Queensland Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie announced plans to amend legislation over sex offenders. Source: AAP
QUEENSLAND Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie is on a collision course with civil libertarians and lawyers after announcing plans to strip courts of the power to set indefinite jail terms for some sex offenders.
He wants to rush through parliament, as early as Thursday, changes that would give him the power to say which sex offenders should be locked up until they die.
Mr Bleijie has the backing of child protection advocate Hetty Johnston, who says judges worry too much about offenders' civil rights.
"Unfortunately it is the civil rights of sex offenders that take precedence over the rights of the community and children to be safe," the Bravehearts founder said.
But Australian Council for Civil Liberties president Terry O'Gorman said the move was "legislative lunacy" and urged a judicial rebellion.
Queensland Law Society (QLS) president Annette Bradfield also questioned the move and other legislation recently rushed through parliament in the dead of night.
Mr Bleijie insists it is legislation of last resort that would only be used to keep the worst of the worst in jail.
"Some of these people just can't be rehabilitated. They should never be released from prison," he said on Wednesday.
Mr Gorman accused the attorney-general of dictating to judges and called on the judiciary to stand up to him.
"This is the latest piece of legislative lunacy from an attorney-general who refuses to consult with anyone other than those who agree with his views," he told AAP.
Mr O'Gorman said it was the second time in two days that Mr Bleijie had ridden roughshod over Queensland's judicial system.
Laws passed by parliament on Wednesday morning mean judges now have to sentence bikies convicted of serious crimes to years of additional jail time, simply because they are gang members.
Ms Bradfield said the QLS was concerned at the lack of consultation over proposed legislation and at the executive wielding powers to give criminals added jail time.
"Judges are trained to make those determinations and politicians simply don't have the qualifications or the experience in those regards," she said.
Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk has accused Mr Bleijie of wanting to be "judge and jury" and called for him to quit.
"Yet again we are seeing the arrogance of this government, which wants to do anything and everything with its massive majority," she told parliament.
"Democracy is under direct attack."
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