crime Services Funding Program, Victim Assist administers funding of over $1.69 million annually to five community organisations
Relationships Australia Queensland receives over $1 million each year to deliver the Victims Counselling and Support Service. This is a state-wide service operating 24 hours a day, offering telephone information and referral services, face to face and telephone counselling for victims of crime and community education.
Funding of $324,000 per annum is provided to the Queensland Homicide Victims Support Group which provides services to support people across the state in the aftermath of homicide. Services include crisis response, specialised grief and trauma services, peer support services and 24 hour telephone support.
Women Working alongside Women with an Intellectual and Learning Disability (WWILD) receives over $145,000 each year to deliver the Disability Training Program aimed at supporting victims of crime with an intellectual disability, particularly women with an intellectual disability who have experienced sexual assault. Funding contributes to community education and the training of workers, parents, carers and individuals.
Annual funding of close to $42,000 helps Spiritus Living Well operate its interactive website for men who have experienced childhood sexual abuse or sexual assault, their partners, family, friends and service providers. In 2010-11 a one-off grant funding of $100,000 was distributed across two organisations under the Building Capacity for Victims of Crime Services Funding Program.
In Central Queensland, the Central Queensland Community Legal Centre receives funding of over $90,000 to provide assistance such as court support, referral, information, community education and training.
These programs clearly highlight the Queensland Government’s commitment to providing financial and professional support to victims of violent crime in Queensland.
GOVERNMENT QUESTION ON NOTICE
Question on Notice No. 5, Tuesday, 19 July 2011
LEGAL AFFAIRS, POLICE, CORRECTIVE SERVICES AND EMERGENCY SERVICES COMMITTEE asked the Deputy Premier and Attorney-General, Minister for Local Government and Special Minister of State (Mr Lucas) -
With reference to page 3-173 of the SDS, will the Minister outline the role of the Dispute Resolution Branch in providing a practical alternative to expensive, adversarial legal proceedings through conciliation, mediation and other services that help Queenslanders settle their differences more quickly, cheaply and amicably?
MR LUCAS:
The Bligh Labour Government provided over $2.6M in 2010-11 to fund the Dispute Resolution branch.
The role of the Dispute Resolution Branch is to provide the Queensland community with highly effective and timely dispute resolution services across four main types of services:
• Mediation of civil disputes through its six Dispute Resolution Centres located in Cairns, Townsville, Mackay Rockhampton, Hervey Bay and Brisbane;
• Mediation of suitable criminal matters through the justice mediation program in Brisbane, Southport, Townsville and Cairns;
• A culturally appropriate mediation service in the remote Indigenous community of Mornington Island; and
• Conflict management training and educational services to the community and businesses.
Through the Dispute Resolution Centres, 3,020 civil mediations were performed in 2010-11. This is 420 more mediations than last year and represents a 16% increase. This is mainly due to the increased number of referrals from the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT).
Currently, the most common dispute types are peace and good behaviour referrals, neighbourhood disputes, family and workplace disputes. The effectiveness of these mediations in resolving disputes is reflected in the high agreement rate (80%).
The majority of civil mediations (2,550 or 84%) were referred from courts and from the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT), 390 more than 2009-10 and represents an 18% increase.
QCAT now refers the majority of Minor Civil Disputes from courts all over Queensland to the Dispute Resolution Branch for Abbreviated Mediation prior to a hearing being scheduled.
This is in recognition that approximately 50% of the matters sent to Abbreviated Mediation result in an agreement and therefore do not proceed to the tribunal for hearing – thereby cutting the tribunal’s potential caseload for these kinds of matters in half.
84% of all civil mediations are completed within 30 days highlighting that not only are civil disputes being resolved, they are being resolved quickly.
In 2010-11, the Dispute Resolution Centres mediated 392 criminal matters through the justice mediation program. Although criminal matters tend to be lengthier and more complex, 65% of all criminal files were completed within 65 days - slightly below the target of 70% set for 2010-11.
The Report on Government Services (RoGS) 2011 states that the average cost to Government per finalisation for civil matters in Queensland Magistrates Courts was $250. This means that in 2010-11, civil mediation saved the Queensland Government approximately $340 000 by successfully resolving these matters outside of the court system. The benefits to the broader community are significantly greater when savings in legal costs and speedier resolution of disputes are taken into account for the parties involved.
These mediations maintained an outstanding clearance rate of 98%, compared to the target of 60%.
The Mornington Island Restorative Justice Project is a partnership between the Dispute Resolution Branch and Indigenous Elders of Mornington Island in delivering a mediation or peacemaking service, which respects traditional culture and is acceptable to the criminal justice system. The project has mediated 64 significant disputes since it commenced in 2009 and has involved more than half the island’s adult population. The project is jointly funded with the Australian Government.
The Dispute Resolution Branch also provides training in mediation skills and conflict management. In 2010-11 approximately 600 people attended 60 courses aimed at improving their ability to manage their own and other people’s conflict more effectively.
The majority of the Dispute Resolution Branch’s mediation services remain free to members of the community and, while everyone is encouraged to get legal advice prior to mediation, most parties do represent themselves in mediation which means that they don’t incur the same legal expenses as they might if they went to court.
The community is becoming increasing aware that mediation serves as a practical, timely, non-adversarial and effective means of resolving disputes including business disagreements, family conflicts, neighbourhood differences, issues in the workplace and minor criminal offences.
The Dispute Resolution Branch plays an important role in providing the Queensland community with practical, effective and timely alternatives to expensive adversarial legal proceedings.
GOVERNMENT QUESTION ON NOTICE
Question on Notice No. 6, Tuesday, 19 July 2011
LEGAL AFFAIRS, POLICE, CORRECTIVE SERVICES AND EMERGENCY SERVICES COMMITTEE asked the Deputy Premier and Attorney-General, Minister for Local Government and Special Minister of State (Mr Lucas) -
With reference to 3-211 of the Service Delivery Statement, what role did Queensland Government Agencies play in providing legal support to Queenslanders post the devastating natural disaster events?
MR LUCAS:
Following the recent natural disasters, Legal Aid Queensland, in partnership with other Queensland legal organisations, set up Flood and Cyclone Legal Help right across the State.
Legal Aid Queensland provided $250,000 directly to community legal centres to create a state-wide network of lawyers to deliver free flood and cyclone legal information and advice.
The funding from Legal Aid Queensland has allowed community legal centres to provide extra services and supported the coordination of the legal profession’s pro bono work. It has extended free flood and cyclone legal advice services into northern and regional Queensland. Community legal centres in Cairns, Townsville, Central Queensland, Toowoomba and South-West Brisbane benefited from the funding.
Community legal centres have made an important contribution to this work, enabling lawyers to be on the ground in affected areas helping flood and cyclone victims with legal issues, predominantly insurance claims. LAQ, to date, have assisted Queenslanders by representing 109 clients out of 461 clients disputing insurance claims.
Community legal centres have devoted part of their practice to helping flood and cyclone victims, including convening community meetings in affected areas, with hundreds of people attending. The centres are helping affected Queenslanders with a variety of legal issues, such as insurance claims, as well as tenancy agreements, employment, credit, debt, fencing, damage to motor vehicles and family law.
Following this initial response, Legal Aid Queensland also established a new collaborative Insurance Law Service to help clients experiencing delays in getting a response to their insurance claim or who have had their claim fully or partially refused. Approximately 600 Queenslanders have been, or are currently being, assisted by the service, there have been a number of successful wins for clients in overturning claim decisions on review to date.
With extra funding from the Commonwealth Government and the Insurance Council of Australia, Legal Aid Queensland has been able to direct extra resources to its consumer protection unit to help people affected by the recent floods and cyclones. GOVERNMENT QUESTION ON NOTICE
Question on Notice No. 7, Tuesday, 19 July 2011
LEGAL AFFAIRS, POLICE, CORRECTIVE SERVICES AND EMERGENCY SERVICES COMMITTEE asked the Deputy Premier and Attorney-General, Minister for Local Government and Special Minister of State (Mr Lucas) -
Many Queenslanders rely on the vital services provided by Legal Aid Queensland. With reference to 3-211 of the Service Delivery Statement, how will the Government’s financial commitment ensure these vital services will continue?
MR LUCAS:
Legal Aid Queensland (LAQ) is an independent statutory body under the Legal Aid Queensland Act 1997, which provides legal help to financially disadvantaged Queenslanders.
LAQ provides a range of free preventative and early intervention services, such as community legal education, information and advice, and duty lawyer services in criminal, civil and family law matters.
For people who are eligible for a grant of aid, LAQ also provides dispute resolution services and representation in courts and tribunals.
Its services contribute to the efficient operation of the justice system in Queensland.
LAQ receives state and federal funding and the 2011-12 Budget includes $16.6 million in extra state appropriation funding to Legal Aid Queensland, as part of a $61 million commitment by the state over four years.
This funding will enable LAQ to continue to provide services for vulnerable Queenslanders. During 2010-11 LAQ:
• provided free preventative and early intervention services on over 190,085 occasions; • guided adults through 60,045 appearances in the Magistrates Courts and children through 8,081 Children’s Court appearances; • approved aid for 15,987 people charged with criminal offences to be represented, including in 828 Supreme Court matters, and 96 appeals to the Court of Appeal and the High Court of Australia; • supported the effective administration of the child protection system by providing separate representation for children in 496 child protection proceedings, and representing 1,397 parents and carers in child protection matters; • funded 1,435 matters to help people involved in domestic violence proceedings; • in partnership with other Queensland legal organisations, set up Flood and Cyclone Legal Help unit earlier this year in response to the natural disasters experienced across the state. LAQ’s response included providing free legal advice through its call centre, developing a special website with legal information resources, arranging for lawyers to attend recovery centres right across Queensland, convening community meetings in flood affected areas, and assisting people to challenge adverse insurance decisions; • assisted the implementation of the reform of Queensland’s civil and criminal justice system by revising its grants of aid for criminal law matters and training practitioners about the impact of reforms on legal practice; • established a new Queensland Legal Assistance Forum website, a “one-stop-shop” for information about legal services and legal information resources available from member organisations including LAQ and community legal centres; • made significant steps in its business improvement program, including completing a business analysis of its grant of aid system as a platform for implementing improvements in 2010-11, and began implementation of an electronic document record management system; • continued to play a key role in whole of government programs such as Breaking the Cycle Domestic Violence Court Pilot in Rockhampton, and the Drug Court; and • commenced implementation of the National Partnership Agreement on Legal Assistance Services.
During 2011-12 LAQ expects to:
• continue with implementation of an electronic document and records management system (eDRMS); • commence a grants management system modernisation project to enhance business processes and improve data integrity; • implement a legal advice renewal project to provide assistance to people who experience, or are at risk of, social exclusion; and • continue to implement the National Partnership Agreement on Legal Assistance Service through increased investment in preventative and early intervention legal services, initiating innovative service delivery pilots and implementing a new legal education strategy.
GOVERNMENT QUESTION ON NOTICE
Question on Notice No. 8, Tuesday, 19 July 2011
LEGAL AFFAIRS, POLICE, CORRECTIVE SERVICES AND EMERGENCY SERVICES COMMITTEE asked the Deputy Premier and Attorney-General, Minister for Local Government and Special Minister of State (Mr Lucas) -
Page 3-254 of the Service Delivery Statement refers to the Public Trustee and the important services it provides to Queensland. Will the Minister outline how these services are delivered to regional communities.
MR LUCAS:
The invaluable services of the Public Trustee Office have been delivered to Queenslanders for nearly one hundred years. Annually, these services include the administration of more than 2500 deceased estates, acting as Trustee to more than 800 testamentary trusts and 4400 trusts for minors, preparing more than 21,00 wills free of charge and acts as an administrator for adults with impaired capacity.
Public Trustee will improve the effectiveness of its service delivery to Queenslanders in 2011-12. Following a review of The Public Trustee’s current service delivery model; services traditionally provided from 16 regional offices will be provided by a mix of regional offices and satellite offices.
Regional Offices are: Ipswich; Southport; Brisbane Metro; Redcliffe; Toowoomba; Sunshine Coast; Maryborough; Rockhampton; Townsville; Mackay and Cairns. Offices that have been re-classified as satellites are Mount Isa, Bundaberg and Gladstone; while Strathpine has operated as a Satellite successfully for many years and Nambour was made a satellite following the opening of the new Sunshine Coast Office in 2010.
To better deliver services, the administrative functions currently performed by some satellite offices are being slowly transitioned to Regional Offices. The Public Trustee’s satellite offices will retain a range of services including free will making which has been operating since 1916. These administrative efficiencies will not result in a reduction of services to Queenslanders or staff job losses. The Public Trustee will continue to have a strong presence in each of these regional areas. Additionally, greater efficiencies, knowledge sharing and staff development will result from regional offices supporting their satellite offices in their service delivery.
The Public Trustee will be expanding its focus on increasing outreach services throughout the State; with greater utilisation of Magistrates’ Courts and Queensland Government Agent Program offices. There will also be increased development of mobile document making services. Currently The Public Trustee provides some key services through 30 outreach locations, including 19 courthouses, eight Centrelink offices, two RSL locations and one community centre.
GOVERNMENT QUESTION ON NOTICE
Question on Notice No. 9, Tuesday, 19 July 2011
LEGAL AFFAIRS, POLICE, CORRECTIVE SERVICES AND EMERGENCY SERVICES COMMITTEE asked the Deputy Premier and Attorney-General, Minister for Local Government and Special Minister of State (Mr Lucas) -
With reference to pages 3-171 and 3-173 of the Service Delivery Statement, which refers to a two year pilot of drink safe precincts, to combat alcohol-related violence, will the Minster inform the committee of the progress with drink safe precincts?
MR LUCAS:
The safety of the Queensland public is a priority for the Bligh Government and this issue is being addressed through a multi-faceted program involving education and intervention strategies along with increase law enforcement activity.
As part of the Government’s focus on public safety, in 2009, a Parliamentary Inquiry into Alcohol Related Violence and its ramifications was conducted.
In conducting the inquiry, the Parliamentary Law, Justice and Safety Committee considered more than 150 submissions, held four pulic hearings and visited late night venues throughout Queensland.
In March 2010, the Committee released its report with recommendations highlighting the importance of community safety and preventative measures to reduce levels of alcohol-related violence and its ramifications.
Drink Safe Precincts and Banning Orders are part of the Government’s response to those recommendations. Amendments to the Liquor Act 1992 came into force in December 2010 allowing the creation of the three Drink Safe Precincts (DSPs) in Townsville, Fortitude Valley and Surfers Paradise.
The Queensland Government has made over $8.5 million available in funding for the two year pilot to fund in additional police presence and community group support services in the three pilot precincts. Adopting a place-based management approach, drink safe precincts aim to reduce alcohol related violence, improve community safety and public amenity.
The Queensland Government has coordinated the establishment of Drink Safe Precinct committees in each of these locations using the combined resources of the State and local government agencies, as well as industry and community organisations. The committees have developed local management plans aimed at curbing alcohol related violence, delivering practical solutions to local problems in each area.
This builds on the excellent work that is already being achieved locally in each of these locations and includes additional police presence and community group support services in the pilot precincts.
The pilots commenced in December 2010 and results to date include:
• an increased and more visible police presence within the precincts;
• improved transport information and traffic control, addressing issues such as crowding and footpath queuing;
• establishment of safe zones where people can access help services; and
• better on-the-ground coordination between community groups, security, police and licensees.
In addition, the Queensland Government has introduced new laws allowing courts to impose banning orders as a new sentencing option for offences relating to violence in, or in the vicinity of licensed premises, as well as a condition of bail.
There are significant penalties and consequences for persons found contravening a banning order or breaching a ban imposed through bail conditions. Penalties include a fine of up to $4,000 or up to one year imprisonment.
Within the 3 Drink Safe Pilots, as at 19 May this year there have been a total of 53 banning orders applied for by police with 17 having been imposed, 5 refused and 31 pending. There have been 4 banning orders issued without police application in Drink Safe Pilots.
Areas outside the Drink Safe Pilots are also able to apply for banning orders. In non DSP areas, police have made a total of 26 applications for banning orders with 14 having been issued, 5 refused and 7 pending. There have been 40 banning orders issued without police application.
The Department of the Premier and Cabinet is evaluating the pilot and has created a snapshot of information about the first three months of the trial which is publicly available on the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation’s internet site.
Although it is too early to gauge the success of this initiative, feedback from stakeholders represented on the Drink Safe Precincts committees has been positive.
Evaluation of the precinct pilots will inform both the public and the Queensland Government about the success of this initiative. It will help the Queensland Government make informed decisions in our drive to minimise harm from alcohol use and misuse in Queensland.
GOVERNMENT QUESTION ON NOTICE
Question on Notice No. 10, Tuesday, 19 July 2011
LEGAL AFFAIRS, POLICE, CORRECTIVE SERVICES AND EMERGENCY SERVICES COMMITTEE asked the Deputy Premier and Attorney-General, Minister for Local Government and Special Minister of State (Mr Lucas) -
With reference to page 3-173 of the Service Delivery Statement, which refers to supporting the community to adopt green technology, like solar, through the Gambling Community Benefit Funds program, how has the Government assisted the community through these community benefit funds?
MR LUCAS:
This year, the Gambling Community Benefit Fund, the Jupiters Casino Benefit Fund and the Reef Hotel Casino Benefit Fund will inject approximately $45 million back into the Queensland economy through community organisations.
One of the positive flow-on effects from gambling is the money returned to community organisations in the form of grants for the purchase of office and sporting equipment, upgrade of community facilities, development of pilot programs and the provision of solar items.
In 2010-11, a total of 2, 182 applications were approved by the Gambling Community Benefit fund, totalling almost $42 million.
The Queensland Government also established the Solar Sport and Community Group Grants initiative to encourage community groups to do the “bright thing” and by installing solar panels help to build Queensland’s virtual solar power station.
As part of this initiative, eligible sporting and community organisations across Queensland can apply to the Gambling Community Benefit Fund for grants to support the purchase and installation of 1.5 kilowatt solar photovoltaic panels and/or solar hot water systems.
Since launching this initiative in June 2010, 318 Solar Sport and Community Group Grant applications have been approved totalling more than $2.9 million. In addition to these grants the Gambling Community Benefit Fund has also distributed during this period more than $500,000 to other solar related applications. The grants allow these sporting and community organisations to reduce their electricity consumption and greenhouse gas emissions as well as save on their electricity costs.
NON - GOVERNMENT QUESTION ON NOTICE
Question on Notice No. 1, Tuesday, 19 July 2011
LEGAL AFFAIRS, POLICE, CORRECTIVE SERVICES AND EMERGENCY SERVICES COMMITTEE asked the Deputy Premier and Attorney-General, Minister for Local Government and Special Minister of State (Mr Lucas)
With reference to Service Delivery Statements SDS 3-175 service summary,
What is the breakdown of how the court and tribunal services appropriation is to be split between the various units, divisions, and sections in the 2009/10 budget (reporting separately including ODPP, Court Services, and any other components within the output area) and how does this compare to the 2008/09 budget and actual spend for each area (reported separately by year)?
MR LUCAS:
I refer the member to previous Estimates Question on Notice, number 1, asked in July 2009.
NON - GOVERNMENT QUESTION ON NOTICE
Question on Notice No. 2, Tuesday, 19 July 2011
LEGAL AFFAIRS, POLICE, CORRECTIVE SERVICES AND EMERGENCY SERVICES COMMITTEE asked the Deputy Premier and Attorney-General, Minister for Local Government and Special Minister of State (Mr Lucas)
With reference to the service delivery statement 3-181 total cost a) What is the overall operational budget for the ODPP in 2011/12 (reported by base, civil confiscations, major cases, revenue generated and capital works); and
b) What was the budget and actual spend for the ODPP in the 2010/11 financial year reported by budget line item?
MR LUCAS:
The total operational budget for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) for 2011/12 is $40.643 million comprising $40.457 million base funding and $186,000 own sourced revenue. The confiscations function of the ODPP’s core business is included in the overall base funding allocation. With the completion of the high profile cases allocated special prosecutions funding in previous financial years, no additional special prosecutions funding has been provided to the ODPP for the 2011/12 financial year.
The total operational budget for the ODPP in 2010/11 was $39.791 million comprising $39.607 million base funding and $184,000 own sourced revenue. The estimated total expenditure for 2010/11 is $39.791 million.
NON - GOVERNMENT QUESTION ON NOTICE
Question on Notice No. 3, Tuesday, 19 July 2011
LEGAL AFFAIRS, POLICE, CORRECTIVE SERVICES AND EMERGENCY SERVICES COMMITTEE asked the Deputy Premier and Attorney-General, Minister for Local Government and Special Minister of State (Mr Lucas)
With reference to SDS 1-175 Staffing
What is the current actual staffing level breakdown within the ODPP (reported by office and staff classification) and of that staff breakdown what is the current caseload for each legal officer/prosecutor as at June 30 2011 (reported by office location)?
MR LUCAS:
I note the Member for Kawana asked the same question on 9 March 2011 and was provided with a comprehensive response.
As previously advised, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) had 7, 050 active files in March 2011. As at 30 June 2011, the ODPP had 6, 865 active files. The ODPP have advised that the employment of additional staff have contributed to the reduction in active case files.
The Member for Kawana was also advised that there was 324 full time staff as at 7 March 2011. As of 30 June 2011, there was 328 full time staff engaged in legal work at the ODPP. NON - GOVERNMENT QUESTIONS ON NOTICE
Question on Notice No. 4, Tuesday, 19 July 2011
LEGAL AFFAIRS, POLICE, CORRECTIVE SERVICES AND EMERGENCY SERVICES COMMITTEE asked the Deputy Premier and Attorney-General, Minister for Local Government and Special Minister of State (Mr Lucas)
With reference to service delivery statement SDS 3-179 and 3-180 performance statement a) What was the total operating budget and expenditure for QCAT in 2010/11 (reported by expenditure) b) How many matters were lodged, adjudicated and finalised in QCAT in 2010/11 reported by type) c) How many matters were appealed in 2010/11 (reported by appeal type) and who conducted such appeals?
MR LUCAS:
Over the last 12 months, QCAT have made significant achievements including effectively managing the amalgamation of 18 tribunals and 23 jurisdictions into a single tribunal.
The total operating budget for QCAT in 2010/11 was $18.72 million.
I am also advised that over the past year, QCAT have achieved an outstanding clearance rate of 98%, compared to a target of 60%.
From 1 July 2010 to 31 May 2011 there have been 415 matters appealed in QCAT with the majority including appeals from Minor Civil Disputes.
NON - GOVERNMENT QUESTION ON NOTICE
Question on Notice No. 5, Tuesday, 19 July 2011
LEGAL AFFAIRS, POLICE, CORRECTIVE SERVICES AND EMERGENCY SERVICES COMMITTEE asked the Deputy Premier and Attorney-General, Minister for Local Government and Special Minister of State (Mr Lucas)
With reference to the service delivery statement 3-175 Service Summary – Criminal and Civil Justice a) What is the total operating budget and expenditure for each of the courts innovations projects including murri court, drug court and special circumstances court and all other programs in 2009/10 and 2010/11 (reported separately for each program and for each of the past two years)? and b) What is the estimated budget for each program in the 2011/12 financial year? (reported by program)
MR LUCAS:
The courts innovations programs include: Murri Courts, the Queensland Indigenous Alcohol Diversion Program (QIADP), the Community Justice Groups’ Grants program, the Justices of the Peace (Magistrates Courts) in Discrete Indigenous Communities, the Special Circumstances Court, the Co-ordinated Domestic and Family Violence Response pilot at Rockhampton, the Queensland Magistrates’ Early Referral Into Treatment (QMERIT) program, the Illicit Drugs Court Diversion Program, and the Drug Court.
These programs contribute towards achieving the Queensland Government’s Toward Q2: Tomorrow’s Queensland ambitions of Fair and Healthy. Each program responds to a different group of offenders, addressing the underlying causes of their offending in an effort to reduce the likelihood of them re-offending. For example:
The operating budgets for 2009/10 and 2010/11 for the courts innovations programs (rounded to the nearest $1,000) were $8,367,000 and $9,314,000 respectively. The following table shows annual budget broken down over the nine programs:
Court Innovation Programs' Annual Budget
Program 2009/10 2010/11 Murri Court $1,158,000 $1,200,000 QIADP $911,000 $800,000 Community Justice Groups $4,791,000 $5,748,000 Justices of the Peace Mags Courts $212,000 $168,000 Special Circumstances Court $519,000 $486,000 DV Trial Rockhampton $54,000 $70,000 QMERIT $77,000 $80,000 Illicit Drug Court Diversion $309,000 $385,000 Drug Court $336,000 $377,000 Total $8,367,000 $9,314,000
The expenditure figure for these same programs during 2009-10 was $7,638,000. The 2010/11 estimated actual expenditure is $8,735,000. The following table shows actual annual expenditure broken down over the nine Courts Innovation Programs:
Court Innovation Programs' Annual Expenditure
Program 2009/10 2010/11 Expenditure Expenditure Murri Court $1,048,000 $1,200,000 QIADP $594,000 $800,000 Community Justice Groups $4,557,000 $5,286,000 Justices of the Peace Mags Courts $180,000 $168,000 Special Circumstances Court $651,000 $478,000 DV Trial Rockhampton $30,000 $70,000 QMERIT $77,000 $80,000 Illicit Drug Court Diversion $306,000 $387,000 Drug Court $195,000 $266,000 Total $7,638,000 $8,735,000
b) The 2011/12 estimated operating budget for all Courts Innovation Programs will be $8,783,700, as per the following table:
Court Innovation Programs' Estimated Budget
Program 2011/12 Operating Budget Murri Court $1,200,000 QIADP $800,000 Community Justice Groups $5,524,700 Justices of the Peace Mags Courts $169,000 Special Circumstances Court $240,000 DV Trial Rockhampton $70,000 QMERIT $80,000 Illicit Drug Court Diversion $400,000 Drug Court $300,000 Total $8,783,700
NON - GOVERNMENT QUESTION ON NOTICE
Question on Notice No. 6, Tuesday, 19 July 2011
LEGAL AFFAIRS, POLICE, CORRECTIVE SERVICES AND EMERGENCY SERVICES COMMITTEE asked the Deputy Premier and Attorney-General, Minister for Local Government and Special Minister of State (Mr Lucas)
With reference to Service Delivery Statement 3-173 Departmental Services Criminal and Civil Justice – a) What was the total operating budget and actual spend for the crown law division in 2010/11 and what is the operating budget for 2011/12 (reported separately); and
b) How many appeals did the Attorney General lodge and how many were successful in 2010/11 (reported separately)?
c) How much costs were awarded against the state in 2010/11 for failed appeals?
MR LUCAS:
It should be noted that Crown Law is reported as a Legal Service within Part 16 of the Service Delivery Statement and not in the Criminal and Civil Justice Service section.
a) The total operating budget in 2010-11 for Crown Law is $39.042 million. The estimated actual spend is $39.042 million. The 2011-12 budget for Crown Law is $39.142 million.
b) During the 2010-11 financial year, nine Attorney-General appeals against the sentence imposed at first instance were lodged in the Court of Appeal. Seven of those appeals were heard by the Court of Appeal. Of that seven, three appeals were dismissed, three were allowed and one decision has been reserved. One appeal is listed for hearing on 11 August 2011 and one appeal is yet to be listed for hearing.
During the 2010-2011 financial year, one Attorney-General appeal was lodged in the Supreme Court under the Dangerous Prisoner (Sexual Offenders) Act 2003, that of Robert John Fardon, against a decision to rescind the continuing detention order and institute a supervision order. The appeal was successful.
During the 2010-2011 financial year, 22 Mental Health Court appeals were lodged, 11 of which were dismissed or withdrawn, one decision is pending, and 10 were allowed. c) With respect to the appeals lodged in 2010-2011 by the Attorney-General, no costs orders were made against the State.
Notes:
(The 2011-12 estimate includes the CPI increase of 3%, however, it is offset by a reduction in revenue as a result of an anticipated reduction in legal services funding in departments).
NON - GOVERNMENT QUESTION ON NOTICE
Question on Notice No. 7, Tuesday, 19 July 2011
LEGAL AFFAIRS, POLICE, CORRECTIVE SERVICES AND EMERGENCY SERVICES COMMITTEE asked the Deputy Premier and Attorney-General, Minister for Local Government and Special Minister of State (Mr Lucas)
With reference to Service delivery statement 3-179 Service area – criminal and civil justice – service standards a) How many defendants were sentenced to an actual term of imprisonment in the supreme and district courts in 2009/10 and 2010/11 (reported by year, court and length of sentence- less than 1 year, 1 – 2 years, more than 3 years)?
b) How many defendants were sentenced to probation in 2009/10 and 2010/11? (Reported by either Supreme or District Court jurisdiction); and
c) How many defendants were sentenced to periods of community service in the supreme and district court 2009/10, 2010/11 (reported by court jurisdiction)?
MR LUCAS:
(a) The number of defendants sentenced to an actual term of imprisonment in the Supreme and District Courts for 2009-10 and 2010-11 (as at 31 May 2011) broken down by the specified length of imprisonment are shown below.
Supreme Court Less than 1 year 1 to 2 years More than 3 years 2009-10 90 163 181 2010-11 (as at 31 May 2011) 93 (inc.) 246 (inc.) 194 (inc.)
District Court Less than 1 year 1 to 2 years More than 3 years 2009-10 490 884 364 2010-11 (as at 31 May 2011) 500 (inc.) 941 (inc.) 472 (inc.)
(b) The number of defendants sentenced to probation in 2009-10 and 2010-11 (as at 31 May 2011) are shown below. 2009-10 2010-11 (as at 31 May 2011) Supreme Court 97 86 (inc.) District Court 614 678 (inc.)
(c) The number of defendants sentenced to community service in 2009-10 and 2010-11 (as at 31 May 2011) are shown below. 2009-10 2010-11 (as at 31 May 2011) Supreme Court 72 56 (inc.) District Court 271 258 (inc.) Note: 2010-11 figures are incomplete as they are as at 31 May 2011. NON - GOVERNMENT QUESTION ON NOTICE
Question on Notice No. 8, Tuesday, 19 July 2011
LEGAL AFFAIRS, POLICE, CORRECTIVE SERVICES AND EMERGENCY SERVICES COMMITTEE asked the Deputy Premier and Attorney-General, Minister for Local Government and Special Minister of State (Mr Lucas)
With reference SDS 3-180 debt pool under compliance a) What is the total amount of outstanding fines being managed by SPER reported by each of the four categories as at June 30 2011; and b) how much money was repaid to SPER in 2009/10 and 2010/11 (reported separately); c) How many SPER clients had their driver licence cancelled in 2010/11 for non compliance with SPER arrangements?
MR LUCAS:
The Bligh Government’s tough measures to ensure fines are paid are paying off, with, I am advised, a record total of $166.4 million in unpaid fines collected in 2009-10.
For 2010-11, all figures are publicly available on the SPER website, www.justice.qld.gov.au/justice-services/sper.
SPER does not have the legislative power to cancel driver licences. SPER can only suspend driver licences for non compliance. NON - GOVERNMENT QUESTION ON NOTICE
Question on Notice No. 9, Tuesday, 19 July 2011
LEGAL AFFAIRS, POLICE, CORRECTIVE SERVICES AND EMERGENCY SERVICES COMMITTEE asked the Deputy Premier and Attorney-General, Minister for Local Government and Special Minister of State (Mr Lucas)
With Reference to SDS 3-175 Staffing a) What is the actual staffing break down per work unit and division for the Courts and Tribunal Services? (Reported by unit/area as at June 30 2011) b) What was the total number of staff separations for the department of Justice and Attorney General in 2010/11 (reported by separation type)?
MR LUCAS: a) It should be noted that the Courts and Tribunal Services is now referred to as ‘Criminal and Civil Justice Services’ and includes Queensland courts and tribunals. It also provides coronial and prosecution services and manages the State’s collection of fines and penalties. This service area provides diversion programs to address crime, related social programs, Justice of the Peace services and civil and criminal mediation services across the State.
As at 30 June 2011, there were 2,046 full time equivalent staff employed within the Criminal and Civil Justice Services area of the Department of Justice and Attorney-General. The following table details the staffing break down per work division.
Staff Work division (rounded) Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions 370 Justice Administration Directorate (incl. Courts Project) 5 Magistrates Courts 32 Justice Services Support 34 Office of the State Coroner 31 Courts Innovation Program 34 Supreme and District Courts 212 Courts Information Services 41 State Reporting Bureau 193 Regional Operations 615 Community Justice Services Directorate 2 State Penalties Enforcement Registry 141 Dispute Resolution 22 Justices of Peace 13 QLD Civil and Administrative Tribunal 111 Body Corporate and Community Management 28 Land Court and Tribunal 16
Sentencing Advisory Council 8
Corporate Services 137
TOTAL 2045 b) The total number of separations for the Department of Justice and Attorney is 732. The breakdown of separation type is outlined in the table below:
Separation Type Contract End 190 Deceased 4 Dismissed 17 Ill Health Retirement 1 Machinery of Govt change 4 Other reason 41 Redundancy 2 Resigned 328 Retired 36 Transfer to another dept 108 Voluntary Early Retirement 1 Grand Total 732
NON - GOVERNMENT QUESTION ON NOTICE
Question on Notice No. 10, Tuesday, 19 July 2011
LEGAL AFFAIRS, POLICE, CORRECTIVE SERVICES AND EMERGENCY SERVICES COMMITTEE asked the Deputy Premier and Attorney-General, Minister for Local Government and Special Minister of State (Mr Lucas)
With reference to SDS 3-183 Guardianship services a) What is the average case load for matters held by the Adult Guardian in 2009/10 and 2010/11? (Reported by year and region); and b) What is the average wait time for a client to have their first visit from the Adult Guardian after coming into Guardianship of the Office?; and c) How many staff left the Adult Guardian in 2009/10 and 2010/11 (reported by year and reason for separation)?
MR LUCAS:
The Office of the Adult Guardian (Adult Guardian) plays a vital role in protecting and promoting the rights of adults with impaired decision making capacity.
In 2010-11, the State Government allocated an extra $20.3 million over four years to the Adult Guardian, a significant funding boost, to support and manage the increasing demand for guardianship services.
In relation to the average case load and staffing levels for 2009-10, I refer the Member to previous Question on Notice number 1239. I would also note that in 2009 the Opposition had a staff turn-over rate of more than 80%, with 18 staff separations from the Opposition Office, out of an establishment of 22 positions.
As at 30 June 2011, the average guardianship caseloads for the Office of the Adult Guardian were approximately:
Greater Brisbane 46 South West 39 North Queensland 31
As outlined in previous Question on Notice number 1239, the Office of the Adult Guardian does not provide information on the average wait time for a client to have their first visit. A search of individual records to establish the average time would be an unreasonable use of staff time and resources. These resources would be better directed by the Office of the Adult Guardian towards front-line service delivery.
In 2010-11, five permanent staff left the Adult Guardian and I am advised that all of these positions have since been filled.
Minister for Justice and Attorney-General
Documents tabled at the hearing Right to Information Statistics Page 1 of3
You are here:Home>Justice services>SPER> Right to Information Statistics Right to Information Statistics
The following information relates to debts registered with the State Penalties Enforcement Registry (SPER).
Total value of debt and fees collected
The following chart shows the total amount of debt and fees collected each financial year by SPER.
150
75
o * registered SPER - as
Debts registered with SPER relate to:
.. infringement notices for offences such as parking, speeding or failing to register a dog. Infringement notices are issued by a range of agencies (known as administering authorities) such as local governments (councils), state government departments, hospitals and universities, and
http://www.justice.qld.gov.au/justice-services/sper/right-to-information 18/07/2011 Right to Information Statistics Page 2 of3
.. Court orders (orders heard in a Supreme, District or Magistrates Court) for more serious offences such as assault or drink driving. These orders can include fines, compensation, restitution, fees, and costs.
Debts registered with SPER will fall within one of the following four categories depending on the status of the debt at anyone time.
Category Number of penalties Total debts under active compliance 828,868 Total debts under active enforcement 79,840 Total debts under deferral 297,087 Total debts awaiting enforcement 1,375,238
Total debts under active compliance - This represents the number and value under a compliance arrangement to finalise the amount owing (for example, a payment arrangement, unpaid community service, or within the time to pay period).
Total debts under active enforcement - This represents the number and value of debts that SPER has taken enforcement action on as a result of them being overdue and not in compliance (enforcement action can include suspending a driver licence, garnisheeing money from a bank account or wages, or issuing a warrant of arrest and imprisonment).
Total debts under deferral - This represents the number and value of debts that are deferred from any further action being taken by SPER until a dispute or investigation in relation to the debt is resolved (for example, disputes that have been raised with the court or the agency that issued the penalty). Debts may also be deferred for people who are affected by natural disasters.
Total debts awaiting enforcement - This represents the number and value of debts that are pending enforcement (e.g. queued for Driver Licence Suspension) or where SPER is investigating to obtain additional information before further enforcement action can be taken.
Deb lonth Number of. Dollar Value ~ueoG" reYIsLereu1with SPER in month 64,067 $24.2M Debts finalised by SPER in month 58,524 $16.4M
New debts registered with SPER in month - This represents the number and value of debts lodged with SPER by courts and administering authorities.
Debts finalised by SPER in month - This represents the number and value of debts that have been resolved and are no longer registered as outstanding on the SPER system.
See also
.. Accessing departmental information( http://www.justice.qld.gov.au/corporate/accessing departmental-information )Accessing information from the Department of Justice and Attorney General through Right to Information laws.
http://www.justice.qld.gov.au/justice-services/sper/right-to-information 18/07/2011 Right to Information Statistics Page 3 of3
Contacts
PhoneSPER Call Centre: 1300 365 635 Call Centre hours of operation: 8.00am - 5.45pm, Man - Fri
Fax+61 7 3109 1684 Attn: SPER
PostThe Registrar SPER GPO Box 1387, Brisbane, Qld 4001
[email protected](mailto:[email protected] )
OtherFurther details for contacting SPER by phone, email, in person or from overseas ( http://www.justice.qld.gov.au/justice-services/sper/contact )
Last reviewed 7 July 2011 Last updated 7 July 2011
Copyright( http://www.justice.qld.gov.au/corporate/contact-us/copyright ) Disclaimer( http://www.justice.qld.gov.au/global/disclaimer ) Privacy( http://www.justice.qld.gov.au/global/privacy ) Right to information( http://www.justice.qld.gov.au/corporate/accessing-departmental-information )
© The State of Queensland (Department of Justice and Attorney-General) 2010
Queensland Government( http://www.qld.gov.au/ )
http://www.justice.qld.gov.au/justice-services/sper/right-to-information 18/07/2011 From: Phil Clarke Sent: Wednesday, 21 October 20092:48 PM To: Paul Turner; 'Peter Nibbs' Cc: David Mackie; Rachael Mackay; Jo Phillips; Paul Murray; Tim Goodwin Subject: RE: Media inquiry about SPER - ADVANCE COpy
Phil Clarke Deputy Director-General Justice Services Department of Justice & Attorney General Phone: (07) 323 96051 Fax: (0 ) 323 96419 Email: [email protected] HA fair, safe and just Queensland"
IMPORTANT: This email (includinganyattachments)maycontainconfidential.private or legally privileged information and may be protected by copyright. You may only use it if you are the person(s) it was intended to be sent to and use it in an authorised way. No one else is allowed to use, review, alter, transmit, disclose, distribute, print or copy this e-mail without the appropriate authority. If this e-mail was not intended for you and was sent to you by mistake, please telephone or email me immediately, destroy any hard copies of this e-mail and delete it and any copies of it from your computer system. Any legal privilege and confidentiality attached to this e mail is not waived or destroyed by that mistake. It is your responsibility to ensure that this e-mail does not contain and is not affected by computer viruses, defects or interference by third parties or replication problems (including incompatibility with your computer system) . --- -Original Message---- From: Paul Turner Sent: Wednesday, 21 October 2009 2:41 PM To: 'Peter Nibbs' Cc: David Mackie; Phil Clarke; Rachael Mackay; Jo Phillips; Paul Murray; Tim Goodwin Subject: Media inquiry about SPER - ADVANCE COpy
Hi Peter. Please see attached, as discussed. This draft response is currently in ~pprovals and I would hope to have the endorsed final to you within an hour. Hopefully the supplementary material to last week's response won't be too far behind. Cheers, Paul.
Paul Turner Senior Media Officer Communication Services Branch Department of Justice and Attorney-General Email: I Phone:
L- _
1 From: Paul Murray Sent: Tuesday, 8 December 2009 1:37 PM To: Paul Turner; Jo Phillips; I Cc: Tim Goodwin ------Subject: RE: SPER stats
Hi Paul
Also, our statistician is working from home today so if the extra figures can be compiled we will have them to you but we cant make any guarantees about when they will be ready. If Theresa cant have them ready for today, they will not be available until mid next week when she is next scheduled to work. There is no other available resource to compile that statistics.
Kind regards
Jaul
Paul Murray Director of SPER Ph: I Ph: Mob: _ Queensland celebrates 150 years throughout 2009. See what's on today at www.q150.qld.gov.au
"Please think about the environment before you print this message".
-- --Original Message---- From: Paul Turner Sent: Tuesday, 8 December 2009 11:05 AM To: Jo Phillips; I Cc: Pau 1 Murray; '-;cTocl~'m--oGo-o-o-d,----w~i-n----- Subject: SPER stats
Hi Jo and I Could you please take a look at the attached to make sure I've got ~he facts right and also fill in the blanks. Jo, with the last question, as with those that precede it, we believe it is more appropriate to provide the 'debtor' rather than 'debt' figures. Any chance of these today in case the AG decides to run with this tomorrow? Thanks, Paul.
Paul Turner Senior Media Officer Communication Services Branch Department of Justice and Attorney-General
Email: I Phone:
------Jarrod Bleijie
From: Paul Murray Sent: Tuesday, 8 December 2009 1:43 PM To: Paul Turner SUbject: RE: SPER stats
Paul Murray Director of SPER
Ph: I Mob: QueeLn-s~I~a~n~d'-~c~e'l-e'b-r-a~tes 150 years throughout 2009. See what's on today at www.q150.qld.gov.au
"Please think about the environment before you print this message".
----Original Message---- ~rom: Paul Turner .",ent: Tuesday, 8 December 2009 1:41 PM To: Paul Murray Subject: RE: SPER stats
Will do. Just can't work out why he would use it himself though, if there was a problem! ! !
Paul Turner Senior Media Officer Communication Services Branch Department of Justice and Attornev-General Email: I ~~~c------ Phone: L. -----Original Message----- From: Paul Murray Sent: Tuesday, 8 December 2009 1:37 PM To: Paul Turner; Jo phillips; Demetri Theochari Cc: Tim Goodwin Subject: RE: SPER stats
'i Paul
As Jo has said in her earlier email, the AG has made it quite clear to us that he does not want the overall total reported on so can you please remove that total - unless his office specifically has requested it.
Also, our statistician is working from home today so if the extra figures can be compiled we will have them to you but we cant make any guarantees about when they will be ready. If Theresa cant have them ready for today, they will not be available until mid next week when she is next scheduled to work. There is no other available resource to compile that statistics.
Kind regards
Paul
Paul Murray Director of SPER ph:ph· I Mob L _ Queensland celebrates 150 years throughout 2009. See what's on today at www.q150.qld.gov.au "Please think about the environment before you print this message".
-----Original Message---- From: Paul Turner Sent: Tuesday, 8 December 2009 11:05 AM To: Jo Phillips; I Cc: Paul Murray; Tim Goodwin Subject: SPER stats
Hi Jo and ~. Could you please take a look at the attached to make sure I've got the facts right and also fill in the blanks. Jo, with the last question, as with those that precede it, we believe it is more appropriate to provide the 'debtor' rather than 'debt' figures. Any chance of these today in case the AG decides to run with this tomorrow? Thanks, Paul.
Paul Turner Senior Media Officer Communication Services Branch Department of Justice and Attorney-General Email: I Phone:
2 Sub.W ed: Paul Turner letter 7 March 2011 re Pool
Background
Mr Tumer is concemed that the information currently published on the SPER Right To Information page is incomplete and understates the total debt figure.
Mr advises, and 1have confirmed, that are two categories ofdata that were originally ofthe puhlished data which no longer are and no was of
'" Total penalties under dispute or suspension
<& Total penalties under investigation! awaiting enforcement
Mr 'rurner advises, and the re!twant documents appear to confirm, that the department or the tto,rnl~y·'UI~n(;ral's Media Adviser, Peter Nibbs has provided in ,tion in response to requests fi'om journalists that was incomplete and has been s ifit were, thus
Mr Turner seeks the reinstatement ofthe complete data set SPER RTl page and development of an action plan to remedy what has occurrr avoid repetition here and elsewhere.
Issues
Paul Holmes, Director Communication SQ;S~''':'" Branch:
confirms that Mr Turner's lett ~ >vides" an accurate representation of the f~lctS. does not necessarily agree I le intcllJretation placed on the facts by Mr Turner. advised that Mr Tumer P' concerns in October 2009 and has continued to do so since then. confirms that recen' articles would tend to confinl1 the vie'.\! that the total of the two publishe' gories is bcing discussed as if it were the total. For example, in September 2(\,~ , urnalist, Robyn lronside received a response indicating a figure $306M wh(;lSfle total ,vas in excess of $600M. suppOJis reiilstating the four published figures and having a prepared response that we are being more transparent and what the data means. proposes that SPER add the figure for debt collected by SPER since inception which is a "good news" focus.
Duncan McKellar, AJAssistant Director-General, Corporate Services
@ was the former Director of SPER and supports the publication of the original four categories. ~ confimlsin general that the events described by Mr Turner occUlTed and that there might have been a view that the publication of the omitted data "might undermine a plausible threat ofenforcement" - a position with which he does not agree. '" described the $220M "Under investigation! Awaiting enforcement" as being matters where there is incomplete and fraudulent infonnation e.g. false names and addresses tor
RTI 110254 - Page 7 fare evaders, failure to vote tInes for which there is no known address, public nuisance, unregistered vehicles etc.
Paul Turner's plivate email of22 October 2009 4.25 AM to Paul Holmes and Tim Goodwin
(11 outlined the case for maintaining the original publication scheme in cogent largely unemotivc terrns. '" expressed his practical and ethical concems about the intended strategy and Phi] Clarke's advice.
Risk Management
It will come to the '8 atl<~nLlOn office have encouraged or permitted the publication to correct it.
$ As the new Director-General and with a new you are ideally placed in time to review the publication of SPER data RTI website to be more informative and include positive information such as of money collected by SPER since its inception.
$ A positive news campaign could ..led concerning tbe compassion shown to disaster affected victims this year dlC success of SPER generally.
~Jy to Mr TurJl<;:r (11 Subject to decision in relation to potential changes to the SPER RTl page and any strategy to positively promote SPER activities, you might consider replying to Mr Tumer in the following terms: "Thank you for bringing your concerns about published SPER data to my attention, After review and consultation with others the following action has heen taken...... , I mllst say that I found your interpretation ofsome matters to be dubious and your communication style provocative and disappointing. Matters to be raised internalIy should be raised in a considered and respectful manner. Yours sincerely Philip Reed" RTI 110254 - Page 8 TRANSCRIPT 612 ABC MADONNA KING 0830 THURSDAY 22 OCTOBER 2009 INTV: CAMERON DICK, ATTORNEY-GENERAL; LAWRENCE SPRINGBORG, OPPOSITION JUSTICE SPOKESMAN RE: NEW LAWS TO RECOVER UNPAID FINES King: So how would you like to have your drivers licence taken off you for littering? What about for having an unregistered dog? Or for not voting? At the moment you can only lose your licence for an unpaid traffic fine but from January that law will apply to other paid fines. You can also have your car wheels clamped until you pay up. The wheel clamping will also apply to businesses. The Attorney-General is Cameron Dick. He is responsible for the laws and the state penalties enforcement register. Welcome back to 612 ABC Brisbane Minister. Dick: Good morning Madonna. King: How much in fines is currently outstanding? Dick: Look the total fine pool in Queensland is about $500 million. But ofthat almost half of it is under active compliance. That is people are, have entered into a repayment arrangement or are repaying it. And there's a very significant churn, obviously fines come in each month, fines go out. But last year we recovered $143 million in unpaid fines and we broke the record last year for, sorry in July, for fines of $14 million. H""'~L> so well there is there a need for this crack down? Dick: Regrettably Madonna there is about $170 million or so where people have not paid one red cent back to the state. King: In what areas? Is that traffic fines? Is it because they didn't vote? Have you got a break up? Dick: Look no not by fine. We have the number of fines but once a fine is registered with SPER the reason for the fine ofcourse is no longer relevant. People have the chance to challenge that in court, but once it's registered, a whole range ofthings from council fines to state fines to court ordered restitution say for victims ofcrime or restitution for other individuals. They are the sort money we're talking about. King: And when you say you have the number of fines, how many people are we talking? Dick: At this stage there is about 600,000 individual debts okay. King: Did you say 600,000? Dick: That's right. So there are at least 690,000 individual fines that people are not repaying. And we think that's not acceptable. It's not fair to the rest ofthe Queensland community which is why we're bringing these new powers in. King: Alright the new powers, how will it work? Dick: I've currently got a bill before the Queensland parliament to implement these powers. As you've said in your introduction there are two broad areas which we're looking, two new powers that we're looking to introduce. One is wheel clamping and secondly is suspending driver's licences. The wheel clamping will be a trial, both ofthem will be a trial. Wheel clamping will be in the Brisbane metropolitan area. Driver licence suspension will be throughout Queensland. But in the first instance we are targeting high value debtors of$5,000 or more. King: Okay so the driving licence suspension, explain how that works. Because I think we've heard about the car wheel clamping before. You're tying the suspension ofa driving licence to an unpaid fine in a completely different area like for example not voting at an election. Dick: That's fine. We won't be targeting the minor fines to begin with. As I say it will be the high value debts. But we're expanding the power. Currently you can have drivers licence fined for a traffic offence but in accordance with other states in Australia we're expanding the power for anyone who has an unpaid fine or an unpaid court order, they can be subject to this power. So it's another tool. It's another tool SPER can use to recover money. King: Alright so how does it work? I don't pay a fine, I've been warned. Let's say I'm a repeat offender or this is down the track. Is my licence automatically cancelled? Do I get a note saying your licence is cancelled from this date? Dick: Yes you'll be notified. And what SPER does is they're very particular about contacting people. There are a number of communications that go out. Generally written notices and letters that we send to people. There's a new power that I'll be implementing, the parliament will be passing hopefully this year ifit is supported, and that will allow SPER to send text messages to people to remind them oftheir outstanding debt. And we give people notice ofthat and then ultimately ifthey fail to respond, they fail to get in contact the drivers licence 2 will be suspended and we will notify people again in writing that their drivers licence is suspended. King: And wi11 it be suspended until the fine is paid? Or for a specific period? Dick: What wi11 happen is it will be suspended until people effectively come into compliance. So until they contact SPER and indicate well look I'd like to enter into an instalment payment ofI'd like to pay it in full, it will remain suspended. King: Do you, just explain the rationale for taking a licence off someone for an offence that's totally unrelated. Let's say littering. You're fined for littering, you don't pay, you don't pay, you're warned and warned and warned, does that make a mockery oftaking a licence ofa penalty that's used for drink driving for example? Dick: It's just another tool Madonna. And it goes to the core principal which is people need to be fair dinkum and do the right thing. People can ignore the law ifthey like but ifthey do that there is a penalty. All we're asking for people to do is do the right thing to either repay their fine in full or to contact SPER and say look I've fallen on hard times, I may be in receipt ofCentrelink payments now, SPER will enter into a very minimal repayment schedule. Sometimes in difficult circumstances when people are facing really tough times it can be converted to a community service order, so people can do community service. But ultimately the community expects people who have received a fine to pay it. And that's a simple transaction. And we just want people to be fair to other Queenslanders so the money generated through the recovery of fines can be used to build hospitals, employ doctors and build a police service King: And is this a better alternative than for example jailing repeat offenders? Dick: That's right Madonna and that's the whole, you're spot on there, that's why SPER was introduced. There's not point in putting people in jail for minor debts because it costs the state money and it doesn't ultimately lead to the recovery ofmoney which is what a fine is all about. King: Are you prepared though that it could lead to an increase in the number ofunlicensed drivers on the road? Dick: There is a risk ofthat of course. And there is a risk that of course there wi11 be increased periods ofimprisonment for people who don't pay fines or drive while unlicensed. But that 3 is an incredibly irresponsible thing to do for the sake of contacting SPER and saying I'm happy to enter into a repayment schedule. For the sake ofthat quick phone call, 1300365 635, people can contact SPER and enter into that repayment schedule. King: You keep referring to SPER, just for everyone listening, that's the State Penalties Enforcement Register. And minister it can also wheel clamp cars when fines are unpaid. Can it only do that in a public place? Or could it go onto private property to do that? Dick: The powers that we are implementing in the amending bill will allow SPER officers to enter into, enter onto private property to wheel clamp vehicles. King: And so give me an example ofhow that would happen. I'm a repeat offender. Do I get my licence cancelled or is my car wheel clamped? Dick: We'll do it on a case by case basis frankly Madonna. We want to target as I say for wheel clamping in particular these high vale debtors. And we will make an assessment ofthe information that the State Penalties Enforcement Registry has received about what their assets are and what their vehicle might be. Obviously these are not going to be magic bullets. It's not going to solve the debt repayment problem over night. People, not matter what you do, some people will always ignore the law. King: But you could come onto my property and wheel clamp my car? Dick: That's right. What will happen is the vehicle will be clamped and a large sticker will be put on the wind shield which will say this vehicle has been clamped by the State Penalties Enforcement Registry. To have your vehicle unregistered, unclamped I should say, contact the Registry on this number and the after a five day period the wheels will be unclamped and ifthe individual has not repaid the debt or entered into compliance the vehicle will be seized by SPER and sold. King: I've got to remember to start locking a garage ofa night. Cameron Dick thank you. Dick: Great Madonna bye. King: That's the Attorney-General Cameron Dick who will also be joining our day in parliament, our live broadcast from 8:30 to 11 :00 from parliament house tomorrow. 1300222 612 is my 4 number. You might think this is a good idea. It certainly might make people who currently owe money pay up. Or is it ridiculous? Tying your licence, going onto your property and clamping your car because you're a repeat offender and you haven't paid a fine for littering. Or you haven't voted for the past three elections. Is it fair or is it not? 1300222612. Lawrence Springborg is the opposition justice spokesman. Good morning. Springborg: Good morning Madonna. King: Isn't this good? It'll keep people out ofjail. Springborg: Well Madonna the real reason for this is not very much about what Cameron Dick mentioned a moment ago. This is basically because we have a government that sat back basking in the prosperity ofa resources boom over the last ten years, went broke and now we have a mad dash for cash. They're trying to scramble together the money to actually pay the interest on their $85 billion debt. Now I don't have any time for anyone that doesn't pay their fine. But the question that we need to ask Madonna is how come this has been let get out of hand over the last ten or eleven years when they've had all of these other options ofbeing able to force people to pay their fines? The simple reality is that they've let these hundreds of millions ofdollars just build up in unpaid fines out ofabsolute laziness and mismanagement. This problem has been brought to the government's attention by the media and the opposition over the years and they've done nothing till now until they've needed the cash. King: But shouldn't you say credit to them now for doing it ifyou believe that? Springborg: No not necessarily Madonna because the current tool kit, ifwe can use that term, enables the authorities to be able to use a range ofoptions including garnishing ofwages, confiscation and sale ofproperty and instalment plans to be able to get back this money which is owed by these fine defaulters. And indeed they have the option of being able to suspend driver's licences for driver related fines for a number ofyears. King: So what would you do? Springborg: And that's still going on. Well what you need to do is to actually manage the system to actually force the people to pay their fines. But they haven't been doing that. They've been lolling back and not doing it. Now for example the police have been critical now for a considerable period oftime, the fact that when people go to court on a particular matter they're often 5 given additional fines and the magistrate will say we will add this fine to your existing SPER debt. So we've got a situation where people aren't paying their existing fines and they're continuing to add to it. They are not managing this, they are not using the existing suite ofoptions including garnishing, the confiscation and sale ofproperty and those sorts ofthings. So this sounds hairy-chested, it's meant to be hairy-chested to make the government sound good, but it's about a mad dash for cash from a government that's done nothing of all the options it's had available to it for ten years and they've let this get out ofhand. King: Lawrence Springborg thank you and we look forward to seeing you at our live broadcast at parliament house tomorrow too. Springborg: You're more than welcome. King: That's Lawrence Springborg the opposition justice spokesman. You've heard both sides now. Tell me where you sit. ENDS SP Produced by the Government Media Monitoring Unit 6 110311 From: Paul MurTay Sent: Tuesday, 1 March 201'1 2:28 PM To: Cc: I~~ Subject: HE: "'SPER issue .. please calli at 4pm today'" ----- Attachments: Fine pool catl3Qories @ 28022011.doc; SPER response 23022011.doc 'ine pool categories SPER response @ 2802201... 23022011.doc (65... I have attached addi ional information about the fine pool 1 have provided this to CSD on the basis that it has not been approved for whole issue centre around what is currently in the RTI section Why arent all the reported on the SPER website? that was a decision made by the former' 'AG and termor DG ,- the AG I'Ia5 adamant hat hE'; only wanted "debts under compliance" i "debts under enforcement" and "lodgements" 01lt. He did not I'!ant. the overall volumes and values of the fine pool being on - and since that was taken - we have had no enquiries abo1lt the the fine Go that affect his strategy worked\ I have no issue with the data being released or pushed out - but that call has to come from the DC and current AG. Particularly as the information is included .in PPQ's and could be obtained under an RTI request. I have also attached the proposed media release Cheers Paul Paul Murray Director, State Penalties Enforcement Registry (SPER) Ph: ~ I Ph: Mob: "Please think about the environment before you print this message". -----Original Message---- E' rom: ,=1c----c------c----c-c--- Sent: Tuesday, 1 March 2011 2:12 PM To: Paul Murray Subject: RE:H*SPER issue - please call I at 4pm today";'" Beautiful - thank you 50 much tor working on this while you're crook! -----Original Mcssage---- Frmn: Paul Hurray Sent.: Tuesday, 1 March 2011 2:11 PM To: I'------=:-:::-----c--;-;-~. Subject: RE: ,..'.. •.. SPER issue -. please call. I at. 4prn today*·H. ------1 have spoken to him wants I to go and speak to the DG and explain why cc the Y.]hol.c t.ine pool data has not.--rb""'e""'e"'Cn'---'r:","'-,.Tl-::e""'a--:sed on the RTI I'!obc;itc (that is l'lha\: t confusion is about) as they think the journalist will go hang on this doesn't all ad up (which of course it shouldn't). I am going to provi~e them with the data but under the strict understanding that the DG'has' ~~ ~pptov~, the release first. 6 I \>Jill send through to you for Terry - maybe he and I can eQ,Q,?n thP0019 reasons to the DG ------ Paul Mu.r.ray Director, State Penalties Enforc~nent Registry (SPER) Ph: ~ I Ph: [-.job: "Please think about the environment before you print this message". -----Original Message---- From: I Sent: ""rc-u-e-s-d--.----a-y-,-----"l,------;M'"'",-a-r~ch 2011 2: 07 Pt-1 To: Paul Murray Subject: RE: ***SPER issue - please call I at 4pm today*** '------ Has David got back to you about this? Perhaps you can give me the numbers - and I'll wave them under Terry's nose at 3pm when he comes back from his meeting with the DG??? ----Original Message---- From: Paul Hurray Sent: Tuesday, 1 March 2011 1:22 PM 1'0: I Cc: Sllbje=-(-=~Lt--:-:-----'R"E'"-'--:---r*-,;*"*,..,S"'P"'E""I""{----,i-=s--=s-,--u-,--e=-----p,--lease call I at 4pm today*** ------They want us to provide the four category figures that we provide in the PPO I have to l\dam hat information is section of the SPER website and that Kr Dick when information posted, I have no issued in providing the information but I am not going to do so unless it is sanctionned by the DG and the current AG. Kind regards Pau} Paul Murray Director, State Penalties Enforcement Registry (SPER) Ph: ~ I Ph: Mob: "Please think about the environment before you'print this message". -----Original Message---- From: I Sent:T~-=u-,--e--=s--=d~a--=y=-,--1~M~arch 2011 12:34 PM To: Paul 1-1urray Cc :1L ~__~__~~ Subject: FI'I': ***SPER issue - please call I at 4pll1 today"** Importance: High ------ Hi mate I'm in lock dO\'m until about 4pm. Ruin any condition l~o discuss vIi th I ?? Regards I 2 1.10311 026 0 018 o ex; 110b: Original Message From: I I To: L sent : ~T-u-e~jvl-a-r~O~l- 12 : 30 : 11 2011 Subject: ***SPER issue - please call I at 4pm t oda y * * ;c' ------ Sorry t.o bother you - but Comms have an urgent issue they'd like to talk to you about this arvo. I', journo has contacted them about the number of' matters suspended due to the tloods and Comms have discovered that. the numbers on the RTI paqe of the SPER \'Iebsit,,: don' add up. http://www.sper.qld.gov.au/right to info.htm 'rhey I ve tried to talk to Paul 11urray but he I s at home crook today'" and Comms \'lOuld prefer to speak to you rather than anyone else at SPER. If you could ring I today at 4pm (Brisbane time) they'd like to chat about the attached response with you. I think that's between "Engaging \~ith high risk & fire affected communities" and "Partnership brokering between community organisations to increase voice & service availability" in the conference calendar. __~ phone number- - 071L -- Adam and r If there's anything I can do - or any problems or messages you want me to pass on prior to the phone call let me know. Thank you! Community Justice Services Department of Justice and Attorney-General Ph:L~~ Fax: l 3 From: Paul Turner Sent: Friday, 15 October 2010 4:26 PM To: Peter Nibbs Cc: Jennifer Duncan Subject: Draft response to media inquiry on SPER Importance: High 101013 lonse_SPER_Fraser Hi Peter. Please see attached, as endorsed by the DG. Journalist's deadline was 'lunch time'! Sorry to be dropping this on you so late. Cheers, Paul. Paul Turner Senior Media Officer ~ommunication Services Branch Jepartment of Justice and Attorney-General Email: I Phone: 1 Date: 13 October 20] 0 Organisation: Fraser Coast Chronicle Journalist: Jessica Grewal, 4120 1055, [email protected] Inquiry: 1. When someone has a court fine referred to SPER can they go on a payment plan to pay it off? 2. Do time limits apply depending on the amount owed? For example: Does someone who is fined $1500 have less time to pay that someone who is fined $5000? 3. How much money in court fines is currently owed to SPER in Queensland? 4. When a payment plan is put in place, how often are payments expected - eg weekly, fortnightly, monthly etc 5. Can repeat offenders still have their fines referred to SPER even ifthey still owe money from previous fines? 6. What happens to people who don't pay their fines according to their payment plans? 7. If someone has not paid their fines according to their payment plans are they still able to have further fines referred to SPER? 8. Is there a limit on how many times one person can have their fines referred to SPER? 9. Are there people who are currently paying off fines worth more than $100,000? (Journalist's deadline is lunch time, Friday 15/10) Proposed response: Attributable to a departmental spokesperson. 1. When someone has a courtfine referred to SPER can they go on a payment plan to pay it off? Yes a payment arrangement is one ofthe options offered to a person when any fine is registered with SPER. 2. Do time limits apply depending on the amount owed? For example: Does someone who is .fined $1500 have less time to pay that someone who is fined $5000? No. Generally most people have 28 days to pay their fine, however a court has the discretion to grant a different time to pay period when it makes the original order. For example, a court may give someone two months to pay a $5,000 fine, but six months to pay a $1,500 fine due to the different circumstances the defendant. complies with the time granted by the court. Should a person be unable to pay within their initial time to pay period, the person can apply to SPER for a payment plan. Each person is individually assessed on the information provided and a suitable payment plan is then determined. 3. How much money in courtfines is currently owed to SPER in Queensland? SPER manages a fine pool made up of both court fines and infringement fines. As of 30 September 2010, there were 694,687 court fines being managed by SPER. Ofthese, approximately: @Il 209,126 debts worth $92.5 million were under active compliance by the debtor; il 103,515 debts worth $47.3 million were subject to enforcement action; ill 350,908 debts worth $125.3 million were awaiting further information (eg. date of birth or current address) before enforcement action can be taken; and • 31,138 debts worth $25.4 million had been deferred from enforcement action due to various circumstances (eg. debt in dispute or disaster relief). 4. When a payment plan is put in place, how often are payments expected eg weekly, fortnightly, monthlyetc? Payment arrangements vary depending on the individual circumstances ofeach debtor. For example, most people receive income weekly, fortnightly or monthly, so a payment arrangement can be tailored to fit in with their income cycle. 5. Can repeat offenders still have their fines referred to SFER even ifthey still owe moneyfrom previousfines? That is at the discretion ofthe prosecuting authority or the Court. SPER is not involved in that decision-making process. 6. What happens to people who don't pay their fines according to their payment plans? A person is sent a notice ifthey breach their payment arrangement. Ifthe person does not come back into compliance, SPER has a range ofenforcement options including: • Driver licence suspension; 1Il Garnishee ofbank account and wages; Il1O Registering an interest over property; \11 Vehicle immobilization (wheel clamping); • Seizure and sale ofassets; and ., Imprisonment (last resort) 7. Ifsomeone has not paid theirfines according to their payment plans are they still able to have further fines referred to A default on a payment plan is not a restriction on further fines being referred to SPER. 8. Is there a limit on how many times one person can have theirfines referred to SFER? No. Fines are imposed or issued at the discretion ofa court or an issuing authority. Queensland legislation allows these fines to be lodged with SPER in the event of being unpaid. 9. Are there people who are currently paying oirfines worth more than $100, OOO? There are currently four debtors with unpaid court fines of more than $100,000, who are on individual payment plans. Prepared by: • Endorsed by: Approved by: '------Background information on fOUf debtors (not for public release) Individual debtor owes $187,695.95. Order made for restitution of$188,095.95 for charge of stealing as a servant. Sentence was imposed in the Brisbane District Court on 1 December 2008. Company debtor currently owes $184,700 Orders made for $202,700 for contravening development approvals offences. Sentence made in Southport Magistrates Court on 13/03/2009. Individual debtor currently owes $127,000 Orders made for $125,000 for fines relating to animal cruelty offences. Sentence made in Charlevilie Magistrates Court on 6 July 2010. Individual debtor owes $175,703 Order made for $186,033.46 for restitution for charge of dishonest application. Sentence made in Beenleigh District Court on 3 August 2004. From: Peter Nibbs Sent: Friday, 15 October 20104:41 PM To: Paul Turner Cc: Jennifer Duncan Subject RE: Draft response to media inquiry on SPER 101013 - SPER Fraser Coast ChrH' Paul, , , Revised response with minor changes, Thanks, .. Peter ---Original Message----- From: Paul Turner [mailto: ] Sent: Friday, 15 October 2010 4:26 PM To: Peter Nibbs Cc: Jennifer Duncan Subject: Draft response to media inquiry on SPER Importance: High Hi Peter. Please see attached, as endorsed by the DG. Journalist's deadline was 'lunch time'! Sorry to be dropping this on you so late. Cheers, Paul. Paul Turner Senior Media Officer Communication Services Branch Department of Justice and Attorney-General Email: I Phone: ------ ~*************************************************************** Please think about the environment before you print this message. This email andanyattachmentsmaycontainconfidential.private or legally privileged information and may be protected by copyright. You may only use it if you are the person(s) it was intended to be sent to and if you use it in an authorised way. No one is allowed to use, review, alter, transmit, disclose, distribute, print or copy this email without appropriate authority. If you are not the intended addressee and this message has been sent to you by mistake, please notify the sender immediately, destroy any hard copies of the email and delete it from your computer system network. Any legal privilege or confidentiality is not waived or destroyed by the mistake. Opinions in this email do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Department of Justice and Attorney-General or the Queensland Government. It is your responsibility to ensure that this email does not contain and is not affected by computer viruses, defects or interferences by third parties or replication problems. ****************************************************** ********** 1 Date: 13 October 2010 Organisation: Fraser Coast Chronicle Journalist: Jessica Grewal, 4120 1055, [email protected] Inquiry: 1. When someone has a court fine referred to SPER can they go on a payment plan to pay it off? 2. Do time limits apply depending on the amount owed? For example: Does someone who is fined $1500 have less time to pay that someone who is fined $5000? 3. How much money in court fines is currently owed to SPER in Queensland? 4. When a payment plan is put in place, how often are payments expected - eg weekly, fortnightly, monthly etc 5. Can repeat offenders still have their fines referred to SPER even ifthey still owe money from previous fines? 6. What happens to people who don't pay their fines according to their payment plans? 7. If someone has not paid their fines according to their payment plans are they sti 11 able to have further fines referred to SPER? 8. Is there a limit on how many times one person can have their fines referred to SPER? 9. Are there people who are currently paying off fines worth more than $1 OO,OOO? (Journalist's deadline is lunch time, Friday 15/1 0) Proposed response: Attributable to a departmental spokesperson. 1. When someone has a courtfine referred to SPER can they go on a payment plan to pay it off? Yes a payment arrangement is one ofthe options offered to a person when any fine is registered with SPER. 2. Do time limits apply depending on the amount owed? For example: Does someone who is .fined $1500 have less time to pay that someone who is fined $5000? No. Generally most people have 28 days to pay their fine, however a court has the discretion to grant a different time to pay period when it makes the original order. For example, a court may give someone two months to pay a $5,000 fine, but six months to pay a $1,500 fine due to the different circumstances ofthe defendant. SPER complies with the time granted by court. Should a person be unable to pay within their initial time to pay period, the person can apply to SPER for a payment plan. Each person is individually assessed on the information provided and a suitable payment plan is then determined. 3. How much money in courtfines is currently owed to SPER in Queensland? SPER manages a fine pool made up of both court fines and infringement fines. As of 30 September 2010, there were 694,687 court fines being managed by SPER. Ofthese, approximately: It 209,126 debts worth $92.5 million were under active compliance by the debtor; @; 103,515 debts worth $47.3 million were subject to enforcement action. 4. When a payment plan is put in place, how often are payments expected - eg weekly, fortnightly, monthlyetc? Payment arrangements vary depending on the individual circumstances ofeach debtor. For example, most people receive income weekly, fortnightly or monthly, so a payment arrangement can be tailored to fit in with their income cycle. 5. Can repeat offenders still have theirfines referred to SPER even ifthey still owe moneyfrom previousfines? That is at the discretion ofthe prosecuting authority or the Court. SPER is not involved in that decision-making process. 6. What happens to people who don't pay theirfines according to their payment plans? A person is sent a notice if they breach their payment arrangement. Ifthe person does not come back into compliance, SPER has a range ofenforcement options including: • Driver licence suspension; • Garnishee of bank account and wages; • Registering an interest over property; .. Vehicle immobilization (wheel clamping); .. Seizure and sale of assets; and • Imprisonment (last resort) 7. ffsomeone has not paid theirfines according to their payment plans are they still able to have further fines referred to SPER? A default on a payment plan is not a restriction on further fines being referred to SPER. 8. Is there a limit on how many times one person can have theirfines referred to SPER? No. Fines are imposed or issued at the discretion ofa court or an issuing authority. Queensland legislation allows these fines to be lodged with SPER in the event of being unpaid. 9. Are there people who are currently paying of/fines worth more than $100, OOO? There are currently four debtors with unpaid court fines of more than $100,000, who are on individual payment plans. Prepared by: Endorsed by: Approved by: ------Background information on four debtors (not for public release) Individual debtor owes $187,695.95. Order made for restitution of $188,095.95 for charge of stealing as a servant. Sentence was imposed in the Brisbane District Court on 1 December 2008. Company debtor currently owes $184,700 Orders made for $202,700 for contravening development approvals offences. Sentence made in Southport Magistrates Court on 13/03/2009. Individual debtor currently owes $127,000 Orders made for $125,000 for fines relating to animal cruelty offences. Sentence made in Charleville Magistrates Court on 6 July 2010. Individual debtor owes $175,703 Order made for $186,033.46 for restitution for charge ofdishonest application. Sentence made in Beenleigh District Court on 3 August 2004. From: Sent: Wednesday, 15 June 2011 To: Subject: FW: Recruitment at OAG Office of the Adult Guardian '1'e1: (07) Fax:, (07) Email: -----Original Message----- From: Lindsay Irons Sent: Wednesday, 15 June 2011 ~.~l p~ ":'0; 'DL-OAG; DL-CVP-Community Subject: ?ecruitment at OAG Il m pleased to announce that ovs~- ~~~ ne~t short while we i l1 be recruiting ~I)r :~.: sets of 9'"wrdianship posi1:ions a: Oil:; - Senior Guardians' and Team Leaders, :;0 CCIT':;,2:',ce from July. ' Senior Guardians (A05) - initi:l.lly \'Ie \"ill be recruiting fOl" those positil')li.',i h'ner", there is no substantive incumbent. In addition to making permanent appolntrr,ents reJl' these positions,' we'll be forming Cl merit pool of suitable applicants, so that if additional Senior Guardian positions become vacant throughout 2011-12 we can make permanent appointm~nts directly from this pool. . Team Leaders (A07) - a ne\>! positLm ,\"ithin OAG. There will be one in each of the ft:ur regional teams; their role will ~e to work closely with their Regional Manager, and manage and supervise their tea~ of guardians. The Team Leader,position will cal~ f~r sound skills in substituted decision-making, people management; relatiQn5h~p builjin? and business imprdvel1lents in ~j'.la.>:jia"'$~jip. These positions I'lill be criti,~al .:.n ·.':"r::i of the support they will provide b~-h to guardians and to managers, I ~llC()Urage you to consider appl nq fOl: ,tl,e:;f;; position/s, Recruitment and sele'.::i~~,:. Hill take place in line \"ith D,TAG's ?,ecruitment [, Selection Framel'tork and the re.2."":1;',: Qld Public Service directives, The positions \~ill be advertised 011 Smart Job:;,' a"c~ welll advise you when this occurs. I'd like to acknowledge the work that Jason. a~j Brian have done in working up the recruitment strategy. In addItion .to Sen10r Guardians and Team Leaders, I'm aware that there are other positions across the office \,/hid: are cur.:cently 'lacant, as ~tell as some 1:empora:'y' positions I,thich have not yet teer; :nade peri'tk1nent. l'le haven't forgot':sn abQu:: these positions - we'll give you more advice about them BS we're able to. This i~c~udef ~hs recruitment process for C~Nnunity Visitors later in the year. I'm conscious of the fact that th~s • "lean" perfed at O.u,G!CVP, in I'Ihich steps were taken brin9 exper,dil\,ll;\? in line Hith 'our budget. I ac}:nol\'.l _ impact on somE st'3.ff community visi tors, and that in 80m,,, caS·3S it has presented challenges in terms '-, essential services continue tc be deIivere~, Thank you for sticking in there and giving your managers the SUpp0:t they've needed to navigate this period, Lindsay Irons acting·[\dult Guardian - Q\leensli>I'cd oh (07) I I mob Minister for Justice and Attorney-General Answers to questions taken on notice at the hearing LEGAL AFFAIRS, POLICE, CORRECTIVE SERVICES AND EMERGENCY SERVICES COMMITTEE QUESTIONS TAKEN ON NOTICE Mr BLEIJIE asked the Deputy Premier and Attorney-General, Minister for Local Government and Special Minister of State (Mr Lucas); In relation to Legal Aid Queensland what is the total cost, and the total number of persons convicted of a crime who were not required to repay the financial assistance? (Transcript page 21) MR LUCAS: Legal Aid Queensland is an independent statutory body under the Legal Aid Queensland Act 1997 , which provides legal help to financially disadvantaged Queenslanders. I am advised that last year Legal Aid Queensland provided: • 14,377 criminal law legal advices; • 64,418 duty lawyer appearances for adults and children; and • 15,929 criminal law grants of aid for legal representation. The total cost of expenditure on criminal law grants of aid for 2010-2011 was $43.59M. The principle outlined by the High Court of Australia in R v Dietrich (1992) 177 CLR 292 is essentially that a court should not allow a trial in relation to an indictable offence to proceed until an impecunious person has legal aid provided to them. Further, most people charged with serious criminal offences are very unlikely to possess significant assets. After the proceedings, if they are acquitted they are not (save in exceptional circumstances) usually awarded costs and, if convicted, are often imprisoned which even further reduces their capacity to pay. This can be contrasted to legal assistance in, for example, personal injury or family law property claims, where in those matters there is usually a sum of money which becomes available to the aid recipient at the conclusion. Of people legally aided in 2010-11, I am advised that of the 15,929 criminal law grants of aid (excluding duty lawyer services) 778 recipients of aid were required to make a full or partial contribution. Where a grantee’s personal financial circumstances change they are required to advise the Legal Aid Office. If such a change brings them outside the funding guidelines it would be likely that the grant of aid would be withdrawn as the individual could fund the matter out of their own resources. For the reasons identified above, however, this is rarely the case. LEGAL AFFAIRS, POLICE, CORRECTIVE SERVICES AND EMERGENCY SERVICES COMMITTEE QUESTION TAKEN ON NOTICE Mr BLEIJIE asked the Deputy Premier and Attorney-General, Minister for Local Government and Special Minister of State (Mr Lucas); How many complaints did the Ombudsman receive in the last 12 months regarding public agencies who have withheld or altered records, either of the complainant or someone else? (Transcript page 36) MR LUCAS: I am advised that in 2010-2011 the Ombudsman received a total of 8380 complaints. The fact that an individual has made a “complaint” does mean that the “complaint” has been upheld or verified. A search of the Ombudsman’s case management system was undertaken to identify complaint cases where the terms “information”, “records management” or “record” were used. This search identified a total of 32 complaints received in 2010-11. Of the 32 complaints found in the search, 30 relate to allegations of withholding records and 2 relate to allegations of alteration of records. Of the 30 complaints of withholding records: • 19 were declined (including 12 where the complainant was advised to first take up their concerns with the agency, one because the decision was pending, and three which were referred to the Office of the Information Commissioner); • five resulted in a positive outcome without a finding of maladministration being necessary; • in two complaints no maladministration was established after some investigation; • in two complaints it was considered that investigation was unnecessary or unjustifiable; • in one case the complaint was withdrawn; and • one matter was still under investigation at 30 June 2011. Two complaints concerning alteration of records remained under investigation at 30 June 2011. LEGAL AFFAIRS, POLICE, CORRECTIVE SERVICES AND EMERGENCY SERVICES COMMITTEE QUESTION TAKEN ON NOTICE Mr BLEIJIE asked the Deputy Premier and Attorney-General, Minister for Local Government and Special Minister of State (Mr Lucas); What is or was the cost to the Crime and Misconduct Commission of the termination/disestablishment of senior positions and the subsequent filling of those positions? (Transcript page 37) MR LUCAS: During 2010-11 the Crime and Misconduct Commission released under the terms of their contracts two senior staff, being the Executive Director and the Director, Misconduct Investigations. The termination payment to the Executive Director was $110,394.15 The termination payment to the Director, Misconduct Investigations was $232,334.03 The total cost of termination payments was $342,728.18. Other senior staff who separated from the organisation during the 2010-11 year were: • The acting Deputy Director, Misconduct Investigations, who resigned to take up employment interstate. • The Director, Integrity Services, whose employment contract expired. • The Director, Information Management, who retired. Only the position of the Executive Director generated identifiable recruitment costs. Following the separation of the Executive Director a recruitment firm was engaged to assist filling the position of Executive General Manager, a position subsuming the duties of the Executive Director. The recruitment costs were $45,756. The termination of the Director, Misconduct Investigations position did not result in recruitment expenses being incurred, the position being filled in an acting capacity by existing staff. Minister for Police, Corrective Services and Emergency Services Questions on notice and the Minister’s answers Legal Affairs, Police, Corrective Services and Emergency Services Committee Question on Notice No. 1 Asked on 30 June 2011 The Minister for Police, Corrective Services and Emergency Services (MR ROBERTS) was asked— QUESTION: The Treasurer in his Budget Speech advised of the decision to abolish the Community Ambulance Cover (Ambulance Levy). Will the Minister guarantee that ambulance services for Queenslanders won’t be compromised? ANSWER: On 14 June 2011, the Treasurer announced in the State Budget that the Community Ambulance Cover levy will be abolished, with the Government providing the full cost equivalent amount of the Community Ambulance Cover ($171.98M) from consolidated revenue. This means that all Queensland residents will continue to be entitled to free ambulance cover not just in Queensland but when travelling anywhere in Australia. The Queensland Government’s decision to remove the levy doesn’t change arrangements for interstate and overseas visitors at all and therefore, interstate and overseas residents will be required to pay a fee for the services provided by QAS unless they are covered by their private health insurance, veteran affairs, pensioner or health card or through their personal subscriptions to their ambulance provider. The Community Ambulance Cover levy provided $171.98m in 2010-11 which was approximately 32% of the total revenue in 2010-11. The abolition of the levy will save the 1.4 million Queensland households approximately $113 per year. Claims that the decision will require additional fundraising by Local Ambulance Committees (LACs) or ambulance officers are simply not true. The Queensland Government is committing to fund the equivalent of the levy from Consolidated Revenue. In fact, in this financial year, the Queensland Government has allocated a record budget of $575.8 million to the Queensland Ambulance Service, which is an increase of $42.1 million or 7.9% on the 2010-11 budget, to address the continued increase in demand for emergency ambulance services. Since 2006-7 funding for QAS has increased from $355.7 million to $575.8 million this year. That is an increase of $220.1 million or 61.9%. That demonstrates this Government’s commitment to its ambulance officers. Funding for an additional 50 ambulance officers in 2011-12 will further boost our front-line services and enhance service delivery. This Government’s 1 commitment to a high standard of service delivery has been demonstrated by the funding of an additional 680 ambulance officers over the last five financial years. In 2011-12, $62.063 million is provided to QAS for buildings and general works, land purchases, vehicles, plant and equipment, and information systems. This investment will include $26.613 million for major capital works, which includes $11.1 million towards four new ambulance stations at Coomera, Ningi, North Lakes and Pinjarra Hills. The four new services will help ensure QAS is well placed to respond in areas experiencing an increase in population. An amount $12 million is provided for the commencement, progression or completion of 14 replacement, refurbished or redeveloped ambulance facilities during 2011-12. A further $2.4 million has been provided for staff housing in the Surat and Bowen Basins. In addition, $1.1 million has been allocated to continue design and commence development of the Spring Hill complex and ambulance station. An amount of $20.4 million has been budgeted to commission 140 new and replacement ambulance vehicles as part of a comprehensive vehicle replacement and commissioning program. I can assure the Queensland community that there will be no compromise to ambulance service delivery and Queensland will continue to have a world class ambulance service. 2 Legal Affairs, Police, Corrective Services and Emergency Services Committee Question on Notice No. 2 Asked on 30 June 2011 The Minister for Police, Corrective Services and Emergency Services (MR ROBERTS) was asked— QUESTION: At page 1-195 of the Service Delivery Statement $2.2M is allocated to introduce global positioning system technology to monitor and track dangerous sexual offenders. Will the Minister outline how these devices work and detail the timeframes for their implementation? ANSWER: Queensland’s tough regime of monitoring and supervising sex offenders living in the community will be further enhanced with the introduction of Global Positioning System (GPS) technology to monitor them. Already Queensland has some of the most stringent monitoring in place but the introduction of this new technology is the next logical step in providing both the best protection for victims and the strictest supervision for offenders. The Queensland Government has allocated $2.2 million in this year’s Budget for its implementation and a total of $13.7 million over 4 years. Queensland will be the second state in Australia to adopt GPS technology for the monitoring of sex offenders, after New South Wales. Electronic Monitoring In 2003, the Government introduced the Dangerous Prisoners (Sexual Offenders) Act 2003 (the Act) to protect the community from serious sexual offenders and in 2006, the Government announced its intentions to introduce electronic monitoring of sexual offenders. In 2007, amendments were made to the legislation to enable the courts to impose electronic monitoring conditions on continuing and interim supervision orders made under the Act and enhance Queensland Corrective Services’ (QCS) capacity to monitor dangerous sexual offenders. The legislation is the most stringent of its kind in Australia. The Queensland Government is committed to using the best technology to help keep our community safe from dangerous sexual offenders. That is why, after making amendments to the legislation we introduced radio frequency monitoring in 2007 to ensure that offenders were compliant with their curfew. At the time, GPS technology was not reliable enough to be used to continuously monitor offenders. The current electronic monitoring system utilises radio frequency (RF) communication between a tamper-resistant anklet and a stationary unit to 3 alert the central monitoring centre via a telephone line when an offender is within the immediate vicinity. The system is alerted when the radio signal is interrupted during the restricted hours (curfew) and this triggers an immediate surveillance response. The drawback of Radio Frequency monitoring is the inability to track an offender’s movements when they are outside the signal zone. Strengthened Supervision using GPS Technology Since the introduction of electronic monitoring, QCS has been continually monitoring developments and improvements in GPS technology. Electronic monitoring via GPS incorporates a GPS locator which communicates with a satellite network to record an offender’s location. The information is sent from the GPS locator unit to a central monitoring unit via cellular or phone technology. Whilst GPS cannot prevent recidivism, the system will provide information as to an offender’s whereabouts (active monitoring) and where an offender has been (passive monitoring). GPS will enable QCS to monitor order conditions such as school or park restrictions which can be difficult to enforce. The information that is obtained about offender movements can be analysed to detect contraventions and enhance surveillance techniques. The use of a GPS system requires a significant investment in frontline staff. Ten additional staff are expected to be brought on within the first year of GPS monitoring, with this figure increasing substantially over the next four years. These staff will build upon the existing staffing of the Electronic Monitoring and Surveillance Unit and the casual surveillance resources across the state. The GPS technology is an enhancement on the existing radio-based monitoring system. Electronic monitoring is not used as a standalone measure to supervise sex offenders and will not replace the vigilance of our QCS staff in the field who monitor the whereabouts of offenders and their movements. It does not prevent reoffending, rather it compliments the already extensive supervision in place for managing dangerous sex offenders residing in the community. Timetable for the introduction of GPS monitoring GPS monitoring will be fitted to the first offender by the end of the year. In order to achieve this, the following timetable for the introduction of GPS monitoring has been developed by QCS: • June 2011 – There was a request for Expressions of Interest for the supply of GPS offender monitoring technologies. • August 2011 - Trial of GPS equipment, from a range of short-listed providers. The trial will involve staff volunteers undertaking pre- determined scenarios that replicate offender curfews and order conditions as well as testing the technology in a variety of geographical conditions in metropolitan, rural and remote locations. • September 2011 - Contract awarded to successful tender. • August to November 2011 - Staff recruitment and training. 4 • November 2011 to January 2012 - Pilot of GPS technology on some offenders, in selected locations, in parallel with existing radio frequency monitoring. • February to March 2012 - Full implementation of GPS monitoring in Queensland. Since the introduction of the Dangerous Prisoners (Sexual Offenders) Act 2003, the government has continued to explore ways to not only enhance its laws but strengthen the stringent monitoring and supervision regime employed by QCS with dangerous offenders. The roll-out of GPS technology to monitor offenders is yet another example of our determination to provide a safer Queensland community. 5 Legal Affairs, Police, Corrective Services and Emergency Services Committee Question on Notice No.3 Asked on 30 June 2011 The Minister for Pol ice, Corrective Services and Emergency Services (MR ROBERTS) was asked- QUESTION: With reference to 1-197 of the Service Delivery Statement, will the Minister advise how the National Disaster Resilience Program monies have been allocated to assist in strengthening Disaster Management planning and preparation for the benefit of local communities? ANSWER: The Natural Disaster Resilience Program (NDRP) is a joint program involving Commonwealth, State and Local Governments. The objectives of the NDRP are to reduce Queensland communities' vulnerability to natural hazards by supporting local governments and other stakeholders to build community resilience by: (1) Reducing community vulnerability to natural hazards; (2) Supporting community stakeholders to build community resilience and increase community self-reliance; (3) Promoting innovation through a focus on building partnerships between sectors, supporting volunteering, encouraging a regional or catchment area approach to mitigation and potential impacts due to climate change; and (4) Ensuring that NDRP funding is used in an efficient way. The devastating floods and cyclones that affected much of Queensland in the early parts of the year have further demonstrated the importance of the NDRP in assisting local communities to become better prepared for natural disasters. Funding allocations are prioritised against Queensland's highest threats which are flooding, storm tide, cyclone, severe storms, and bushfires. Applications for Round 3 of NDRP closed on 30 June 2011 and over 120 applications have been received. These applications are currently being collated. A total of $10.292 million is currently available for NDRP Round 3 in 2011-12. The projects approved in Round 3 will be those which address the threats faced by Queensland, based on local risk profiles and that are able to be used to ensure an appropriate, targeted response for each community. In addition I asked that priority be given to initiatives that build volunteer and community capacity and enhance disaster resilience across Queensland. Recommendations for funding are made by a panel that includes senior Department of Community Safety staff and representatives of the Local Government Association of Queensland. The panel's recommendations are then submitted for my approval. 6 It is a requirement under NDRP that each local government has undertaken a natural hazard risk assessment for its local area. It is expected that the assessment is up-to-date and reflects the current natural hazard risk profile for the local area or region. Local governments which have not undertaken a natural hazard risk assessment must do so before applying for NDRP funding to undertake other projects. For Round 2, I approved the allocation of $12.594 million (which included $2.886 million rolled over from Round 1) for 70 projects across Queensland. Local government projects are focussed on building community resilience and enhancing disaster management planning and preparation for local communities. Thirty eight local governments have already directly benefited from NDRP funding in 2010-2011. In Round 1,21 local governments received funding. All list of all projects approved under NDRP Round One and Round Two is attached. The Bligh Government will continue to work with local governments to ensure the community gains maximum benefit from this funding. 7 Natural Disaster Resilience Program· Round One and Two· Approved Projects Appllc:ant A~"" Tobl Projed v•• ~ P~rtn.~ Projlct Tid. Partner Funch 'u. App""" Fund. Fund, Fund. '.'''0 ,,2< T",,"...,,,. lIlCwlcil lcgl Areil Nalural HallI'd Risk ~ $15.000. SO.OO 515.000.00 $15.000.00 "'"S45.0c0. ,.,.." .83. CioyOcn stWe Cou'lCi Buildillll Disasla' Re:silGlce in h Croydon SlWe th ()..MnsIan::I Colncil of SoeiaI 201(1.11 2206 Conmunily ResliencoPr~1e $g,OOO.oo 540.00000 8165,000.00 8165,000 00 5379,000.00 SIlf\'iO!lInc Somersat Regional 2010.11 2166 Ipswich City Courd Brisbals River hyclraJlic model and review to prdl 8 201(1.11 221' CocII SIWe Cotn:iI lie self.nfaaro::e d CookIOMI ~ disasIers 50.00 5000 $2S,OIXl.0ll ...... E~ 1CI il-oJllrarq aM oper'" rnonagerrmllaciily kw ES IIllldeers "'j""" 201(1.\1 21J9 Scmwsel Regional Ccurd ... , 5000 50.00 $10,OlXl.00 510,OlXl.110 "'.... 201(1.11 2118 Fi""'sShi'eCotmi B,.;t u PtMer Su .... Eva:ua'lon CEntre 518.400. 50.00 $18,JOO.oo 518.300.00 S55." 201(1.11 ,,,. .u • Coo"" Bu Generala" S \ern kw Adrrft5t.lion Buldi $39,600. 50.00 "'..,00 $39.600.00 $118,1llO. 201(1.11 2141 ..... onal C<:u1cil MBRC OM Tr • andexac:ise ~ $12566.66 50.00 $12,566.67 .67 $J7 700. 201(1.11 e..~ln ., '12 2122 Stile Calrd ... GEnEJalof - St Mdlew'S Meals on 'Mleels 50 .00 $7.3J3.50 $7 33.50 522.1XXI. 2Ot(l.11 "', Redand City Calrd Coomunity EdJcaljon ard ReswC8s Ctvltres fo" R\l$seU ard Stradt.d<.e Isl;J1ds $121,885.00" 50.00 $121,885.00 5121,885.00 $))5,655.00 2010-11 2195 Richmond Shire CO'JIlol Mcb~e emer -, 101 aitical assets iI1d shelter to slIClJre $..Xl,8V.0Il $30,825.50 $30 25.50 $92,400. 2010-11 2156 .~k R alCoord Pion&er River Flood Mif aliOl1 Scheme - North Ma:k LlIYlIII Sta e 1BI2 $232631.00 50.00 $232.631.00 5232631.00 $697893.00 2010-11 2130 mR iortaICwncil BoW'en:ombe Fife Tr3'1 Construction $6166.34 50.00 $6166.83 $6166.83 2OtO-l1 2148 Sunsline Cwsl aI Coondl tb;u North Shcre 'ai be~ails $20,000.00 50.00 $20,OlXIOO S20.000.oo $00.000.'18 2010-11 2ZJ6 Vok.nlelJ· Qleensland Irv:: ". ,.... V 201()'11 2212 Cer*al Hioj'lands RI9lnal Cwncil Rt.-i11 Addressing ;nd Signage br OiIWltr iIld Erno-gency PlJposes S40,3f1l00 50.00 $19,750.00 $19,750.00 '''-,",-.00 201().11 2214 $Mc/l Cil eo..d ...... fie Fbcxl Re9ien';e d Ge....rh • $116.667.00 50.00 $116,666.50 $116,666.50 $J5O.ooo.oo 201().1I 2150 C«1lral HigHands Regionill CoJnciI AlERT RotxI Warilg Sysll'll b Canel Rivs $23,000.00 $23.soo.oo $54.000.00 554,000.00 5154,500.00 201().1I 2188 T_ T.....5RB$iiert Skrmwalllf lrIrauueue SlU:l $100000.00 50., $100.000.00 $100000,00 Sllll.'" 201().1I T...... ,Canal"""" ~=~ CXII'*oIfaci $5Q.000. 50., S50.ooo.00 ...... , 5150.000. 201().1l '"'2170 Ma_ • Canal . al :in Oalabne-P-_S~..... - $150,(0).00 5000 $150,000.00 $150,000.00 S450.ooo. 201().1I 2127 ·dlRiv.-~TJII5l aroo Creek Ca\dTnenl Flood .,d Flood Risk M ... $100.000.00 50., $100,000.00 $100.000.00 SDl,OOO. 201().1l 2204 TO'M1S¥ille Cil CoumI 201lY.!l1l SlOrm Tide and Flood . SZ2O.000.00 50.00 $42.soo.oo SXl5.ooo. 201().11 2126 Banana Shile CoJnciI F100d . aliooS 01 OIWSOll RiY(I .00 50.00 S&3 33.00 $42"""S69 33.00 $208000 00 21l1().11 2179 FirdCl5 ShileColllcil InSlallalion d a Rood warn S.~ '" 50.00 50.00 $.35,000.00 $35.000.00 570,000 2(11).11 2190 swic:h CK Cooncil Feaslbilit iI1d Pilo! Stud for Flood Surveillarv::e C;mer3$ $31.000.00 50.00 $.31,000.00 $3\,000.00 S93,OOO. 2(11).11 2211 Cootral H;ot'lands Regional COJncil FIotd MiligatiOll Emerald TowJ1I,II'P - Railway Uno l~rol'l!menLS sa,ooo.oo 5244,IJXl.IXl $83,845.00 $83,845.00 $420,490.00 201(}.11 2142 Bab1M Sh~e COlI1ci Bak:rmo Shire lllYeeBank Im ovemool Pr ~, S9J .00 50.00 593 SO.OO S9J 250.00 5280.000.00 20t().11 2198 MLfWllh Shre Cwncil O".I...ile Flood Gate Sllal 50.00 50.00 $75,000.00 $75,000.00 $150.000.00 201().11 BarcakMe FIocd Mil" alia'! Work: Jaricho L_ $428.410.00 ".00 $428,410.00 $428.410.00 $1285.230. 2(110-11 ..."""" F1ood. U Plains Road. MWnl Mal F'flase $140.000.00 $140,000.00 $140000.00 """99 swich Cit Council .... 5000 $420.000.00 2010-11 Mt.rwliI Shire Gourd .... 's Qj Wa!CI 0MniDn 0IameI 50.00 50.00 S60J,465.5O $60H65,5O $1206.931.00 '''' Round Two TotIII $3,~m.oo $11,Cl2S,400.oo """"00 7,m.00 127,11' 001.00 9 Legal Affairs, Police, Corrective Services and Emergency Services Committee Question on Notice No. 4 Asked on 30 June 2011 The Minister for Police, Corrective Services and Emergency Services (MR ROBERTS) was asked— QUESTION: With reference to 1-196 of the Service Delivery Statement, will the Minister outline to the Committee the benefits the Queensland Emergency Operations Centre (QEOC) will provide to the community and its role in assisting disaster management to date? ANSWER: In 2008-09, the Queensland Government committed $76.1 million to the Queensland Emergency Operations Centre (QEOC) and associated works. QEOC is comprised of the Communications Centre and the State Disaster Management Centre (SDMC). A further $2.627 million was received in 2009- 10 to fund road works, increasing the project budget to $78.7 million. The allocated funding provided $71.1 million to construct and house the State Disaster Coordination Centre (SDCC) and State Operations Coordination Centre (SOCC); the combined ambulance and fire services communications facility currently based at Spring Hill which handles the Triple Zero calls; the Queensland Emergency Medical System Coordination Centre including the Aero-medical desk; and Geographic Information Services. Of the above funding, $3.25 million was required to relocate technical functions and a warehouse from the Kedron Brook Building, and $4.34 million for the refurbishment of the Queensland Ambulance Service Spring Hill complex. The Communications Centre and the SDMC buildings were handed over by the builder on 19 November 2010 and the SDMC was officially opened by the Premier on 10 March 2011. The new facility will significantly enhance the State’s ability to manage large scale disasters through the provision of real time information to key decision makers when managing significant events; improved flow of vital operational information through more efficient use of technological and human resources; and by links to the media via a dedicated media centre to assist in keeping the public informed of vital information during emergencies. The facility also provides enhanced capacity for the Queensland Government, local and Federal Governments, the Australian Defence Force and other agencies, and non-Government Organisations (including the Red Cross) to liaise and support large scale disasters state-wide. 10 The building itself incorporates Environmentally Sustainable Design (ESD) principles which have resulted in it receiving a 5 Star - Green Star rating for office design. Some of the features include energy efficient lighting solutions, motion sensor lighting controls, displacement air-conditioning, thermal glazing, and peak load lopping. It treats grey water and rain water and re-uses both, has co-generation for hot water; bio-retention basins in the carpark; and gas micro turbines for electricity generation. Installation of ICT systems in the Communications Centre is nearing completion and commissioning and the relocation of Ambulance and Fire Communications (AFcom) is scheduled for the first quarter of the 2011-2012 financial year. The Spring Hill Ambulance Complex currently includes the ambulance station and the Brisbane communications centre (AFcom), which coordinates Ambulance and Fire communications within the Brisbane area. The redevelopment of the Spring Hill complex is planned to occur after AFcom has been relocated. The design of the Spring Hill complex and ambulance station redevelopment projects has commenced this financial year with design work to be completed in 2011-12 and construction phased through 2012-13. The completion will provide QAS with a first class facility in the inner city with expanded services. The Government’s decision to amalgamate the emergency services State Disaster Coordination Centre (SDCC), State Operations Coordination Centre (SOCC) and the combined ambulance and fire services communications centres and construct QEOC, was validated during the summer flooding and cyclones events. Sections of QEOC were able to be fast tracked for use by the State Disaster Management Group as the enormity of the dangers facing South East Queensland were apparent as did the need for a significant, coordinated emergency response. 11 Legal Affairs, Police, Corrective Services and Emergency Services Committee Question on Notice No. 5 Asked on 30 June 2011 The Minister for Police, Corrective Services and Emergency Services (MR ROBERTS) was asked— QUESTION: 1-196 of the Service Delivery Statement details a number of ClimateQ initiatives to support our emergency services volunteers, including the SES and Rural Fire Brigades. Will the Minister inform the committee of the initiatives being supported from the Climate Change funds? ANSWER: The Queensland Government’s ClimateQ: toward a greener Queensland strategy outlines the next steps in tackling Queensland’s climate change challenges. The Department of Community Safety (DCS) plays an important role in preparing the community for the consequences of climate change and in responding to severe weather events. The Queensland Government has committed a total of $30.61 million over five years (2009-10 to 2013-14) for DCS to progress five initiatives under the ClimateQ strategy. All of these initiatives support the work being undertaken by our volunteers. The Support Our Heroes 2009 election commitment provides for $12.98 million over five years from 2009-10 to 2013-14, including $5.64 million for the State Emergency Service(SES) and $7.34 million for the Rural Fire Service (RFS). The $5.64 million is for the SES to deliver 93 new vehicles, 19 flood boats, four new trailers, six safety at heights kits and delivery of an annual exercise regime. As at 31 May 2011 under this initiative, DCS had delivered: 34 SES vehicles with a further seven from the 2010-11 allocation scheduled for delivery by 31 July 2011; four floodboats with a further four from the 2010-11 allocation scheduled for delivery by 31 July 2011; two rescues trailers with the remaining two under this initiative scheduled for delivery by 31 July 2011; all six safety at heights kits; and two major exercises. In 2011-12, $1.2 million will be provided for a further 20 new vehicles, four floodboats and delivery of an exercise regime. The $7.34 million for the Rural Fire Service (RFS) is to provide 14 new specialised fire appliances, and to retrofit RFS appliances with radiant heat reflective curtains and replace petrol driven pumpsets with diesel driven pumpsets. As at 31 May 2011, six appliances have been delivered to host brigades, 165 appliances have been retrofitted with radiant heat reflective curtains and 245 appliances have been fitted with diesel pumpsets. 12 In 2011-12, $2.45 million has been provided for four new appliances, the continuation of retrofitting RFS appliances with radiant heat reflective curtains, and the replacement of petrol driven pumpsets with diesel driven pumpsets. The Climate Change Fund will provide $4.1 million over 3 years for the disaster management warehouses in South East Queensland and Townsville and caches that will ensure the rapid response and reliable deployment of critical supplies to local communities to assist in response and recovery situations. The South East Queensland Disaster Management Warehouse, located at Ormeau, was officially opened in December 2010 and in 2011-12, $2.33 million has been provided for the purchase of a Disaster Management Warehouse in Townsville and additional stock for existing caches. The Bushfire Community Training Package initiative provides $4.6 million over five years (2009-10 to 2013-14) to develop and support a network of up to 3,000 volunteer community educators (VCEs) to deliver bushfire and natural disaster education to their local communities. Seven Mitigation and Education Officers commenced with the RFS in February 2010 to support the VCE network. As at 31 May 2011 there were 205 fully trained VCEs, with a further 50 volunteers awaiting confirmation or requiring training. In addition, there are 13 approved VCE area coordinators who provide support to their respective VCE network by assisting with planning and delivery of community education events and activities. In 2011-12, $1.35 million will be provided for the continuing recruitment and training of VCEs. The Keeping Our Mob Climate Safe initiative provides $2 million over three years from 2010-11 – 2012-13, to help remote Indigenous communities prepare for the impacts of extreme weather events. Four Disaster Management Field Officers were recruited in 2010-11 to work with Indigenous Councils to enhance disaster management planning and recruit and support volunteers for disaster management roles. Funding of $0.67 million is provided in 2011-12 to continue delivery of this initiative. The Disaster Preparedness in Vulnerable Communities initiative provides $6.93 million over five years from 2009-10 to 2013-14, to develop community awareness, and improve the capacity of individuals, families and businesses to contribute towards their own safety and wellbeing in the event of a natural disaster. As at 31 May 2011, achievements include the development of a series of resources which provide information on preventative measures that can reduce the impact of cyclones and severe storms; the appointment of staff to work with councils in developing evacuation plans; and commencement of work on development of a Community Resilience Framework. In 2011-12, $1.86 million will be provided to continue community education and implement programs to improve disaster resilience. 13 Legal Affairs, Police, Corrective Services and Emergency Services Committee Question on Notice No. 6 Asked on 30 June 2011 QUESTION: Page 3-143 of the SDS refers to information and communication technology initiatives. Will the Minister outline how the roll-out of Queensland Police Records and Information Management Exchange (QPRIME) system is enhancing the ability of operational police to fight and solve crime? ANSWER: The Queensland Government is committed to providing our police with the tools and equipment they need to effectively fight crime in the 21st Century. This Government’s funding of the QPRIME (Queensland Police Records and Information Management Exchange) computer system, which is designed to support the needs of operational police, is central to our commitment to provide police with state of the art technology to enhance operational effectiveness. Over the last five years, QPRIME has become the single point of truth for operational information and replaced 234 legacy, siloed systems previously required to support operational police. QPRIME now manages all persons, addresses and vehicles of interest, and state-wide intelligence information. QPRIME links this vital information to all crime and non-crime occurrences. QPRIME is working effectively in most areas and was well accepted as police became more confident and proficient in its use. Police officers today have a high reliance on QPRIME information and depend heavily on it to support their day-to-day operational duties. On any given shift, Communications Centre operators throughout Queensland are able to search QPRIME for flags or warnings about persons, vehicles or addresses of interest. The new Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) roll-out commencing late 2011 will further increase the usefulness of QPRIME by enabling operators to relay vital information to front line police—enhancing their preparedness and safety. QPRIME currently holds over 1.15 million flags against persons of interest, approximately 260,000 flags against vehicles of interest and approximately 178,000 flags against addresses of interest. Crime reports, sudden death and missing person reports, traffic crashes, street checks and a whole range of police activities are now included in this integrated system and linked to people and locations to form a complete intelligence and operational picture for modern policing needs. QPRIME has been pivotal in gathering intelligence and identifying offenders for a range of major crimes including murder, sexual assaults and armed robbery, in addition to property crime such as unlawful entry and traffic related offences. Also, property management and the use of bar codes and readers has increased the accountability and management of property and exhibits throughout the State, and police officer tasking is now able to be completed through QPRIME to match the 24 hours a day, 7 days a week requirements of a flexible and responsive police service. 14 QPRIME is also used to record juvenile bail curfew checking, mental health case management, liquor case management, search and rescue occurrences, counter terrorism activities, Outlaw Motor Cycle Gang members case management, street gangs case management as well as regular “street check” activity reports. QPRIME has provided police with a platform to enhance their criminal investigations. In the 2010-11 financial year, there were approximately 455,000 occurrences entered into QPRIME, and an additional (approx.) 841,000 street checks, intelligence submissions and crime stoppers files. All of these occurrences are capable of being managed by electronic tasking and monitoring in QPRIME. Officers are provided with advanced Information Analysis and Mapping capability for enhanced analysis of QPRIME data. The Policelink and the new Weapons Licensing solutions are both tightly integrated with QPRIME. In 2010, the Weapons solution enhanced intelligence and officer safety by recording relevant information on firearms, licensees and weapons related inspections in QPRIME. QPRIME interfaces and exchanges information with external agencies including the Integrated Justice Information Strategy, CrimTrac, National Police Reference System, Queensland Transport and Main Roads, and the Australian Criminal Intelligence Database. This Government is committed to providing police with the tools they need to effectively respond to crime and to enable police to be on the streets doing actual police work and keeping the people of Queensland safe. There have been many success stories for QPRIME since it was introduced. For example, police were investigating historical sex offences, some over 20 years old, but had no recent information regarding the current location of the suspect. A QPRIME check revealed the suspect was a reportable offender on ANCOR (Child Offender Registry). This provided an avenue of further investigation in locating the suspect. ANCOR had the current address of the offender, but without QPRIME alerting the investigating officer to that fact, he would not have been located and these offences would have remained unsolved. The important role of QPRIME to support operational police was highlighted further during the flooding and natural disasters in Queensland. Police relied on information in QPRIME to support missing persons, sudden death investigations including positive identification of deceased persons and contacting their next of kin. QPRIME permitted the monitoring of looting offences and assisted intelligence officers to task crews more efficiently and effectively to identified, higher-risk areas throughout the State. QPRIME has greatly streamlined and modernised records management in the QPS. Furthermore, QPRIME has brought efficiencies to intelligence gathering and ultimately to fighting and solving crime and prosecuting offenders. 15 Legal Affairs, Police, Corrective Services and Emergency Services Committee Question on Notice No. 7 Asked on 30 June 2011 QUESTION: With regard to page 3-145 of the Service Delivery Statement, will the Minister advise on the progress of the new Weapon Licensing Management System implementation and related initiatives, and how this will benefit responsible fire arm owners in Queensland? ANSWER: The previous Weapons Licensing System resided on the QPS mainframe, which was due for decommissioning in March 2011. The previous system was heavily reliant on manual processes and older technology, and it was necessary that a replacement system be implemented to meet operational, administrative and client needs in years to come. Stage 1 of the new Weapons Licensing Management System (WLMS) was implemented on 30 November 2010 and has successfully achieved the following: • replacement of the mainframe and ancillary systems which met mainframe decommissioning timeframes; • reduced technological, business, and financial risks associated with the continued reliance on aging and increasingly unsupportable technology; • Integration with the Queensland Police Records and Information Management Exchange System (QPRIME). QPRIME is now the main reference for operational police officers regarding weapons information; and • capitalised on existing QPS investment in Policelink, with the new WLMS leveraging off existing software and infrastructure. The new WLMS also has the capacity and flexibility to meet on-going legislative changes, in line with the needs of the Queensland community and our serving police. This an enhancement of previous systems. Whilst Stage 1 provided these benefits to the QPS, Stages 2 and 3 will primarily be of increased benefit to the responsible fire arm owners of Queensland. Stage 2 and 3 will provide significant improvements in the delivery of services to external clients. The proposed improvements will include developing a QPS on-line self-service portal that allows license holders, weapons dealers and businesses, and clubs and associations to interactively process transactions and manage detailed weapons activities and transactions by a user account. This will lead to more efficient use of police resources due to less time being spent accepting applications, manually processing hardcopy forms and receipting monies. 16 It will also facilitate meeting the Queensland Government “Towards Q2 through ICT” target for 50% of all applicable government service interactions to be able to be conducted online by 2012. Phase 2.1 of Stage 2 is currently being implemented with an expected completion date of September 2011. This phase primarily addresses the security aspects and the design of the web facility to allow the delivery of on-line forms and payments. Stage 2 Phase 2.2 is currently awaiting further financial analysis before formal approval is given. At present time, the anticipated implementation date for Phase 2.2 is March 2012. This phase is proposed to deliver initial online forms for new applications and Permits to Acquire (PTA), as well as the ability to pay for these through an online facility. During the implementation of this significant ICT project, some issues have arisen, and the QPS is actively addressing them as they arise. The QPS have engaged with key stakeholders during this period. To address the specific concerns of the National Firearms Dealers Association (NFDA), the QPS met with the President and other members of the association on the 21 March 2011. As a result of that meeting the QPS has taken the following actions: . A dedicated business email account has been established to allow firearms dealers to inquire directly about issues affecting their clients and establish whether a PTA application had been received and/or PTA issued. There have been 174 dealer inquiries received as of 11 July, 2011. All have been finalised. . A QPS website is maintained to advise stakeholders about the current status of the WLMS implementation. . A demonstration of WLMS Stage 1 was provided to a dealer representative group on Tuesday, 5 July 2011 and invited dealer representatives to participate within the Stage 2 reference group process. The QPS will continue to work to improve weapons licensing and registration in Queensland, for the benefit of responsible fire arm owners, operational police and the safety of the Queensland community. 17 Legal Affairs, Police, Corrective Services and Emergency Services Committee Question on Notice No. 8 Asked on 30 June 2011 QUESTION: Page 3-143 of the SDS refers to information and communication technology initiatives. Will the Minister outline how the Public Safety Network Initiative is delivering a modern, fixed data network that meets the needs of public safety focused agencies in Queensland, and how Integration of Voice Communications with the Public Safety Network is progressing? ANSWER: The Public Safety Network (PSN) initiative, which was awarded the 2010 Premiers award in the ‘Strong’ category, provides a modern data network that meets the needs of the Queensland Police Service (QPS), the Department of Community Safety and the Department of Justice and Attorney-General. The PSN: • meets critical requirements across all three agencies for a ‘highly protected’ data network supporting real time services such as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), Radio over Internet Protocol (RoIP) and video conferencing; • aligns to the requirements and intent of whole-of-Government consolidation programs and the Government Enterprise Architecture; and • ensures information and communications technology infrastructure is ‘future ready’. The business benefits being realised through the PSN initiative include: • increased network capacity and reliability across the State to enable improved operation of critical business applications for police, corrections and justice staff; • Radio over Internet Protocol capability that improves officer safety by providing remote stations with back-to-base communication for the first time; • ability for agency staff to connect to their agency network from anywhere within over 700 PSN sites e.g. police prosecutors can access QPS information resources directly from within a courthouse; • closer ICT collaboration between Justice, Police and Corrective Services by enhanced data interchange; • establishing a proactive, purpose built 24 x 7 Network Management Centre delivering end-to-end network services to participating agencies enabling proactive monitoring and incident management; • upgraded ancillary services including cabling and uninterruptible power supply to sites improves network redundancy and resilience to ensure better ‘up time’ and improve speed to cater for future agency needs; and • an upgraded network which now provides participating agencies with the opportunity to leverage off the inherent ‘convergence’ capability of the network to integrate data, radio, voice and video traffic for the first time. 18 The integration project will also include provisioning of: • ‘on demand’ integration with the Department of Community Safety and other public safety focused agencies, supporting the Government’s desire for improved inter- agency connectivity and cost effective networks; and • a fast connect service for any agencies involved in disaster response and civil emergency. Over the past five years the emergency services has rebuilt its voice communications capability and capacity over a broad spectrum ranging from frontline policing to corporate support to enable the QPS to take advantage of digital technology. The QPS is now customising its frontline policing voice network to deliver voice and Internet Protocol (IP) network integration based on existing fixed and mobile infrastructure and services through the PSN and other carriers. Voice and IP integration trials between the Telephone Coordination Unit and PSN will commence in the third quarter of 2011 and continue with: • the planning and delivery of VoIP services to 301 remote and/or small locations; • VoIP integration trials in conjunction within the QPS Communications Centre; • VoIP trials within Far Northern Region to evaluate relevance of the service to remote area policing; and • integration trials for satellite and mobile telephony services. This project is consulting with CITEC on a regular basis and participates in the CITEC IP Telephony and Unified Communications Project to ensure whole-of-Government outcomes are included in the QPS project delivery. Integration with the PSN also provides an opportunity to develop a first class, highly resilient voice network by utilising low cost IP voice services with alternate voice routing through telecommunications carriers. This Government is delivering better communications to enhance interoperability between our departments which focus on community safety. This leads to better emergency and disaster response and coordination. The Government will continue to invest in technologies and initiatives that improve the safety and security of Queensland residents. 19 Legal Affairs, Police, Corrective Services and Emergency Services Committee Question on Notice No. 9 Asked on 30 June 2011 QUESTION: Page 3-142 of the Service Delivery Statement cites the increasing use and accessibility of technology and its ability to facilitate serious and organised crime as a key strategic challenge facing the Police Service in 2011-12. Will the Minister outline for the Committee the nature of these challenges and how QPS is working to address them? ANSWER: The Queensland Police Service (QPS) plays an important role in leading the fight against serious and organised crime in Australia, particularly in light of increasing innovation and access to information technology. The excellent work of the QPS in combating cyber and transnational crime has been acknowledged by the receipt of national and international awards in recent years, including: - the 2009 McAfee International Cybercrime Fighter of the year, the 2009 and 2010 Visa Asia Pacific Award; - the 2009 and 2010 SC Magazine / AusCERT Law Enforcement Award; and - the 2010 AusCERT Excellence in Leadership in Crime Award. As Members would be aware, cyber crime is a global phenomenon that can be expected to continue to increase around the world as the Internet continues to expand. Whilst the internet provides increased opportunities for citizens across business, education and many other spheres, it also increases individual and organisational vulnerability to cyber crime. It is important to note that 80% of Australian citizens are already connected to the Internet; while the average Internet connection for the remainder of the world is 23%. This percentage is only likely to increase due to the Commonwealth Government’s significant investment in the National Broadband Network, giving greater and faster access to this essential modern technology. As the rest of the world further embraces the Internet, the incidence of these types of crime will increase exponentially. It is pertinent that our police are equipped and able to meet these challenges. Transnational Crime occurs via two main methods: cyber-based via the Internet and physical-based through border entry. The United Nations Convention against Transnational and Organised Crime defines transnational crime as an offence which is either committed in more than one State or is committed in one State but has a substantial part of its preparation, planning, direction, effect or control in another State. 20 Australian debit and credit cards are a primary target of international crime groups because our payment card data continues to be stored on a magnetic strip. As the rest of the world migrates to encrypted chip and pin technology, Australia will continue to be a focus of transnational criminal interests. This interest can be expected to increase until Australia adopts a fully chip and pin- compliant legislative and technological framework, which is not expected to occur in the near future. Whilst there are indications that the banks will have fully migrated to chip pin technology within the next couple of years, there is no intention to migrate to full chip pin technology on our ATM’s – this will leave our ATM’s vulnerable to compromise for many years to come. In Queensland, we have already seen transnational groups involved in ATM skimming, EFTPOS terminal compromises, advance fee fraud and credit card shopping gangs. ATM skimming offences occur when offenders place covert devices on ATMs which capture personal banking details of cards use at the ATM. EFTPOS terminals are compromised by a number of methods including having devices installed into them to harvest data and intercepting transmissions from the terminals. Advance fee fraud offences are generally initiated by emails promising large sums of money from lottery wins, inheritances, investment opportunities. The victim is subsequently tricked into sending money to the offender purportedly to cover ‘legal fees’, ‘taxes’ etc. Every month thousands of Australians send millions of dollars overseas as a consequence of these frauds. Transnational credit card shopping gangs are organised groups who use stolen credit card data cloned onto counterfeit credit cards to fraudulently obtain goods from retailers. In these gangs, ‘shoppers’ are enlisted to buy large amounts of goods and are paid a commission for purchases. The prevalence of open (unprotected) Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) access points provide an untraceable means for criminal elements to commit a host of criminal activities. These WiFi access points may be provided unintentionally by private individuals or intentionally by business or government departments for the use of the public. Open WiFi access points permit criminal groups to monitor and capture all network traffic, download illegal content such as Child Exploitation Material, and install malicious software on poorly protected devices. The use of encrypted Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephony services allows for criminal groups to bypass legitimate interception measures by law enforcement agencies. The use of VoIP telephony services and virtual offices allow criminals to project the illusion of a local presence, when in fact they are actually located in a different geographic location. The increasing prevalence of Cloud Technology will impact on Police abilities to respond to crimes as both the data and software processes utilised may exist on servers in overseas countries. Attacks upon Australian businesses in the online environment are increasing in prevalence and severity. Recent compromises to Sony (77 million worldwide – 1.7 million Australians); and Lush Cosmetics (75 000 Australians) are testament to these events. 21 In response to transnational crime, the Queensland Police Service (QPS) is developing a transnational crime strategy. Tactical responses have also been achieved by coordinating national efforts through the Australian Crime Commission and the development of overseas relationships, such as with the United States Secret Service and Nigerian Economic Financial Crimes Commission. In 2009 the QPS launched the Advance Fee Fraud Reporting Portal, which facilitates reporting by any Australian resident to Nigeria, Ghana and the United Kingdom. The QPS also launched the national Online Auction Fraud reporting portal to enable the timely reporting of fraud committed via the various online auction facilities. The website is accessed by victims throughout Australia for the reporting of this type of crime direct to the relevant jurisdiction. Community education is a critical element in the fight against this type of crime. Offenders rely on the naivety and trusting nature of many of our citizens to perpetrate their crimes. The QPS has commenced a proactive program of education focussed on prevention to further increase awareness among the business, government and private communities of Queensland. The QPS has taken fraud prevention education to children through the development and release of a cartoon character providing information via YouTube videos. As at 1 May 2011, over 8,000 members of Queensland’s community had been provided educational and preventative advice on these types of crimes by the QPS. The QPS has developed effective networks with all other Australian and a number of International law enforcement agencies, banking industry and retailer associations to address these issues. In 2009 the QPS hosted the International Mass Marketing Fraud Working Group (IMMFWG) and in 2010 contributed to the International Day of Action. The QPS remains a member of the IMMFWG. The QPS has hosted 7 international conferences on international fraud, cyber crime and identity crime. 2011 will see the QPS host a further 3 international conferences bringing together experts from around the world to develop strategies and share cooperative learning. Later this year the QPS will initiate a War Driving Project – particularly to highlight the issue of vulnerable wireless networks. In the past eighteen months 46 persons have been arrested and charged in Queensland for offences relating to ATM and Eftpos terminal compromise, Advance Fee Fraud and Credit Card shopping and 14 international persons have been arrested overseas for offending against Queensland residents. Each State law enforcement agency, the Australian Federal Police, New Zealand Police and the Australian Crime Commission is represented in the ANZPAA eCrime Committee, which is charged with steering a national investigative direction to electronic crime. Queensland is the current chair of this committee. The QPS is also represented on the National Cybercrime Working Group. 22 In 2011 the QPS facilitated a National Technology Crime Investigation Course utilising the expertise of the Hong Kong Police, Technology Crime Division to train representatives from all state and federal law enforcement bodies. In 2010 the QPS hosted the International Association of Computer Investigative Specialists training course, ensuring Queensland electronic evidence examiners received world class training and development. Cyber crime is a complex issue which requires continued commitment, cooperation and persistence at international, national and state levels, to maintain a contemporary understanding of the techniques employed by criminals. These cooperative and collaborative partnerships ensure that collectively we can develop technologies to disrupt cyber crime activities and minimise our vulnerability to this type of crime. The QPS will continue to ensure that Queensland plays a significant role in this process. 23 Legal Affairs, Police, Corrective Services and Emergency Services Committee Question on Notice No. 10 Asked on 30 June 2011 QUESTION: With regard to the allocation for capital works projects on page 3-143 of the Service Delivery Statement, will the Minister outline how this funding is improving the access to modern facilities, for our growing number of police officers? ANSWER: As Police Minister, I recognise the importance of providing our police with the appropriate infrastructure for them to deliver policing services across the State as efficiently and effectively as possible. We are now in the third year of the Bligh Government’s three year $126 million commitment for Queensland Police Service (QPS) capital works projects. This year’s budget provides $43.8 million to fund: • new and replacement police stations, watchhouses and district headquarters; • the refurbishment and/or upgrading of existing establishments; • new residential accommodation for officers in rural and remote locations; and • general upgrading of existing police housing. On 14 June, the Bligh Government also announced a further $54.9 million in 2011-12 for the continued development of the new Queensland Police Academy at Wacol. The 2011-12 capital works budget of $98.7 million remains significantly high in comparison to ten years ago, when the annual capital works budget was around $30 million. The Service’s capital works program continues to ensure infrastructure is available to support the provision of effective police services into the future. During 2010-11, capital works funding of $57.48 million provided for the completion and further development of a number of significant infrastructure projects to address population growth and support service delivery. Projects delivered during this time provided modern, state of the art facilities to assist frontline staff in serving the community. The projects completed include: • replacement police station and upgraded watchhouse at Charleville; • replacement police station and watchhouse at Murgon; • extension to the Thursday Island Police Station for Water Police; • new Sunshine Coast Water Police facility; • new residences at Mount Isa; and • the refurbishment of the Richlands Watchhouse. 24 Major projects for the coming year include: • the construction of the new Burleigh Heads Police Beat, the new Oxley District Forensic Facility, the new Townsville District Police Facility, a replacement Lockhart River Police Station, as well as the new Carina Police Station to replace the Camp Hill Police Station; • refurbishments and upgrades will also be continuing on Police Stations at Goodna, Calliope and Beenleigh, as well as at the Burleigh Heads Police Complex, Pine Rivers District Office and the heritage-listed police facility at Mackay. Minor capital works will also be delivered across the State in 2011-12, providing a number of smaller but important infrastructure projects including: • improvements to the physical standard of watchhouse facilities and upgrade them to comply with the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody recommendations; • upgrades/renovations to stations; • additional workstations/furniture; and • upgrade of security systems and front counters in stations. Capital works funding is also allocated to the QPS Housing Program. The Housing Program funds the construction of new housing as well as the acquisition of existing accommodation associated with major capital works projects. Complementing the housing sub-program is the State Housing Management Program, which provides additional housing in remote and rural areas of the State. The Queensland Police Service (QPS) residential accommodation portfolio consists of 861 units of accommodation, including houses, barracks, duplexes, units and residential neighbourhood police beats. In addition to funding allocated in the Minor Capital Works Program for the physical upgrade of watchhouses, the Government has provided $2 million in 2011-12 for upgrading CCTV in watchhouse facilities. Upgrades at Brisbane City, Goondiwindi, Roma and St George will be undertaken in the 2011-12 program. The Bligh Government remains committed to ensuring that the QPS is resourced with appropriate infrastructure to support QPS in their commitment to making Queensland a safe and secure place to live, visit and do business. 25 Legal Affairs, Police, Corrective Services and Emergency Services Committee Question on Notice No. 11 Asked on 30 June 2011 QUESTION: With reference to SDS 3-147 staffing a) What is the total actual police officer strength as at June 30 2011 for each police District and State Function (reported separately by District/Function); and b) How many police in each district are in receipt of the operation shift allowance (reported by police district)? ANSWER: Question (a) The actual police officer strength by police district and state functions is at Attachment A. Question (b) Police officers in receipt of the operational shift allowance by police district and state functions is at Attachment A. Receiving operational shift allowance (OSA) does not define operational from non- operational police officers. The majority of Queensland police officers receive additional remuneration by way of allowance payments. OSA is just one of those payments. An “all up” payment in lieu of shift and weekend penalty units, public holiday rates and annual leave loading, OSA is payable only to those police officers who are able to equitably participate in a two or three shift roster over seven days per week. There are many other police officers who receive various allowance payments other than OSA. For example, police officers in one and two officer divisions receive flat rate allowance payments, while police officers in numerous other divisions and establishments receive shift penalty allowance payments. 26 Attachment A State/Region/District Actual Police Strength 30/6/11 Estimated Police Receiving OSA Far Northern Region 783 558 Regional Functions 61 29 Cairns District 513 396 Innisfail District 85 49 Mareeba District 124 84 Northern Region 783 561 Regional Functions 40 18 Mt Isa District 188 139 Townsville District 555 404 Central Region 866 593 Regional Functions 22 1 Gladstone District 167 108 Longreach District 49 19 Mackay District 297 224 Rockhampton District 331 241 North Coast Region 1,401 1,027 Regional Functions 33 12 Bundaberg District 158 103 Caboolture District 202 162 Gympie District 155 105 Maryborough District 186 138 Redcliffe District 164 120 Sunshine Coast District 503 387 Southern Region 1,034 641 Regional Functions 27 0 Charleville District 64 28 Dalby District 63 30 Ipswich District 405 299 Roma District 74 28 Toowoomba District 306 209 Warwick District 95 47 South Eastern Region 1,426 1,111 Regional Functions 38 3 Coomera District 188 165 Gold Coast District 676 536 Logan District 524 407 Metropolitan North Region 1,283 1,038 Regional Functions 125 80 Brisbane Central District 393 333 Brisbane West District 220 179 North Brisbane District 356 302 Pine Rivers District 189 144 Metropolitan South Region 1,113 884 Regional Functions 64 30 Oxley District 335 275 South Brisbane District 444 368 Wynnum District 270 211 State functions - State Crime Operations, Operations Support and Ethical 1,868 934 Standards Commands and other non-regional functions. Total - Queensland Police Service 10,557 7,347 27 Legal Affairs, Police, Corrective Services and Emergency Services Committee Question on Notice No. 12 Asked on 30 June 2011 QUESTION: With reference to SDS 3-174 Service Summary What was the total budget and actual spend for each police district in 2010/11 and what is the total budget for each district in 2011/12 (reported by year and district, budget and actual spend)? ANSWER: The Queensland Police Service (QPS) is comprised of eight Police Regions with 31 Police Districts. Regional allocations are provided to Assistant Commissioners, who then set, monitor and adjust budgets throughout the year. This ensures service delivery is responsive to community demand. Where there is a disaster, emergency or other unplanned event that exceeds regional budget capacity, costs are referred to the QPS’s Financial Planning and Review Committee and managed centrally. The following table provides the total expenditure for each district during 2010-11. As district budgets are fluid and not centrally managed, it is not possible to provide budget figures for 2010-11 or 2011-12. 28 Total Actual Spend by Police District 2010-11 Unaudited Actual Region District $'000 Far Northern Region Cairns District 52,198 Innisfail District 8,482 Mareeba District 11,605 Northern Region Mt Isa District 20,460 Townsville District 58,564 Central Region Gladstone District 16,403 Longreach District 5,669 Mackay District 31,006 Rockhampton District 36,260 North Coast Region Caboolture District 18,465 Bundaberg District 15,281 Gympie District 16,504 Maryborough District 18,489 Redcliffe District 16,189 Sunshine Coast District 52,476 Southern Region Charleville District 6,593 Dalby District 6,623 Ipswich District 41,420 Roma District 8,071 Toowoomba District 31,041 Warwick District 10,530 South East Region Gold Coast District 53,086 Logan District 41,692 Coomera District 14,987 Metropolitan North Region Brisbane Central District 38,750 North Brisbane District 35,000 Pine Rivers District 18,809 Brisbane West District 21,646 Metropolitan South Region Oxley District 31,194 South Brisbane District 43,114 Wynnum District 26,121 Notes 1. Excludes indirect costs such as building and vehicle maintenance, IT systems support, insurances, superannuation, long service leave, etc. 2. Includes depreciation expenses. 29 Legal Affairs, Police, Corrective Services and Emergency Services Committee Question on Notice No. 13 Asked on 30 June 2011 QUESTION: With reference to SDS 3-174 Service Summary a) What was the total overtime budget and actual spend for each police district in 2010/11 and how did this compare to 2009/10 (reported by year and district); and b) What is the budgeted amount of overtime for each police district in 2011/12? (reported by district)? ANSWER: The Queensland Police Service (QPS) is comprised of eight Police Regions with 31 Police Districts. Regional allocations are provided to Assistant Commissioners, who then set, monitor and adjust budgets throughout the year. This ensures service delivery is responsive to community demand. Where there is a disaster, emergency or other unplanned event that exceeds regional budget capacity, costs are referred to the QPS’s Financial Planning and Review Committee and managed centrally. This includes any overtime associated with the police response. The following table provides the overtime expenditure for each district during 2009-10 and 2010-11. As district budgets are fluid and not centrally managed, it is not possible to provide budget figures, including overtime for 2011-12. Overtime includes general rate, special services and payments associated with Road Safety Initiative and mobile speed camera, Operation Merit, Drink Safe, and natural disaster related overtime which have been charged directly to the districts. Overtime expenditure for natural disasters is reimbursed through Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements. These reimbursements are received in future periods. Overtime expenditure is not indicative of the support provided by specialist units such as the Homicide Squad, State Drug Squad and Public Safety Response Team. Also, during times of emergent circumstances (i.e. natural disasters) the QPS deploys additional resources from those areas not directly affected by such events to support regions. 30 Overtime Actual Spend by Police District 2010-11 2009-10 Unaudited Actual Actual Region District $'000 $'000 Far Northern Region Cairns District 1,678 1,647 Innisfail District 432 388 Mareeba District 443 409 Northern Region Mt Isa District 677 556 Townsville District 1,913 2,285 Central Region Gladstone District 641 699 Longreach District 221 183 Mackay District 1,785 1,740 Rockhampton District 1,532 1,737 North Coast Region Caboolture District 517 632 Bundaberg District 420 404 Gympie District 451 451 Maryborough District 267 353 Redcliffe District 436 353 Sunshine Coast District 1,233 1,406 Southern Region Charleville District 126 134 Dalby District 318 268 Ipswich District 2,810 3,024 Roma District 303 255 Toowoomba District 1,264 1,334 Warwick District 612 641 South East Region Gold Coast District 2,374 2,078 Logan District 1,912 2,249 Coomera District 582 1,113 Metropolitan North Region Brisbane Central District 2,037 2,999 North Brisbane District 2,025 2,213 Pine Rivers District 713 825 Brisbane West District 1,032 1,356 Metropolitan South Region Oxley District 1,970 2,022 South Brisbane District 2,994 3,141 Wynnum District 1,542 1,715 31 Legal Affairs, Police, Corrective Services and Emergency Services Committee Question on Notice No. 14 Asked on 30 June 2011 MR LANGBROEK MP asked the Minister for Police, Corrective Services and Emergency Services (MR ROBERTS)— QUESTION: With Reference to 1-201 Probation and Parole a) What is the total budget and actual spend on supervision services to offenders on Intensive Drug Rehabilitation Orders (IDRO’s) in 2010/11 and what is the budget for this area in 2011/12? b) What was the listed reasons for failing to complete such orders as listed on corrective services Information Systems? ANSWER: a) Offenders under the supervision of Probation and Parole, including those on Intensive Drug Rehabilitation Orders (IDRO), may be simultaneously supervised for multiple order types. As such, the individual budget and expenditure for the supervision of offenders for a specific order type is not data calculated or maintained by Queensland Corrective Services (QCS). The total cost for Probation and Parole is outlined at pages 1-199 and 1- 201 of the Service Delivery Statements 2011-12. b) Intensive Drug Rehabilitation Orders are complex orders to manage and involve a number of offender behavioural issues. Supervision of these offenders can include breaching offenders for failing to attend interviews, failing urinalysis tests and absconding from the program. Individual breaches do not necessarily lead to failure to complete an order, however they are considered when determining a cancellation. The following reasons were listed as the final breach which determined the failure to complete Intensive Drug Rehabilitation Orders (IDRO's) in 2010-11 on the Integrated Offender Management System (IOMS): o Absconding from the program o Re-offending o Self-termination from the program o Testing positive to drugs o Issue of a warrant for arrest o Failure to comply with the requirements of the program o Breached the conditions of the order, and o Offender determined to have no further treatment options available. 32 Legal Affairs, Police, Corrective Services and Emergency Services Committee Question on Notice No. 15 Asked on 30 June 2011 MR LANGBROEK MP asked the Minister for Police, Corrective Services and Emergency Services (MR ROBERTS)— QUESTION: With reference to 1-201 Probation and Parole – a) How many random drug tests were conducted on offenders on supervision orders in 2010/11 and how did this compare to 2009/10? (Reported by year); and b) How many tests returned positive in 2010/11 and how did this compare to 2009/10? (Reported by year); and c) What was the total cost of testing in 2010/11 and how did this compare to 2009/10 (reported by year)? ANSWER: a) There is no provision for Probation and Parole to record urine tests in their offender management system specifically as random or targeted. In 2009/10, 19 400 urine tests were conducted on offenders, compared with 24 523 tests in 2010/11. Urine testing is undertaken by Probation and Parole staff as determined by order conditions, assessed risk or suspicion of drug use. b) In 2009/10, 3 998 urine tests returned positive results to illicit substances, compared to 6 563 in 2010/11. The increase in positive results in 2010/11 is as a result of the better use of gathered intelligence and a directed change in practice, whereby staff will test an offender for specific drug use. c) The total cost of urine testing in 2009/10 was $677 700. The 2010/11 estimated actual expenditure is $891 900. 33 Legal Affairs, Police, Corrective Services and Emergency Services Committee Question on Notice No. 16 Asked on 30 June 2011 MR LANGBROEK MP asked the Minister for Police, Corrective Services and Emergency Services (MR ROBERTS)— QUESTION: With reference to 1-200 Ambulance Service a) What is the total operating budget and expenditure for each Queensland Ambulance Region for 2010/11 and how did this compare to 2009/10? (reported by region and each year) b) What is the total operating budget for each Ambulance Region for 2011/12 (reported by region)? ANSWER: a) The total actual expenditure and budget for Queensland Ambulance Service regions for the 2009-10 and 2010-11 financial years is as follows: Region 2010-11 2010-11 2009-10 2009-10 Estimated Budget $’000 Actual $’000 Budget $’000 Actual (unaudited) $’000 Northern 37,766 37,647 34,092 34,586 Central 54,538 54,650 50,387 51,807 South West 39,108 38,562 35,870 34,728 North Coast 63,065 63,180 57,537 57,392 Brisbane 117,355 115,252 107,278 107,338 South East 78,826 78,971 71,466 71,422 Far Northern 36,706 35,633 32,966 33,033 b) The total operating budget for QAS regions for the 2011-12 financial year is as follows: Region 2011-12 Budget $’000 Northern 38,902 Central 56,075 South West 39,930 North Coast 66,098 Brisbane 118,810 South East 82,457 Far Northern 37,159 NB: These figures do not include the 50 ambulance officer enhancements allocated for 2011-12, as they have not yet been allocated. 34 Legal Affairs, Police, Corrective Services and Emergency Services Committee Question on Notice No. 17 Asked on 30 June 2011 MR LANGBROEK MP asked the Minister for Police, Corrective Services and Emergency Services (MR ROBERTS)— QUESTION: With reference to 1-200 Custodial (a) What was the total operating budget and actual spend of each correctional facility in Queensland (including those run by private operators but paid for by taxpayers) in 2010/11 (reported by prison)? (b) What is the total estimated budget for each correctional facility in Queensland (including those run by private operators but paid for by taxpayers) in 2011/12 (reported by prison)? ANSWER: (a) The total operating budget and expenditure for each correctional facility in 2010-2011 is summarised in the table provided. The estimated actual expenditure to 30 June 2011 is subject to Auditor-General Certification. Operating budget and expenditure results for privately operated correctional centres is commercially valuable information subject to a non-disclosure obligation. Disclosure of commercial-in-confidence information may be harmful to the commercial interests of a private operator and is therefore not provided in this response. Estimated actual Budget Centre ($'000s) ($'000s) Brisbane 33,432.4 32,725.6 Brisbane Women's 23,038.7 23,001.5 Capricornia 37,297.7 37,400.0 Darling Downs 8,754.2 9,163.8 Lotus Glen 41,250.7 40,109.9 Maryborough 33,727.7 33,395.5 Numinbah 5,794.0 5,909.6 Palen Creek 5,939.5 5,909.6 Townsville 58,875.6 59,153.4 Wolston 33,468.8 33,197.0 Woodford 45,040.6 45,428.9 Total 326,619.9 325,666.8 35 (b) The estimated budget for 2011/12 is summarised in the table provided. These figures are still to be finalised and are subject to change. 2011-12 Estimate Centre ($'000s) Brisbane 34,374.5 Brisbane Women's 24,663.3 Capricornia 38,433.6 Darling Downs 9,287.3 Lotus Glen 44,909.1 Maryborough 35,891.6 Numinbah 6,163.0 Palen Creek 6,284.0 Townsville 61,175.4 Wolston 35,316.8 Woodford 47,424.4 Total 343,923.1 36 Legal Affairs, Police, Corrective Services and Emergency Services Committee Question on Notice No. 18 Asked on 30 June 2011 MR LANGBROEK MP asked the Minister for Police, Corrective Services and Emergency Services (MR ROBERTS)— QUESTION: With reference to 1-201 Probation and Parole a) What is the average offenders per caseworker in each probation and parole office for 2009/10 and 2010/11 (reported by office and for each year)? b) What is the total number of offenders managed in each probation and parole office per month in 2009/10 and 2010/11 (reported by office and for each year)? ANSWER: a) The average caseload for Probation and Parole officers per year in 2009/10 and 2010/11 is set out below: Office 2009/10 2010/11 Far Northern Cairns 42.6 41.6 Innisfail 40.3 38.1 Mareeba 52.6 33.1 Thursday Island 70.0 63.4 Northern Townsville 30.5 39.3 Mount Isa 34.5 34.4 Thuringowa 28.9 45.4 Central Emerald 54.3 32.4 Rockhampton 45.7 42.6 Gladstone 45.0 39.5 Mackay 50.3 43.8 Bundaberg 45.6 59.1 North Coast Caboolture 38.9 44.7 Gympie 85.3 67.0 Maroochydore 49.5 47.8 Hervey Bay 49.9 46.1 Kingaroy 39.0 39.9 Noosa 40.4 27.6 Metropolitan North Brisbane Central 37.8 46.6 Brisbane North 52.7 53.8 Pine Rivers 44.4 46.4 Redcliffe 54.1 51.2 Metropolitan South Brisbane South 48.6 36.4 Cleveland (now Redlands) 54.5 50.2 Inala 30.8 52.8 Mount Gravatt 71.3 50.8 Wynnum 53.8 54.1 37 Southern Ipswich 43.9 50.9 Toowoomba 45.6 47.4 Roma 24.9 40.1 South Coast Beenleigh 31.2 38.3 Burleigh 50.4 41.1 Logan City 42.9 48.0 Southport 49.8 45.5 *These figures include reporting, compliance and case management actual full time equivalents (FTEs). Acceptable levels of reporting and compliance offender caseloads are higher, compared to intensive supervision levels. When these caseloads are grouped together, this results in a higher average per caseworker. In 2009/10 the average cost to supervise offenders in the community was $10.59 per offender per day. The 2010/11 estimated actual cost, noted on page 1-201 of the Service Delivery Statements (SDS), is $11 per offender per day. QCS continues to have a dedicated High Risk Offender Management Unit at Wacol to supervise high risk sex offenders subject to supervision orders under the Dangerous Prisoner (Sexual Offenders) Act 2003. b) QCS supervises offenders through 35 district offices throughout Queensland. The total number of offenders managed by each office per month in 2009/10 and 2010/11 is set out below: 2009/10 Office Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Far Northern Cairns 1186 1207 1204 1217 1252 1259 1232 1209 1232 1232 1237 1248 Innisfail 342 222 221 242 244 245 225 226 230 234 232 239 Mareeba 241 263 276 276 274 270 274 279 283 285 277 286 Thursday 116 120 115 129 125 129 128 151 158 154 173 181 Island Northern Townsville 474 521 511 550 549 542 552 554 582 603 628 643 Mount Isa 425 440 459 454 458 470 473 471 454 441 417 421 Thuringowa 323 303 300 280 274 300 320 342 333 328 326 339 Central Emerald 157 166 165 174 180 171 161 156 156 156 156 157 Rockhampton 372 358 352 357 358 356 353 370 368 387 407 400 Gladstone 211 219 225 234 225 218 213 210 235 238 236 238 Mackay 530 529 546 549 573 562 529 525 549 537 546 543 Bundaberg 414 407 398 404 413 384 390 409 422 420 421 404 North Coast Caboolture 745 725 719 724 729 714 731 728 743 755 769 789 Gympie 124 132 149 151 176 181 170 182 187 193 194 208 Maroochydore 534 530 547 554 540 538 546 544 561 550 545 546 Hervey Bay 228 245 254 271 277 294 297 298 294 290 299 307 Kingaroy 183 174 165 163 171 161 152 141 129 135 144 153 Noosa 142 148 152 152 146 144 132 127 121 130 126 130 Metropolitan North Brisbane 589 585 566 566 565 568 568 577 582 582 596 603 Central Brisbane 671 667 671 678 670 674 659 638 641 631 645 644 North Pine Rivers 306 324 331 326 323 323 318 314 319 317 316 320 38 Redcliffe 339 337 328 355 352 349 357 355 358 348 365 378 Metropolitan South Brisbane 588 579 593 579 588 588 582 556 566 570 565 588 South Cleveland 476 469 461 485 492 493 503 497 515 517 516 524 (now Redlands) Inala 297 305 303 322 317 319 320 324 330 342 343 355 Mount Gravatt 280 282 282 282 288 286 277 269 279 304 297 298 Wynnum 268 272 273 274 267 259 258 266 271 275 276 269 Southern Ipswich 875 873 854 865 849 838 815 850 879 862 850 859 Toowoomba 856 851 818 821 797 791 745 749 812 843 826 861 Roma 189 204 211 213 195 203 189 178 127 124 129 128 South Coast Beenleigh 342 346 339 350 338 337 314 312 316 317 325 332 Burleigh 529 525 537 546 553 552 534 526 546 569 557 583 Logan City 794 803 773 766 750 776 781 783 795 789 788 828 Southport 886 890 896 925 946 922 918 916 910 906 879 870 2010/11 Office Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Far Northern Cairns 1236 1265 1254 1261 1242 1232 1207 1180 1138 1126 1178 1163 Innisfail 237 238 227 229 220 228 225 237 222 220 227 232 Mareeba 286 299 297 303 299 261 261 272 268 266 277 271 Thursday 172 178 182 188 191 196 185 190 201 202 203 193 Island Northern Townsville 685 695 698 674 667 635 632 610 604 598 589 586 Mount Isa 425 413 400 407 400 392 384 380 364 358 359 362 Thuringowa 326 322 299 281 261 262 259 259 254 254 294 307 Central Emerald 156 143 133 140 139 138 136 146 140 151 167 162 Rockhampton 399 407 399 416 411 417 412 421 430 429 452 470 Gladstone 236 246 249 245 232 223 230 236 214 233 243 257 Mackay 561 548 536 551 532 519 519 506 509 515 526 534 Bundaberg 419 431 440 443 465 466 474 456 424 416 425 430 North Coast Caboolture 780 780 805 803 815 819 801 817 810 812 844 871 Gympie 224 230 232 249 258 267 264 266 264 264 274 262 Maroochydore 545 550 545 528 524 528 526 522 530 505 495 507 Hervey Bay 298 297 302 300 305 303 300 322 316 309 314 327 Kingaroy 154 152 159 160 159 162 162 157 163 164 161 164 Noosa 124 125 122 119 114 107 103 100 93 94 93 99 Metropolitan North Brisbane 612 618 624 630 632 627 596 572 555 535 516 533 Central Brisbane 647 634 654 634 648 642 639 641 620 636 659 666 North Pine Rivers 328 327 316 319 331 329 310 307 326 330 344 334 Redcliffe 385 412 385 387 386 391 361 372 381 384 372 389 Metropolitan South Brisbane 608 602 584 573 561 561 537 511 508 509 512 536 South Cleveland 483 481 465 462 462 461 458 461 460 454 442 457 (AKA Redlands) Inala 368 372 374 362 357 365 365 377 383 378 379 356 Mount Gravatt 297 304 304 304 294 297 289 309 322 320 307 312 Wynnum 279 279 281 274 280 280 276 281 258 252 261 246 Southern 39 Ipswich 884 900 908 912 886 875 882 872 882 864 889 939 Toowoomba 884 886 899 870 867 871 844 858 873 897 924 916 Roma 124 118 125 133 128 124 122 130 134 145 148 156 South Coast Beenleigh 352 351 351 352 336 343 331 338 327 323 317 332 Burleigh 586 566 581 553 541 533 521 520 502 493 492 494 Logan City 785 805 789 793 792 820 802 825 812 796 804 858 Southport 877 877 874 891 844 840 825 807 825 833 839 873 High Risk Offender Management Unit* reporting systems not available prior to July 2010 Wacol 47 46 48 48 51 55 56 59 59 59 64 60 40 Legal Affairs, Police, Corrective Services and Emergency Services Committee Question on Notice No. 19 Asked on 30 June 2011 QUESTION: With reference to SDS 3-174 Service Summary a) What is the total budget and expenditure of the new Weapons Licensing computer system since it went live and what has been the total spend on the overall project to date including staffing, additional staffing and other costs; and b) What is the budget estimate for the licensing system for the 2011/12 financial year (reported by estimated expenditure in each line item of its budget)? ANSWER: a) The previous Weapons Licensing System resided on the QPS mainframe, which was due for decommissioning in March 2011. In 2008, QPS began the process of researching a number of options regarding the sourcing of a suitable replacement. This included: • examining systems being used in other police jurisdictions; • the issuing of an RFI to scan the market and; • the completion of an Options Analysis to short-list proposed options. A staged approach was approved in late 2010 and Stage One of the new Weapons Licensing Management System (WLMS) was implemented on 30 November 2010. The total expenditure on the new Weapons Licensing computer system since it went live on 30 November 2010 is $3.846 million against a budget of $4.806 million to 30 June 2011. This leaves $1.035 million to be carried over in to 2011/12. Since the new system has been implemented, QPS has begun Stage 2 Phase 2.1 This phase primarily addresses the security aspects and the design of the web facility to allow the delivery of on-line forms and payments. This is currently being implemented with an expected completion date of September 2011. The total spend on the overall project to date including all research, design and development costs is estimated at $11.242 million by 30 June 2011. 41 b) The estimate for the remaining activities for Stage 2 Phase 2.2 is currently awaiting further financial analysis prior to consideration for formal approval. The project team estimates an additional $4.769 million to complete this phase. The QPS will realise savings of approximately $3 million per year resulting from the mainframe decommissioning. The anticipated implementation date for Phase 2.2 is March 2012. This phase is proposed to deliver initial online forms for New Applications and Permits to Acquire as well as the ability to pay for these through an online facility. The approved budget for the licensing system for the 2011-12 financial year is currently $2.787 million. This is comprised of $1.035 million unspent to 30 June 2011 plus $1.752 million approved to date. The below tables outline this further. Weapons Licensing System Approved Budget for 2011-12 $ million Operating Expenditure Salaries and Oncosts 0.348 Contractors 0.322 Accommodation & Overheads 0.083 Contingency 0.090 Total Operating Expenditure 0.843 Capital Expenditure Capitalised Contractors 0.986 Vendors Costs 0.671 Contingency & Risk 0.287 Total Capital Expenditure 1.944 Total Expenditure 2.787 Weapons Licensing System Estimated Cost: Stage 2 Phase 2.2 (not yet approved) $ million Operating Expenditure Salaries and Oncosts 0.595 Contractors 0.551 Accommodation & Overheads 0.142 Contingency 0.155 Total Operating Expenditure 1.443 Capital Expenditure Capitalised Contractors 1.687 Vendors Costs 1.149 Contingency & Risk 0.490 Total Capital Expenditure 3.326 Total Estimated Cost 4.769 42 Legal Affairs, Police, Corrective Services and Emergency Services Committee Question on Notice No. 20 Asked on 30 June 2011 MR LANGBROEK MP asked the Minister for Police, Corrective Services and Emergency Services (MR ROBERTS)— QUESTION: With reference to 1-201 Emergency Management Services a) What has been the total funding allocation to each SES region for the past 3 years reported by year? b) What is the total number of SES volunteers for each region over the past three years reported by year? c) What has been the total uniform and equipment funding allocation for each SES officer over the past three years? (Reported by year) ANSWER: a) Funding is provided to Emergency Management Queensland regions to deliver services and support to both disaster management and the State Emergency Service (SES). The regional breakdown for the last three financial years is as follows: 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 Brisbane Region $809,575 $1,025,409 $1,182,567 South Eastern Region $948,296 $1,108,396 $1,458,977 South Western Region $1,509,930 $1,601,981 $1,899,496 Central Region $1,836,066 $1,989,042 $2,197,210 North Coast Region $1,438,640 $1,554,953 $1,831,113 Northern Region $1,476,946 $1,752,797 $1,842,272 Far Northern Region $1,528,796 $1,677,767 $2,306,381 b) The total number of SES volunteers for each region over the past three financial years is as follows: Region 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 Brisbane Region 970 922 1080 South Eastern Region 820 930 910 South Western Region 780 794 860 Central Region 1120 1123 1250 North Coast Region 1220 1270 1350 Northern Region 630 757 700 Far Northern Region 760 1004 850 Total SES volunteers 6300 6800 7000 43 c) The total uniform and equipment funding allocation for each SES officer over the past three financial years follows: 2008-09 Total Uniform, PPE and Equipment Budget $3,408,478 Total Allocation per Volunteer $541 2009-10 Total Uniform, PPE and Equipment Budget $3,609,739 Total Allocation per Volunteer $531 2010-11 Total Uniform, PPE and Equipment Budget $3,472,752 Total Allocation per Volunteer $496 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) clothing includes overalls, shirts, belts, wet/cold weather clothing, general purpose boots, flood boat/roof shoes, kevlar helmets, hats and safety glasses. The equipment budget includes flood boats, rescue trailers, road accident rescue equipment, vertical and safety at heights equipment and general rescue equipment items such as generators, first aid kits, stretchers, ladders and winches required to perform the specific functions of the SES. 44 Minister for Police, Corrective Services and Emergency Services Documents tabled at the hearing Box 8.9 Education 'Education' is defined as the number of prisoners participating in one or more accredited education and training courses under the Australian Qualifications Framework as a percentage of those eligible to participate (that is, excluding those unable to participate for reasons of ill health, relatively short period of imprisonment or other reason). Education figures do not include participation in non-accredited education programs or a range of offence related programs that are provided in prisons, such as drug and alcohol programs, psychological programs, psychological counselling and personal development courses. A high or increasing education participation rate of prisoners indicates better performance. The rates reported for this indicator need to be interpreted with caution as the indicator does not assess participation relative to individual prisoner needs, or measure successful completion of education programs. Data reported for this indicator are comparable. Data quality information for this indicator is under development. Nationally in 2009-10, 34.8 per cent of eligible prisoners participated in accredited education and training courses (figure 8.10). Vocational Education and Training courses had the highest participation levels (26.7 per cent). Nationally, 6.0 per cent of eligible prisoners took part in secondary school education, 3.5 per cent in pre-certificate Level 1 courses, and 1.7 per cent in higher education (table 8A.21). Figure 8.10 Percentage of prisoners enrolled in education o Vie Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust Source: State and Territory governments (unpUblished); table 8A.21. CORRECTIVE 8.21 SERVICES Attachment A Estimated nLlmber of officers receiving operational shift allowance as at 30 June 2009 1039 639 957 1,180 Ministerial Media Statements Page 1 of3 Home I Contact us I Help • Search • Subscribe Cl Loqin Sea Current Bligh Government 21 February 2011 to Current Previous Bligh Government 26 March 2009 to 21 February 2011 Previous Previous Beattie Government 12 February 2004 to 13 September 2006 Previous Beattie Government 22 February 2001 to 12 February 2004 Previous Beattie Government 26 June 1998 to 22 February 2001 Previous Borbidge Government 20 February 1996 to 26 June 1998 Minister for Police, Corrective Services and Sport The Honourable Judy Spence Tuesday, June 03, 2008 Record Calpit,al Works DUIU,,",CIl. to fund new police stations Police Minister Judy Spence said a record $142 Million for new and improved police stations and facilities is being delivered in the 2008/09 State Budget. Ms Spence said this year's capital works budget for police is $40 Million more than last year's capital works budget of $102.3 Million. "This year we are focusing on the final delivery of a host of major police station projects across the state," Ms Spence said. "It is essential we deliver new and upgraded infrastructure to accommodate growth, as we continue to increase the number of police serving the people of Queensland. "Almost $30 Million of this funding will see the delivery of six brand new police stations and completed by mid 2009. http://www.cabinet.q1d.gov.au/MMS/StatementDisp1aySing1e.aspx?id=58417 19/07/2011 Ministerial Media Statements Page 2 of3 "$64 Million will go towards bUilding 13 replacement police stations and facilities, to ensure our police have the modern infrastructure and resources they need for policing in the 21st century." Ms Spence said the budget will fund the completion of 16 major projects by the end of the 2008/09 financial year, including: ID $8.6 Million for a new police station and offices associated with the Caboolture District at Burpengary; ID $7.6 Million for a replacement police station at Fortitude Valley; .. $6.8 Million for a replacement police station and watchhouse at Whitsunday; ID $5.8 Million for a replacement police station at Holland Park; ID $4.9 Million for a new police station at Crestmead/Marsden; .. $4.9 Million for a new police station at Springfield; ID $4.8 Million for a replacement police station at Ayr; ID $4.7 Million for a replacement police station at Yeppoon; ID $4.5 Million for a replacement police station, district headquarters & watchhouse at Charleville; ID $4.0 Million for a new police station at Sippy Downs, with earthworks to commence in July, and the project to be completed by mid 2009; ID $3.6 Million for a new police station at Mango Hill/North Lakes; .. $3.6 Million for a new police station at Reedy Creek/Robina; .. $2.3 Million for a replacement police station at Camp Hill; .. $2.4 Million for a replacement police station at Surfers Paradise; ID $2.4 Million for a replacement police station at Port Douglas; and .. $0.3 Million for a replacement police station at Ravenshoe; $35.9 Million will also be provided for the ongoing construction of 5 major projects: ID $11.8 Million for a replacement police station and watchhouse at Ipswich; .. $7.5 Million for a replacement police station and watchhous at Mareeba; " $7.3 Million for the new Coomera District Headquarters; .. $6.2 Million for a new police station at Carseldine; and /~ .. $3.1 Million for a replacement police station and watchhouse t Murgon. $9.3 Million is also being delivered for the upgrading and refurbishment of the following police stations: .. $2.5 Million for the refurbishment of Beenleigh Police Station; ID $2.4 Million for the refurbishment of Upper Mount Gravatt Police Station; ID $0.9 Million for upgrades to Smithfield Police Station; ID $0.9 Million for extensions to Thursday Island Police Station; .. $0.7 Million for upgrades to Mount Morgan Police Station; .. $0.6 Million for upgrades to The Gap Police Station; .. $0.6 Million for upgrades to Mudgeeraba Police Station; " $0.5 Million for Stage 3 of the refurbishment of Longreach Police Station; .. $0.2 Million for upgrades to Bribie Island Police Station. "The budget also includes $7.3 Million for police housing in the Indigenous communities of Aurukun, Bamaga, Kowanyama, Cooktown and Weipa," Ms Spence said. The 2008/09 State Budget is providing a record $1.571 Billion for the Queensland Police Service, a $134 Million increase on last year's police budget. Media Contact: 3239 6218 http://www.cabineLq1d.gov.au/MMS/StatementDisplaySingle.aspx?id=58417 19/07/2011 Ministerial Media Statements Page 3 of3 Copyright I Disclaimer I Privacy I Access keys I Other languages © The State of Queensland (Department of the Premier and Cabinet) 2006. Queensland Government http://www.cabinet.qld.gov.au/MMS/StatementDisplaySingle.aspx?id=58417 19/07/2011 Attachment A ACTUAL SPEND IN EACH POLICE DISTRICT 2008-09 Region District Actuals $'000 Far Northern RegIon Cairns District 47,386 Innistall District 7,909 Maraeba District c 11,215 Northern ReQion Mt Isa DistrIct 18452 Townsvllle District 51852 Central Region Gladstone District 15,333 I-ongreach District 5,222 Macka'l District 26,873 Rockhampton District 31,514 North Coast Region Caboolture District 12,482 Bundaberg District 14,595 Gympie District 14,773 Maryborough District 17,112 Redcliffe District 20,308 Sunshine Coast District 42,905 Southern Region Charleville District 6,129 Dalby District 6,511 IPswich District 36,215 Rama District 7,246 Toowoomba District 27,888 Warwick District 10,332 South Eastem Region Gold Coast District 70.113 Logan District 50,783 Coomera District 0 Metropolitan North Region Brisbane Central District 35.016 North Brisbane District 31.266 Pine Rivers District 15,509 Brisbane West District 20.730 Metropolitan South Region Oxley District 29,495 South Brisbane District 40,707 Wynnum Distrlct 23,558 NoteS: 1. ExclUdes indirect actuals such as building and vehicle maintenance, IT systems support insurances, superannuation, long service leave, etc. 2. Includes own source revenues and depreciallon expenses. 3. The construction of the newCoomera District office will be completed and operational in 2009-10. Minister for Police, Corrective Services and Emergency Services Answers to questions taken on notice at the hearing 2011 Estimates Committee Questions Taken on Notice No. 1 QUESTION (asked by Mr Chris Foley MP): S.229L legislates against the presence of children in places where there are two or more prostitutes working. This means that it is possible that children of single operators may be present (and therefore influenced) when their mothers “entertain their guests”. Is this happening? ANSWER: The Member can be assured that this Government is working to protect children in all circumstances. A search of the Queensland Police Service charge data identifies that since October 2008 there has been one reported offence and charge for a breach the Criminal Code s.229L Permitting young person etc. to be at place used for prostitution. In this case, in addition to the enforcement action taken regarding the prostitution offences, police engaged with the Department of Communities to ensure an appropriate response for the teenage young person present at the premises. From Queensland Police Service records it is not possible to easily identify whether young people are present in premises when prostitution is provided by sole operators. This is because any offences that could possibly occur during the provision of prostitution by a sole operator, for example, exposing a child under sixteen to indecent acts or the sexual assault of a child would be recorded under the respective offence and not recorded as a prostitution related offence. The Queensland Police Service is committed to protecting children and enhancing community safety. In the event a child was identified as being at risk of significant harm, such as being exposed to indecent acts or the victim of a sexual offence; in addition to the enforcement of any criminal offence, police officers would take action to protect the child under the provisions of the Child Protection Act. Additionally, where a child is identified at risk, this information is shared with the Department of Communities (Child Safety Service) to ensure an appropriate inter-agency response. The Queensland community can have confidence the Queensland Police Service is committed to protecting children and will continue to take appropriate action to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our children. 2011 Estimates Committee Questions Taken on Notice No. 2 QUESTION (asked by Mr John Paul Langbroek MP): Will the Minister provide regional budgets for 2011/12 as he could not provide district budgets for 2011/12? (Refer to answer to Question on Notice 12) ANSWER: The table below details the original 2011-12 financial year allocation for each region, and the anticipated adjusted budget as at 31 July 2011. The QPS allocates an initial budget to regions at the beginning of each financial year based on, among other factors, the actual number of officers and staff in each region at that time. The regional budget is adjusted to reflect the changed funding requirements as a result of police officers transferring between regions, annual police growth being allocated to regions, and as other factors become known, including interim wage increases. Region 2011-12 2011-12 Initial Anticipated Budget Adjusted Allocation Budget as $M at July $M Far Northern 83.8 85.7 Northern 85.6 87.4 Central 90.8 93.0 North Coast 140.7 144.6 Metropolitan North 124.3 127.6 Metropolitan South 104.3 107.4 South Eastern 139.5 142.8 Southern 107.2 110.2 South Eastern Region The South Eastern Region 2010-11 District expenditure (approximately $109M), is less than the District expenditure reported for 2008-09 (approximately $121M) because a large number of District functions were moved to a regional function in the 2009-10 year (refer to the table below). These functions included Police Communications Centres, Scenes of Crime, Training, Water Police and Forensic Crash Units. Reporting arrangements for policing functions may continue to change and budgets will continue to be allocated according to either regional or district location. As a result of this shift, the Regional function expenditure has increased from $2.7M in 2008-09 to $31.5M in 2010-11. In total, the actual South Eastern Region expenditure has increased from approximately $123M in 2008-09 to $141M in 2010-11. The Service allocates operational budgets at a regional level with Assistant Commissioners having the discretion with respect to District and other allocations within their region. District 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 Actual Actual Unaudited $M $M Actual $M Gold Coast District 70.1 52.6 53.1 Logan District 50.8 40.6 41.7 Coomera District 0.0 11.7 15.0 District Sub-Total - South Eastern Region 120.9 104.9 109.8 Regional 2.7 31.1 31.5 Total - South Eastern Region 123.6 136.0 141.3 2011 Estimates Committee Questions Taken on Notice No. 3 QUESTION (asked by Mr John Paul Langbroek MP): These questions all refer to the Coomera District 1. How many officers have been injured over the last 6 months following calls for service? 2. What are the numbers of Patrol cars in the Coomera District on Friday and Saturday nights? 3. What is the number of Police Officers / Sick leave and those seconded to areas outside of the District? 4. How many first year Constables are working out of the Coomera District and how many have FTOs with less than 5 years service? ANSWER: 1. For the period 1 January 2011 to 30 June 2011 there were 14 reported matters where 15 officers were injured in responding to calls for service. This includes the tragic death of Detective Senior Constable Damian Leeding. 2. Between 2pm Friday 15 July 2011 and 6am Saturday 16 July 2011 a total of 54 officers were rostered to perform operational front-line policing duties within the Coomera Police District. Between 2pm Saturday 16 July 2011 and 6am Sunday 17 July 2011 a total of 68 officers were rostered to perform operational front-line policing duties within the Coomera District. All of these officers performed patrol duties as part of their operational deployments. In the larger stations normally two officers would operate in a vehicle, whilst one officer may perform duty alone in a single vehicle in smaller divisions. 3. (i) Three officers within the Coomera District are currently recorded as being on long term sick leave. (ii) Two officers are currently seconded to areas outside the District. One of these officers has been replaced by an officer seconded into the District. 4. (i) There are currently four First Year Constables within the Coomera District. A further eight commence on 30 August 2011. (ii) All four First Year Constables currently have Field Training Officers (FTOs) with less than five years service. 2011 Estimates Committee Questions Taken on Notice No. 4 QUESTION (asked by Mr John Paul Langbroek MP): Please outline the action taken in response to the recommendations in the Review of the Child Offenders Register conducted by Griffith University and what were the recommendations? ANSWER: The Queensland Police Service (QPS), Child Protection Offender Registry is currently undertaking a joint research project (codenamed Operation Hotel Monitor) with Griffith and Monash Universities. The project is yet to be finalised but is currently on schedule to provide interim advice by 31 December 2011. This project is to research child sex offender recidivism amongst Queensland offenders subject to reporting conditions under the Child Protection (Offender Reporting) Act 2004 and factors that may be utilised to predict future recidivism. This project will also review the Sex Offender Risk Assessment Tool (SORAT) currently being utilised by the QPS and determine the most appropriate risk assessment model for policing in Queensland to manage child sex offenders in the community. The research will assist and inform the development of QPS strategy, training activities and policy with regard to risk assessment of convicted child-sex offenders. 2011 Estimates Committee Questions Taken on Notice No. 5 QUESTION (asked by Mr John Paul Langbroek MP): Will the Minister provide details of the decline in numbers of officers receiving operational shift allowance from June 2009 to June 2011? ANSWER: Any assumption of a complete nexus between OSA payments and operational status is erroneous. Ineligibility for OSA payments should not be interpreted as meaning that such police officers are non-operational. As at 1 May 2011, Queensland communities were served by 9,986 operational police or 95.2% of available police officers. Operational shift allowance (OSA) is an “all up” payment in lieu of shift and weekend penalty units, public holiday rates and annual leave loading and is governed by the provisions of the Police Enterprise Bargaining Agreement. The allowance is payable only to those police officers who are able to equitably participate in a two or three shift roster over seven days per week. The Estimate figures reflect a snapshot in time only. Derived from the Services’ Human Resource Information System (AURION), a real time system. Variations are caused by the circumstances as at differing dates of transactional data capture and the specific requirements governing the payment of OSA. Variations may be caused by matters such as staff movements from an OSA position to a non-OSA position, performing higher duties in a position at Commissioned rank, delays in processing of claims and a change in staff status, e.g. where a staff member accesses flexible work arrangements. During this period, the Service also made a concerted effort to allocate police positions to vital support roles such as Prosecutors, Scenes of Crime and smaller police stations/establishments, which as a consequence of the Police Enterprise Bargaining Agreement are generally ineligible to receive the OSA payment. The majority of Queensland police officers receive additional remuneration by way of allowance payments payable to operational police officers, of which the OSA payment is just one of many. Other applicable allowances and remuneration incentives include Flat Rate, Shift Penalties, Remote Locality Incentive Payments and other financial benefits such as accommodation. 2011 Estimates Committee Questions Taken on Notice No. 6 QUESTION (asked by Mr John Paul Langbroek MP): What is the total budget for recruiting currently in the Queensland Police Service and how many applications were received by recruiting on average per month for the last 12 months? ANSWER: The recruiting budget for 2011-12 is estimated to be $3.322 million. The average number of recruit applications received per month from 1.7.10 to 30.6.11 was 117. 2011 Estimates Committee Questions Taken on Notice No. 7 QUESTION (asked by Mr John Paul Langbroek MP): What is the total cost of drug testing from the tests to analysis and what is the total budget for the testing regime? ANSWER: Costs for the current targeted drug testing undertaken within the Queensland Police Service (QPS) for critical incidents, reasonable suspicion and recruits are outlined in the following table. These costs cover the collection and analysis of the urine sample. Registered nurse for collection of sample (paid $273.03 minimum 4 hours) Urine collection kit $8.00 Initial screen at laboratory $29.50 Confirmatory screen at laboratory if required $59.40 Analysis and handling for samples requiring $418.00 steroid testing (need to be sent to NSW for testing) World Courier (approx cost depending on where $150.00 the sample needs to be picked up from within Qld) Costs for staff, a car, flights and accommodation would all need to be factored into the above costings if travel around Qld was required for the sample to be collected. Whilst not specifically requested, it would be more difficult to estimate the costs of random alcohol testing as it is done internally by the QPS. Costs associated with this would include the wage of an AO5 Alcohol and Drug Testing Coordinator, time of other officers undertaking the random tests, and costs associated with Alcolmeter calibration and tubes for testing (tubes cost $9.49 per box of 100). The total budget for the Alcohol and Drug Awareness Unit per year is $619,900 including testing, education and treatment costs. ESTIMATES QUESTION TAKEN ON NOTICE No. JPL 8 Asked on Tuesday 19 July 2011 MR LANGBROEK ASKED THE MINISTER FOR POLICE, CORRECTIVE SERVICES AND EMERGENCY SERVICES (MR ROBERTS)— On the health issue in prisons, Director-General, how many mental health nurses are employed within the prison network to deal with the growing number of prisoners coming into the system with a mental illness? ANSWER: Queensland Health delivers and administers mental health services to prisoners in publicly operated correctional centres. Queensland Health has advised it employs 36 medical and allied health professionals (full time equivalents) to provide Prison Mental Health Services. Queensland Health further advise there is no such registration under the Australian Health Protection Agency as a ‘Mental Health Nurse’ (MHN) – nurses may have post-graduate qualifications in the mental health sector or experience working in mental health units. Queensland Health note people entering the custodial system also have access to mental health professionals through the Mental Health Court Liaison Service. Health services in privately contracted correctional centres are delivered by the contracted operators. The services are delivered within the requirements of Queensland Health procedures. ESTIMATES QUESTION TAKEN ON NOTICE No. JPL 9 Asked on 19 July 2011 MR LANGBROEK ASKED THE MINISTER FOR POLICE, CORRECTIVE SERVICES AND EMERGENCY SERVICES (MR ROBERTS)— Can the Minister provide statistics on how many prisoners were released from prison last financial year having served fewer than 12 months and how many of those offenders were denied access or were ineligible to participate in a rehabilitation program? [Confirmed as referring to drug related offenders – Transcript page 87] ANSWER: In the 2010-11 financial year 1,498 prisoners with a conviction for a drug offence were released after serving less than 12 months in custody. Prisoners serving less than 12 months in custody are not eligible for intensive programs as they do not have sufficient time for completion prior to release. QCS does not collate data on how many prisoners were ineligible to participate in a drug rehabilitation program. Minister for Police, Corrective Services and Emergency Services Correspondence from the Minister dated 25 July 2011 ~."'.J) Queensland ~ Government Hon Neil Roberts MP Member for Nudgee Minister for Police, Corrective Services and Emergency Services Z5 JUL 2011 Legal Affairs, Police, Corrective Services and Emergency Services Committee Queensland Parliamentary Service Parliament House Cnr George and Alice Streets BRISBANE QLD 4000 Dear Committee members, Thank you for the opportunity to provide comments and corrections to the full draft transcript of the Queensland Police Service's Estimates Hearing held on 19 July 2011. The following changes to Hansard are requested: Page 63: Commissioner Atkinson: We need to look more holistically over a period of three years, at least, as a minimum in terms of the commitment for this electoral cycle, which is three years of 600. Those numbers will ebb and flow over a period. At any given time, for example July, our attrition rate is running at about ~ 3.89 per cent, which is a very low figure by industry standards. Industry standards, as I understand, say that 10 per cent is reasonable. We are running at ~ 3.89 per cent, so very few people are leaving us. There is a compulsory retirement age of 60. People tend to leave us in July, obviously because of financial circumstances. At any given point, obviously the figures might not show a huge increase but over a more sustained period I think that the increased numbers are more truly reflected. At the moment with that ~ 3.89 per cent, we lose around about 300 350 people a year. They are replaced through recruitment, as are the additional officers. With internments increases it is 600, but for this year it is ~ 150. The Hansard-recorded percentage of 3.4 per cent and related attrition figures refer to the 2009-10 turnover rate and figures which Commissioner Atkinson interpreted from his Estimates Brief as those for 2010-11. The corrected 2010-11 percentages and figures above are included for your consideration. Level 24 State Law Building 50 Ann Street Brisbane 4000 PO Box 15195 City East Queensland 4002 Australia Telephone +61 7 3239 0199 Facsimile +61 7 3221 9985 Email [email protected] ABN 65 959 415158 - 2 - Page 68: Mr Brown: At the present time there are about 4;eOO 1,900 being processed through the system. The information provided was correct as at 11 July 2011. However, the statement above needs correction for as at the beginning of the week commencing 18 July 2011 there were 1,900 permits to acquire being processed. Page 64: The following comments are provided in relation to Commissioner Atkinson's answer to the specific question about drug testing. Although the Commissioner agrees with the draft transcript, he wishes the following supplementary information be provided for the Committee's information: The QPS also conducted 2 reasonable suspicion urine drug tests between 1 July 2010 and 1 May 2011 which returned 1 positive result for an illicit drug and 1 negative result. Since the program began in 2005 there have been vel}' few positive results compared to the number of tests conducted. For example 7,230 random alcohol breath tests have been conducted on relevant members with 3 positive results and 5,512 random alcohol breath tests conducted on recruits, all with negative results. I trust this information is of assistance. Yours sincerely Neil Roberts MP Minister for Police, Corrective Services and Emergency Services