Queensland Council of Social Services (QCOSS) criticizes the state government for developing new breach bail laws without consulting community organizations. The laws propose a mandatory 12-month jail term for those who commit serious crimes while on bail. QCOSS CEO Aimee McVeigh argues that excluding diverse voices results in an "echo chamber" effect, leading to weak policies. This criticism follows recent accusations of the government silencing frontline community groups due to funding fears.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-18,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
In short:
Queensland Council of Social Services (QCOSS) has accused the state government of making laws in an "echo chamber".
asserted
Council → accuse → chamber
The LNP's latest measure to curb crime, breach bail, go to jail, is being examined by a parliamentary committee.
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measure → curb → committee
CEO Aimee McVeigh said QCOSS and other community organisations were not called to appear.
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QCOSS → say → ?
Queensland's peak social service body has accused the state government of making laws in an "echo chamber".
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body → accuse → chamber
The LNP administration's latest measure to curb crime, breach bail, go to jail, is being examined by a parliamentary committee.
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measure → curb → committee
The policy proposes that adults and children who commit serious crimes while on bail face a mandatory 12 months behind bars.
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who → propose → bars
The committee today heard evidence from experts on the impact of the legislation.
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committee → hear → legislation
But the Queensland Council of Social Services (QCOSS) and other community organisations were not called to appear.
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Council → call → Services
"The approach that's being taken is the development of law inside an echo chamber," she said.
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she → take → chamber
"We won't have robust laws and policies made without hearing diverse voices.
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We → have → voices
We are working together with some of the most vulnerable people in the community, and so our voices are really important, and we have an important contribution to make to public policy."
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we → work → policy
The criticism comes after the government was last month accused of gagging frontline community organisations, for fear of losing state funding.
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government → come → funding
'What comes next?'
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What → come → ?
The parliamentary committee heard from groups including victims' advocates and legal experts.
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committee → hear → advocates
Commissioner of the Queensland Family and Child Commission, Luke Twyford, also fronted the hearing, backing the core aim of breach bail, go to jail, in increasing community safety.
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Commissioner → front → safety
But he noted the key way to achieve that was through changing behaviour.
"
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way → note → behaviour
I don't believe we can punish our way to behaviour change.
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we → believe → change
We actually need interventions," he said.
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he → need → interventions
"What is going on for them [children] that they are engaging in repeat behaviour?
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they → go → behaviour
"And as a society, locking them up for mandatory periods might be one solution, but is it going to change their behaviour and what comes next?"
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what → lock → behaviour
The government consistently said it's been responding to what the community wants in the next step of its hardline youth justice approach.
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community → say → approach
Attorney-General Deb Frecklington said on Friday she was open to change on the legislation but would not be deterred from improving community safety.
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she → say → safety
"Now adult crime, adult time may seem tough to some, but it's working.
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it → seem → some
Now we know that there is a lot more work to do, but we've seen those breaches.
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we → know → breaches
"The independent data is telling us that crime is gradually going down, and that is what we need to see more of."
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we → tell → more
Also fronting the committee was Queensland Human Rights Commissioner Debbie Platz, who raised concerns about the long term effect of the proposed laws.
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who → front → laws
The available evidence suggests that the proposed breach bail offence and mandatory sentencing scheme will not reduce offending, except for in the short term.
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offence → suggest → term
"The evidence suggests greater gains are actually achieved through early intervention, rehabilitation and diversion."
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gains → suggest → intervention
The parliamentary committee will hold several regional hearings before handing its report to the government.
The premier has pledged the policy will be law by the end of the year.
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policy → hold → year
The Aporia
