Dobbs v Parole Board Queensland [2024] QSC 268
SUPREME COURT OF QUEENSLAND
CITATION: Dobbs v Parole Board Queensland [2024] QSC 268
PARTIES: GEOFFREY ROBERT DOBBS
(applicant)
v
PAROLE BOARD QUEENSLAND
(respondent)
FILE NO: BS 10118 of 2024
DIVISION: Trial Division
PROCEEDING: Application for judicial review
ORIGINATING
COURT:
Supreme Court at Brisbane
DELIVERED ON: 8 November 2024
DELIVERED AT: Brisbane
HEARING DATE: 28 October 2024
JUDGE: Hindman J
ORDERS: 1. Pursuant to s. 30 of the Judicial Review Act 1991 (Qld)
the respondent’s decisions under review of 13 May 2024
and 22 August 2024 are set aside.
2. The respondent reconsider the applicant’s 2023
application for a parole order with appropriate
expedition.
3. Liberty to apply.
4. There be no order as to costs, save that the respondent
pay the applicant’s costs of filing the application for a
statutory order of review fixed in the amount of
$144.70.
CATCHWORDS: ADMINISTRATIVE LAW – JUDICIAL REVIEW –
GROUNDS OF REVIEW – RELEVANT
CONSIDERATIONS – FAILURE TO CONSIDER –
PROCEDURAL FAIRNESS – GENERALLY – where the
applicant seeks a statutory order of review of the respondent’s
decision to refuse his application for a parole order – where the
applicant is serving a life sentence of imprisonment – where
the applicant became eligible for parole on 27 March 2015 –
where the applicant made an application for a parole order
under the Corrective Services Act 2006 - where the applicant
has had previous applications for a parole order refused -
whether the respondent did not have or consider parts of
applicant’s previous application – whether the respondent’s
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omission to consider parts of the applicant’s previous
application amounts to a failure to take into account a relevant
consideration or a material denial of procedural fairness
Ainsworth v Criminal Justice Commission (1992) 175 CLR
564; [1992] HCA 10, cited
Harrod v Parole Board Queensland [2022] QSC 084, cited
Hickson v Parole Board Queensland [2024] QSC 133, cited
LPDT v Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant
Services and Multicultural Affairs [2024] HCA 12
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs v Peko-Wallsend Ltd (1986)
CLR 24; [1986] HCA 40, cited
MZAPC v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection
(2021) 390 ALR 590, cited
Nathanson v Minister for Home Affairs (2022) 276 CLR 80;
[2022] HCA 26, cited
Re Refugee Review Tribunal; ex parte Aala (2000) 204 CLR
82; [2000] HCA 57, cited
South Australia v O’Shea (1987) 163 CLR 378; [1987] HCA
39, cited
Corrective Services Act 2006 (Qld) s. 193
Dangerous Prisoners (Sexual Offenders) Act 2003 (Qld)
Judicial Review Act 1991 (Qld) ss. 20, 23, 30, 31
COUNSEL: The applicant appeared on his own behalf
K McGree for the respondent
SOLICITORS: The applicant appeared on his own behalf
Parole Board Queensland Legal Services for the respondent
Introduction
[1] The applicant makes a judicial review application under the Judicial Review Act 1991
(Qld) (JRA) in relation to decisions of the respondent (Parole Board / Board):
(a) on 13 May 2024 (made pursuant to s. 193(1) of the Corrective Services Act
2006 (Qld) (CSA)) to refuse to grant the applicant’s 2023 application for a
parole order (May Refusal Decision);
(b) on 22 August 2024 (made pursuant to s. 193(6)(b) CSA) that the period of time
within which a further application for a parole order must not be made without
the Board’s consent by the applicant is 12 months commencing on 22 August
2024 (the August Non-Reapply Period Decision).
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[2] The applicant is out of time to make the judicial review application, but the Board
does not object to the application being heard and determined out of time. I therefore
grant the required extension of time.
[3] The applicant is serving a life sentence of imprisonment for 116 child sexual offences
committed against more than 62 victims. He has been incarcerated now for over 24
years. He became eligible for parole on 27 March 2015, and has had previous
applications for parole refused.
[4] A judicial review application is not a merits review.1 It is not for me to decide if the
applicant should obtain parole – that is a decision that rests with the Board. It is only
for me to decide whether the Board’s decisions that are sought to be reviewed have
been made according to law.
[5] I have decided that the Board’s decisions that are sought to be reviewed have not been
made according to law. In respect of the May Refusal Decision it involved a material
denial of procedural fairness that justifies the decision being set aside. The August
Non-Reapply Decision is a decision which necessarily flows from the May Refusal
Decision and cannot stand on its own. It too will be set aside.
Grounds of review
[6] The applicant’s grounds of review for the May Refusal Decision are:
(a) Ground 1: The Board failed to take into account a relevant consideration
pursuant to ss. 20(2)(e) and 23(b) JRA (as argued this ground was also
articulated as a material denial of procedural fairness pursuant to s. 20(2)(a)
JRA);
(b) Ground 2: The exercise of power was legally unreasonable pursuant to ss.
20(2)(e) and 23(g) JRA.
[7] The applicant’s grounds of review for the August Non-Reapply Period Decision are:
(a) Ground 3: The exercise of power was legally unreasonable pursuant to ss.
20(2)(e) and 23(g) JRA.
1 Minister for Aboriginal Affairs v Peko-Wallsend Ltd (1986) CLR 24 at 40.
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[8] The applicant seeks a wide range of relief, if those grounds are made out, on pages
11 to 12 of his outline of submissions.
Summary of relevant decision history
[9] The applicant applied for a parole order on 5 September 2023 (2023 Application).
The 2023 Application comprised only 4 pages. In the 2023 Application the applicant
specifically requested that the Board use his previous application dated 29 August
2017 (2017 Application) as part of the 2023 Application with some amendments.2
His letter forming part of the 2023 Application commenced:
My last parole application (submitted on 29 August 2017) was very comprehensive.
Sentence management have advised me that you would still have access to it, and
that I could use it as my new application – I just had to advise you of any changes
or updates. I therefore request that you use that application and all the information
in it as my new application with the following changes: …3
[10] At other places within the 2023 Application,4 the applicant made cross-references
back to the 2017 Application.
[11] On 15 December 2023, the Board sent the applicant correspondence stating that the
Board had considered his application (on 13 November 2023) and had formed a
preliminary view that the application should be refused and that a non-reapply period
would be decided. The correspondence invited the applicant to make further written
submissions before the Board made its final decision. The applicant did so.
[12] The Board initially made decisions about a parole order and a non-reapply period in
February 2024, but those decisions were not communicated to the applicant, and so
are not decisions for the purposes of the JRA. The review application made in this
proceeding does not relate to the February decisions, and no argument is advanced
that what occurred in February 2024 precluded the Board from making the decisions
that are the subject of this proceeding. Therefore, I do not need to consider that
further.
[13] On 13 May 2024, the Board met and considered the applicant’s application for a
parole order and made (1) the May Refusal Decision, and (2) a decision that the non-
2 Vassilakos affidavit, ex MV-10 at MV-AL (see vol 3, pp. 224-227 at 227).
3 Vassilakos affidavit, ex MV-10 at MV-AL (vol 3, p. 227).
4 Vassilakos affidavit, ex MV-10 at MV-AL (vol 3, pp. 224-227 at 225, 226).
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reapply period was 3 years.5 The applicant was informed of those decisions by a
letter dated 14 June 2024.6
[14] There was then a fatal issue identified by the Board with respect to the May decision
about the non-reapply period and the Board accepts that decision was not validly
made by it (because the Board’s process of decision-making was legally
unreasonable). Therefore the Board sought to remake that decision only. There is no
complaint about that process by the applicant.
[15] This proceeding was commenced on 31 July 2024.
[16] On 21 August 2024 the applicant’s 2023 Application was put before the Board again
at its request, and the Board made the August Non-Reapply Period Decision.7
[17] The Board provided the applicant with a statement of reasons dated 22 August 2024
(August Statement of Reasons) for the May Refusal Decision pursuant to consent
orders made in this proceeding.8 The Board also informed the applicant of the August
Non-Reapply Period Decision in the August Statement of Reasons, recording:9
194. The Board considered your parole application along with all documents
provided by Queensland Corrective Services, comprising 364 pages and
annexed attachments at its meeting on 21 August 2024.
195. The Board decided to revoke its previous decision of 13 May 2024 to
refuse your application for parole, only insofar as that decision
consented for you to lodge a new application in three (3) years from that
date, and that should you at any time during that period obtain
accommodation assessed as statable by Community Corrections, the
Board would consider providing consent for you to reapply at that time.
The new decision remains as a refusal of your application for a parole
order but permits you to re-apply within 12 months as compared three
years.
…
197. The Board consented to you lodging a new application for parole in
twelve (12) months from the date of this decision, that is after 21 August
2025, and no earlier application will be considered.
198. The reason for this change was to provide finality in the decision-making
process and because there are no established Queensland Corrective
Services processes for the submission of addresses for assessment when
there is no parole application before the Board.
5 Vassilakos affidavit, ex MV-10 at MV-D (vol 2, pp. 18-19).
6 Vassilakos affidavit, ex MV-10 at MV-I (vol 2, pp. 28-32); also at ex MV-3 (vol 1, pp. 29-33).
7 Vassilakos affidavit, ex MV-10 at MV-C (vol 2, pp. 12-14).
8 Vassilakos affidavit, ex MV-8 (vol 1, pp. 48-85); consent order of 15 August 2024, order 1 (CDI 5).
9 August Statement of Reasons at [194]-[195].
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[18] The Board also gave the applicant a letter dated 13 September 2024 informing him of
the August Non-Reapply Period Decision in similar terms.10
The Board’s reasons
[19] The Board seeks to rely upon the August Statement of Reasons as the reasons for the
May Refusal Decision and the August Non-Reapply Period Decision.
[20] The Board notes that there is an irregularity in the August Statement of Reasons
having been given for the May Refusal Decision. That is because the Board had an
obligation to give reasons for that decision pursuant to previous s. 193(5)(a), and
present s. 193(6)(a) CSA. The Board did so by its letter dated 14 June 2024.11 It was
pursuant to consent orders that the Board gave the applicant the August Statement of
Reasons under Part 4 of the JRA, but arguably, the May Refusal Decision was not a
decision to which Part 4 of the JRA applied.12
[21] The Board says that the August Statement of Reasons is more complete but not
materially different from the reasons given in the letter of 14 June 2024, except that
the August Statement of Reasons incorporates the content of the Board’s preliminary
view letter of 15 December 2023,13 whereas the Board’s letter of 14 June 2024 only
refers to the letter of 15 December 2023 without incorporating its content.
[22] The parties both generally proceeded on the basis of the August Statement of Reasons
as representing the reasons for the relevant decisions, and I will do the same.
Ground 1: May Refusal Decision - improper exercise of power: failure to take
into account relevant consideration / material denial of procedural fairness
[23] The crux of this ground of review is that the applicant alleges that the Board failed to
take in take into account his 2017 Application in full. In that respect, note [9] and
[10] above concerning how the applicant incorporated the 2017 Application into the
2023 Application. Further, even in subsequent submissions made by the applicant in
response to the Board’s preliminary view letter, the applicant continued to refer back
to the 2017 Application.14
10 Vassilakos affidavit, ex MV-10 at MV-B (vol 2, pp. 12-13).
11 Vassilikos affidavit, ex MV-10 at MV-I (vol 2, pp. 28-32); also at ex MV-3 (vol 1, pp. 29-33).
12 Arguably, the May Refusal Decision was a decision that included or was accompanied by a statement giving
reasons for the decision within s. 31(a) JRA.
13 Vassilikos affidavit, ex MV-10 at MV-Z (vol 2, pp. 117-140); also at ex MV-2 (vol 1, pp. 5-28).
14 Vassilakos affidavit, ex MV-10 at MV-L (vol 2, p. 64 – referring to updating Appendix J to the 2017
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[24] Counsel for the Board candidly explained to the Court that the Board is unable to
produce express evidence that the Board had before it and considered the following
parts of the 2017 Application when considering the 2023 Application:
(a) the part of the 2017 Application proper from page 21 which covered the
following topics –
(i) at pages 21 to 39: Relapse prevention & management plan (covering the
following sub-topics: Risk assessments, Risk factors, My strategies for
managing my risk factors, My support network, Motivations, Protective
factors, Environmental factors);
(ii) pages 39 to 44: Other reasons for the Board to consider,
(b) appendix A: Form 176 – Home assessment request;
(c) appendix B: Effects of my offending;
(d) appendix C: Courses;
(e) appendix J: Chapter 11 – My Good Life Plans;
(f) appendix K: Chapter 12 – In the Community.
[25] Despite the state of the evidence as above, I was invited by the Board to infer that at
least some of this ‘missing’ material must have been before and considered by the
Board when it was considering the 2023 Application. That is because the 15
December 2023 preliminary view letter from the Board makes reference to:
The parole board has reviewed your current application and, at your request, your
previous application submitted 29 August 2017, including Relapse Prevention and
Release Plans and New Future Plan
and the “Relapse Prevention and Release Plans and New Future Plan” would have
been part of the ‘missing’ part of the 2017 Application identified at [24](a)(i) above.
[26] Whilst I would be prepared to make an inference that some of the ‘missing’ material
was in fact not missing and was considered by the Board, I am not prepared to infer
that all of the ‘missing’ material was before the Board. The ‘missing’ material does
Application which was apparently not before the Board in its assessment of the 2023 Application; p. 66
referring to pp. 21 to 38 of the 2017 Application).
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appear to include material of real substance (for example, the ‘missing’ part identified
at [24](a)(ii) above).
[27] The weight of the evidence supports a finding, that I make, that at least part of the
2017 Application was in fact not before and not considered by the Board in
2023/2024.
[28] I note that the applicant in response to the Board’s preliminary view letter, expressed
concern that the Board had not had regard to the whole of the 2017 Application.
Specifically, on 15 March 2024, the applicant made a 37-page submission responding
to the Board’s preliminary view. In that submission, the applicant requested the
Board confirm that it had considered the entirety of his 2017 Application.15 It did not
do so. The issue could (and perhaps should) have been investigated, fixed if
necessary, and then specifically addressed by the Board in correspondence back to
the applicant or in the August Statement of Reasons so that the actual position about
any ‘missing’ material was known by all.
[29] Instead, confusingly, the August Statement of Reasons records at [166] that the Board
“did not consider [the applicant’s] previous applications, including the application
made in 2017, or any material [the applicant] provided in relation to those
applications”. The paragraph goes on to state “some documents in relation to
previous applications formed part of the material that was considered by the Board in
relation to [the applicant’s] current application”.
[30] It is submitted on behalf of the Board that the Board’s statement in the August
Statement of Reasons that it “did not consider” the 2017 Application cannot mean
that the Board had no regard to the 2017 Application before deciding to refuse the
application and instead means that the Board performed the task of deciding the 2023
Application, and not an assessment of any of the applicant’s previous applications.
[31] It is also submitted for the Board that it had no express duty to consider the 2017
Application under the CSA. Instead, any duty the Board had to consider the 2017
Application could only have arisen as an incident of procedural fairness because the
applicant had requested that the Board consider the 2017 Application. It says the
manner in which the Board considered the 2017 Application during its decision-
15 Vassilakos affidavit, ex MV-10 at MV-L (vol 2, pp. 36-72 at 37).
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making process, viewed in its entirety, was sufficient to afford the applicant
procedural fairness.16
[32] I accept that the obligation of the Board was to consider and decide the 2023
Application, not any earlier application. But the 2023 Application expressly
incorporated the whole of the 2017 Application and so included the whole of the 2017
Application, and the Board did not have before it or consider all of that document.
[33] That the Board afforded the applicant an opportunity to make further representations
in support of his application in response to the Board’s preliminary view letter is not
to the point. The applicant did not know, and in fact asked, if the Board had
considered all of the information contained in the 2017 Application. That such an
enquiry was made is supportive of a conclusion that the 4 pages of the 2023
Application and the applicant’s response did not regurgitate all information contained
in the 2017 Application. Only some, but not all, of the ‘missing’ material was
supplemented by new material contained in the four pages of the 2023 Application
and the further submissions made (for example, further courses completed since 2017
were identified). I do not consider there is any proper evidentiary basis to conclude
that the missing parts of the 2017 Application that were not before the Board had been
completely overtaken by the four pages of the 2023 Application or the applicant’s
further submissions.
[34] There was therefore a denial of procedural fairness. The applicant clearly and fairly
asked for certain material to be considered by the Board as comprising part (and a
substantive part) of the 2023 Application, and it was not. I consider that the denial of
procedural fairness is material in circumstances where part of the 2017 Application
not considered concerned at least “Other reasons for the Board to consider”. The
outcome of an application for a parole order will usually involve a balancing of both
positive and negative factors – as it did here. I do not accept that any single factor in
this case was determinative, although plainly accommodation and the ability of
Corrective Services to properly supervise the applicant loomed large in the
determination of the application by the Board. I consider that the applicant has
demonstrated that there was at least a realistic possibility that a different decision
16 Ainsworth v Criminal Justice Commission (1992) 175 CLR 564 at 578 (per Mason CJ, Dawson and Toohey
JJ) quoting South Australia v O’Shea (1987) 163 CLR 378 at 389.
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could have been made if the ‘missing’ material were taken into account by the
Board.17 I cannot be confident that the denial of procedural fairness could have no
bearing on the outcome.18 Accordingly, the denial of procedural fairness does justify
setting aside the May Refusal Decision so as to avoid practical injustice.
[35] It is not necessary for me to go on to further consider in any detail whether there was
separately a failure to take into account a relevant consideration as a separate ground.
[36] However, I note that Cooper J summarised the legal principles applicable to the
failure to take into account a relevant consideration in Hickson v Parole Board
Queensland [2024] QSC 133 at [44]-[46] (footnotes omitted):
A failure to take into account a relevant consideration can only be made out as a
ground of review if a decision maker fails to take into account a consideration that
he or she is bound to take into account in making that decision. What factors a
decision maker is bound to consider in making the decision is determined by
construction of the statute conferring the discretion. If the relevant factors are not
expressly identified in the statute, they must be determined by implication from its
subject matter, scope and purpose.
Where a decision maker is bound to take into account a consideration, there is a
requirement to give that matter proper, genuine and realistic consideration.
However, care needs to be taken to ensure that the requirement does not encourage
a “slide” into an impermissible merits review’ of the decision.
Not every consideration that a decision maker is bound to take into account but fails
to take into account will justify the court setting aside the impugned decision and
ordering that the discretion be re-exercised according to law. A factor might be so
insignificant that the failure to take it into account could not have materially affected
the decision.
[37] Here I think it is clear that such a ground would succeed as on the proper construction
of the CSA, the application for a parole order would be a relevant consideration that
the Board is bound to take into account, and here it did not do so given the ‘missing’
material. The omission was material for the reasons I have mentioned.
[38] Finally, I note that during oral argument possible issues arose as to (1) whether the
decisions in May were one decision or two, (2) if one, whether the May Refusal
Decision remained valid given the express revocation of the part of the decision
dealing with the non-reapply period, and (3) if not, whether the decision in August
17 MZAPC v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection (2021) 390 ALR 590; LPDT v Minister for
Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs [2024] HCA 12 at [7], [13]-[15].
Noting the evidentiary onus resting with the applicant – Nathanson v Minister for Home Affairs (2022) 276
CLR 80; [2022] HCA 26 at [32]-[33]; LPDT v Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services
and Multicultural Affairs [2024] HCA 12 at [10].
18 Re Refugee Review Tribunal; ex parte Aala (2000) 204 CLR 82 at [104].
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was in fact a decision about both refusal and the non-reapply period (contrary
somewhat to its express terms and the respondent’s position in the proceeding).
Given the findings I have made, it is not be necessary for me to make any findings
about such issues. It is sufficient to note for present purposes that even if the effective
refusal decision was the August decision/s, the issue of the ‘missing’ material had not
been rectified by that time and any such decision would be affected by the same error
I have identified.
Ground 2: May Refusal Decision - improper exercise of power: legally
unreasonable
[39] In summary, the applicant submits that:
(a) there was material before the Board that the applicant’s risk of reoffending was
sufficiently low that he would be capable of being managed or supervised in
the community pursuant to a detailed and comprehensive parole order;
(b) the Board can impose appropriate conditions to manage his level of risk to the
community; the Board’s failure to formulate such conditions has the effect that
the applicant is being indefinitely detained;
(c) the applicant has been unable to source suitable accommodation: further
information from the Board would assist him to do so, and the Board has placed
undue emphasis on victim proximity when assessing the suitability of his
accommodation.
[40] Given the findings I have made in relation to ground 1, it is unnecessary to determine
ground 2.
[41] It would be remiss of me though not to highlight a practical issue that exists for
prisoners in the position of the applicant, that might be able to be addressed by the
legislature or administrative processes, in respect of which the Court would play no
part.
[42] The issue is as follows.
[43] As mentioned, the applicant is serving a life sentence. His sentence ends only upon
his death.
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[44] Other prisoners who are serious sexual offenders, who have sentences of a fixed
duration, will at some time reach the end of their sentences. In appropriate cases,
upon application of the Attorney-General, some such prisoners will be made subject
to the Dangerous Prisoners (Sexual Offenders) Act 2003 (Qld) (DPSOA). That Act
has the effect that for the safety of the community, such prisoners may be the subject
of continuing detention or supervision in the community after their full sentence has
been served.
[45] The DPSOA regime permits of supervision of varying levels of the prisoner in the
community, depending on what is required to keep the community safe. For some
prisoners that may mean a set of conditions with very high levels of restriction. The
High Risk Offenders Management Unit at Corrective Services is charged with the
management of DPSOA prisoners who are released on supervision. They have
special skills, knowledge and resources available to them to assist them to properly
manage those prisoners. One of those resources is accommodation facilities at the
Wacol Precinct, where prisoners can be subject to curfews (including up to 24 hour
curfews) and higher levels of supervision than what usually exists in the community.
[46] Because the applicant is serving a life sentence, there is no fulltime date for his
sentence to end. He cannot be made subject to the DPSOA.
[47] The arm of Corrective Services who deal with prisoners granted parole is not so
specialised. A parolee cannot be subject to the DPSOA and cannot be released to live
under supervision at the Precinct.19
[48] In the applicant’s case, the Board was cognisant of that fact. The Board took into
account that (1) the “case management model ... and management supports available
to manage [DPSOA] prisoners are unable to be utilised to supervise [the applicant] in
the community”;20 and (2) in addition, that supervision by the High Risk Offenders
Management Unit at Corrective Services would be unavailable.21
19 This point was also made in the case of Harrod v Parole Board Queensland [2022] QSC 084 at [99], a case
involving a murderer serving a life sentence for whom the Board tried (unsuccessfully) to secure
accommodation at the Wacol Precinct.
20 August Statement of Reasons at [82].
21 August Statement of Reasons at [83].
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[49] One might readily conclude that a person such as the applicant, if he is ever to be
released on parole, should only be released with DPSOA like conditions, including
in respect of initial accommodation and supervision at the Precinct and a raft of other
strict conditions to be managed by specialised officers equipped to deal with prisoners
such as the applicant.
[50] Particular factors potentially standing in the way of the applicant ever being released
on a parole order include accommodation and supervision issues. Those factors might
be able to be addressed if the applicant was able to be managed as if he was a DPSOA
prisoner.
[51] There is a class of prisoner for whom this type of issue is likely to arise – prisoners
serving life terms of imprisonment, who, if not for the life term, at the end of their
term would be declared dangerous prisoners under the DPSOA, and in respect of
whom supervision orders would be made. The number of prisoners in that class is
not likely to be large.
[52] There is at least the possibility that legislative or administrative changes could be
made to manage such prisoners, if a parole order were made, effectively as if they
were a dangerous prisoner under the DPSOA on a supervision order.
[53] There is also at least the possibility that a decision not to make a parole order in
relation to such prisoners because of perceived difficulties in accommodating and
managing them, when like DPSOA prisoners can be accommodated and managed,
might be legally unreasonable.
Ground 3: August Non-Reapply Period Decision - improper exercise of power:
legally unreasonable
[54] The applicant submits that the 12 month non-reapply period set by the Board pursuant
to the August Non-Reapply Period Decision ought to have commenced from 13 May
2024 (the date the May Refusal Decision was made) and not from 21 August 2024
(the date the August Non-Reapply Period Decision was made).
[55] The Board’s duty to set a non-reapply period is mandatory, but the period that it sets
is a matter for its discretion. A reasonable and permissible exercise of a discretion
may encompass a spectrum of outcomes.
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[56] The obligation to make the non-reapply period decision arises only when parole is
refused. Plainly enough the reasons for refusing parole will be relevant to the decision
in relation to the non-reapply period.
[57] In my view, in most cases, including this one, if the refusal decision is set aside, so
too must the non-reapply period decision be set aside. A fresh non-reapply period
decision will be made if a fresh no parole order decision is made.
Conclusion
[58] It follows that the decisions ought to be set aside and the 2023 Application remitted
to the Board for reconsideration.
[59] I propose to order:
(a) Pursuant to s. 30 of the Judicial Review Act 1991 (Qld) the respondent’s
decisions under review of 13 May 2024 and 22 August 2024 are set aside.
(b) The respondent reconsider the applicant’s 2023 application for a parole order
with appropriate expedition.
(c) Liberty to apply.
(d) There be no order as to costs, save that the respondent pay the applicant’s costs
of filing the application for a statutory order of review fixed in the amount of
$144.70.
[60] If necessary I will hear from the parties regarding the form of the order.
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Official source: https://www.sclqld.org.au/caselaw/QSC/2024/268