QUEENSLAND’S parole laws are set for a major overhaul, with new legislation allowing restrictions currently reserved for multiple murderers and child killers to be applied to anyone serving a life sentence.
The State Government introduced the Protecting Queenslanders from Dangerous Prisoners and Strengthening Victims’ Rights Amendment Bill 2026 to Parliament following an independent review of the Parole Board.
Under the proposed changes, restricted prisoner declarations would be expanded to all prisoners serving life sentences.
A first declaration would carry a mandatory minimum period of five years, during which the prisoner would be prevented from making another parole application, while subsequent declarations could apply for up to 10 years.
The reforms would also make community safety the paramount consideration for the Parole Board when determining applications.
Queensland’s No Body, No Parole laws would also be strengthened to close circumstances in which an offender may become eligible for parole despite failing to reveal the location of a victim’s remains.
The changes would ensure the provisions continue to apply throughout an offender’s imprisonment and address cases where remains have been completely destroyed by an offender or natural causes.
Victims and their families would also receive greater involvement in the parole process.
Under the Bill, victims would be proactively notified about joining the Victims’ Register and would receive updates about offenders, including notification when parole was granted.
Victims would be able to make oral submissions to the Parole Board, while the period available for them to respond to parole applications would be extended.
Their submissions would also have to be considered throughout all stages of an application.
Parole Board decisions could additionally be published where doing so was considered in the public interest.
The State Government said the legislation delivered on 31 recommendations it supported following the independent review of Queensland’s parole system.
Vanessa Fowler, chair of the Allison Baden-Clay Foundation and sister of murdered Brisbane woman Allison Baden-Clay, welcomed the proposed changes.
“We were also handed a life sentence when my sister Allison was murdered, and we live without her and we miss her each and every day,” Ms Fowler said.
“For us, we believe that 15 years doesn’t qualify as a life sentence, but these reforms mean Allison’s killer could stay behind bars for longer.”
Ms Fowler said the foundation supported the proposal and looked forward to working with the Government as the reforms progressed.
