An Overview of the Human Rights Act 2019: The rights you probably didn’t know you have

On February 27, 2019 Queensland Parliament passed the Human Rights Bill 2018. The Human Rights Bill 2018 introduces the Human Rights Act 2019 (the Act) into Queensland legislation. Some provisions of the Act are due to operate from 1 July 2019 with the remaining provisions due to operate on 1 January 2020. Queensland is the third state or territory to enact human rights legislation after Victoria and Australian Capital Territory. This monumental occasion affords greater protection for Queenslanders as a whole, but particularly certain disadvantaged Queenslanders who previously did not have access to much needed protection. 23 Fundamental Human Rights The Bill will...

25 September

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Bill Potts comments on overcrowded prisons

Posted by Potts Lawyers

in Criminal Law & Offences, General Law News

Our Founding Director, Bill Potts, was interviewed by the Courier Mail on the issue of overcrowded prisons in Queensland. The article is available here, with an extract below: FRIEND IN THE COURTS Another critic who says community debate has to quickly move beyond punishment and retribution towards crime prevention and rehabilitation is Queensland Law Society deputy president Bill Potts. “Only the very hardened and perhaps cynical people think the current solutions are working,’’ Potts says. “Armchair critics and Monday morning quarterbacks, who decry how soft judges are, don’t know how the system works and don’t see the endless parade of mental illness and...

18 May

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Bill Potts comments on Aussie Rules player Daniel Lock’s penalty

Posted by Potts Lawyers

in Criminal Law & Offences

Our Founding Director and current Queensland Law Society Deputy President, Bill Potts, was interviewed by Janessa Ekert of the Cairns Post. He commented on the penalty imposed by the Queensland District Court at Cairns on Aussie Rules veteran, Daniel Lock, who plead guilty to causing grievous bodily harm. Former Queensland Law Society president & criminal lawyer Bill Potts said the result was unsurprising and it would have taken extreme gratuitous violence completely outside the play to result in a custodial sentence. He said the precedent for this type of case was set during the '80s and involved former Brisbane Lions coash...

27 April

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Changes to the Mental Health Act

Posted by Danielle Hanson

in Criminal Law & Offences

There were changes to the Queensland laws surrounding mental health in March 2017 when the Mental Health Act 2016 commenced, replacing the Mental Health Act 2000. Changes to the way charges in the Magistrates Court are dealt with under the Mental Health Act Perhaps one of the biggest changes to new Mental Health Act is the express powers provided to the Magistrates Court to deal with people charged with simple offences (offences punishable in the Magistrates Court). Previously, the Magistrates Court had little power to make orders for matters where the defendant may have been of unsound mind at the time of an offence or...

An Overview of the Human Rights Act 2019: The rights you probably didn’t know you have

Bill Potts comments on overcrowded prisons

Bill Potts comments on Aussie Rules player Daniel Lock’s penalty

Changes to the Mental Health Act

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An Overview of the Human Rights Act 2019: The rights you probably didn’t know you have

Bill Potts comments on overcrowded prisons

Bill Potts comments on Aussie Rules player Daniel Lock’s penalty

Changes to the Mental Health Act

Quick Links

Quick Contact

Contact Details