Attorney-General for the State of Queensland v Wason [2021] QSC 107
SUPREME COURT OF QUEENSLAND
CITATION: Attorney-General for the State of Queensland v Wason [2021]
QSC 107
PARTIES: ATTORNEY-GENERAL FOR THE STATE OF
QUEENSLAND
(applicant)
v
VINCENT JOHN WASON
(respondent)
FILE NO/S: BS No 6452 of 2019
DIVISION: Trial Division
PROCEEDING: Application
ORIGINATING
COURT:
Supreme Court of Queensland at Brisbane
DELIVERED ON: Orders made on 13 May 2021, reasons delivered on 28 May
2021
DELIVERED AT: Brisbane
HEARING DATE: 13 May 2021
JUDGE: Davis J
ORDER: The court being satisfied to the requisite standard that the
respondent has contravened supervision requirement 26
of the order made by Bradley J on 2 December 2019 (“the
supervision order”) orders that:
1. Under s 22 of the Dangerous Prisoners (Sexual
Offenders) Act 2003, the respondent be released from
custody and continue to be subject to the requirements
of the supervision order.
CATCHWORDS: CRIMINAL LAW – SENTENCE – SENTENCING
ORDERS – ORDERS AND DECLARATIONS RELATING
TO SERIOUS OR VIOLENT OFFENDERS OR
DANGEROUS SEXUAL OFFENDERS – DANGEROUS
SEXUAL OFFENDER – GENERALLY – where a
supervision order was made on 2 December 2019 with
respect to the respondent under Division 3 of Part 2 of the
Dangerous Prisoners (Sexual Offenders) Act 2003 (Qld) (the
Act) – where it was alleged that the respondent had
contravened a requirement of the supervision order by
ingesting substances - where a warrant was issued for the
arrest of the respondent pursuant to the Act – where the
applicant sought orders with respect to the respondent under
s 22 of the Act – where the respondent admitted the
contravention - where this was the second contravention of
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the supervision order - where the onus was upon the
respondent to prove that the adequate protection of the
community could be ensured by his release on supervision
notwithstanding the contravention - whether the respondent
discharged the onus
Dangerous Prisoners (Sexual Offenders) Act 2003, s 2, s 3,
s 5, s 13, s 14, s 15,s 16, s 20, s 21, s 22
Attorney-General for the State of Queensland v Ellis [2012]
QCA 182, followed
Attorney-General (Qld) v Fardon [2013] QCA 64, followed
Attorney-General v Francis [2007] 1 Qd R 396, followed
Attorney-General (Qld) v Francis [2012] QSC 275, followed
Attorney-General v Lawrence [2010] 1 Qd R 505, followed
Attorney-General for the State of Queensland v Wason [2019]
QSC 329, related
Attorney-General (Qld) v Yeo [2008] QCA 115, followed
Kynuna v Attorney-General (Qld) [2016] QCA 172, cited
LAB v Attorney-General [2011] QCA 230, followed
Turnbull v Attorney-General (Qld) [2015] QCA 54, cited
COUNSEL: S Richards for the applicant
P Richards for the respondent
SOLICITORS: GR Cooper, Crown Solicitor for the applicant
Legal Aid Queensland for the respondent
[1] The Attorney-General sought orders under s 22 of the Dangerous Prisoners (Sexual
Offenders) Act 2003 (the DPSOA) consequent upon an alleged breach by Vincent
John Wason of a supervision order made by Bradley J on 2 December 2019.
[2] On 13 May 2021, I made the following order:
“The court, being satisfied to the requisite standard that the
respondent has contravened supervision requirement 26 of the order
made by Bradley J on 2 December 2019 (‘the supervision order’),
orders that:
1. Under s 22 of the Dangerous Prisoners (Sexual Offenders) Act
2003, the respondent be released from custody and continue to
be subject to the requirements of the supervision order.”
[3] These are my reasons for making the order.
Background
[4] Mr Wason was born on 2 August 1975. He is 45 years of age.
[5] As previously observed, Bradley J ordered Mr Wason’s release on supervision on
2 December 2019. His Honour described Mr Wason’s offending and psychiatric
risk assessment at that point in these terms:
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“He is currently serving his second period of imprisonment imposed
for serious offences of a sexual nature. His first such offence was
committed in 2008 and was the attempted rape of his three year old
niece. He served the full five-year term of imprisonment for that
offence.
The present offence is of attempted rape which was committed
against a female tourist aged in her mid-20s. It occurred shortly
after the respondent was released from custody for the previous
sexual offence. That presently relevant offence involved a degree of
violence. The respondent was, at the time, living in a camp by a
riverbed in Kuranda. The 25 year old female victim was an
American tourist who was camped with friends a short distance
from where the respondent was living.
During the course of the evening, the respondent introduced himself
to the group. The following morning, he returned and attempted to
make conversation with the victim. He was still drinking from the
night before. When the victim was by herself, he approached her
and lured her away to a secluded location near the riverbed, on the
pretence of showing her some bush medicine. When the victim
became aware of the seclusion of the location, she became worried
and asked to return to her friends. This is when the respondent
assaulted her.
He pulled her down into the gully, held her arms behind her back
and grabbed her around the neck, causing her to fall face down in
the dirt. He applied pressure to her throat when she struggled. He
made threats to kill her when she screamed for help. And during the
struggle, he removed the victim’s skirt and underwear, and tore her
bikini top. He told her that if she had sex with him, he would let her
go. The offending only ceased when the victim seized an
opportunity to run from the respondent to the camp site, where she
told her friends he had attempted to rape her.
Having reviewed his Queensland criminal history and the relevant
records and sentencing remarks of his Honour Judge Harrison, I am
satisfied that he is a prisoner currently serving a period of
imprisonment for a serious sexual offence involving violence. The
evidence before the court includes that of three psychiatrists.
Dr Arthur has diagnosed the respondent with a mixed cluster B
personality disorder with antisocial and narcissistic traits, and
alcohol and cannabis misuse disorder. He identified that,
unmodified, the respondent presents as a moderately high risk of
future sexual reoffending. In Dr Arthur’s opinion, a five -year
supervision order would reduce that risk to low.
Dr Beech also considered the respondent. He diagnosed the
respondent with an antisocial personality disorder and a
polysubstance use disorder. He assessed the respondent’s risk for
re-offending to be in the moderate to high range. In Dr Beech’s
view, if the respondent felt frustrated, thwarted, or angry, he would
act violently to meet his sexual urges. Dr Beech thought it was
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difficult to know who the victim might be. He considers that a
supervision order would substantially reduce the risk of re-
offending and suggests a supervision order of five years.
The third psychiatrist, Dr Harden, expressed the view that the
respondent’s future risk of sexual re-offending is high or well above
average, with critical issues of substance intoxication and attitudes
supportive of violence against women. Dr Harden is also of the
view that supervision and intervention, consistent with a supervision
order, will likely reduce the respondent’s risk of re-offending to the
range of low to moderate. Dr Harden thought a supervision order
ought to be of at least five years duration and contain conditions
requiring the respondent to be abstinent from alcohol and illicit
substances, to have regular psychological therapy with an
appropriately skilled practitioner, and not to undertake serious
emotional relationships with women without the support of an
appropriately skilled practitioner.”1
[6] In addition to the offence described in some detail by his Honour, Mr Wason has a
significant criminal history commencing as an adult in 1992. That includes
offences of violence which have in the main been committed in the context of
domestic relationships and there are also drug offences. He has, from time to time,
been the subject of various orders such as domestic violence orders, fine option
orders, community service orders and probation orders, which he has breached.
[7] The supervision order contained various conditions, including condition 26 in these
terms:
“26. You are not allowed to take (for example, swallow, eat, inject,
or sniff) any alcohol. You are also not allowed to have with
you or be in control of any alcohol.”
[8] On 17 July 2020, alcohol was detected in Mr Wason’s system and he was arrested
pursuant to a warrant issued under s 20 of the DPSOA on an allegation of breach of
condition 26 of the supervision order. The breach was found proved and on 29
October 2020 Mr Wason was released by order of Flanagan J pursuant to s 22(7) of
the DPSOA.
[9] On 10 April 2021, he was again tested and again alcohol was detected in his blood.
After initially denying the consumption of alcohol, he later made admissions.
Again, he was arrested and on 12 April 2021 he was ordered to be detained in
custody until a final decision was made on the breach proceedings.2
[10] The full particulars of the alleged contravention are stated in the Attorney-General’s
application as follows:
“On 10 April 2021, the respondent submitted to a breath test in
accordance with requirement (28) of his supervision order. He
provided a sample of breath at 131l hrs with a positive BAC%
1 Attorney-General for the State of Queensland v Wason [2019] QSC 329.
2 Section 21(2)(a).
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0.036. A second sample was taken at 133l hrs with a positive
BAC% 0.052.
Prior to testing, the respondent denied any alcohol use. After the
breath tests he stated the tests were positive due to hand sanitiser on
his hands. After further questioning, he then made admissions to
asking a member of the public not known him to purchase alcohol
for him in Goodna. To QCS staff, the respondent stated that he
consumed 2 x tallies of beer due to feeling stressed.
The respondent is in contravention of requirement (26.) of his
Supervision Order …”
Statutory context
[11] The Act provides for the continued detention or supervised release of “a particular
class of prisoner”.3 The prisoners the subject of the DPSOA are those serving a
term of imprisonment for a “serious sexual offence”4 which is “an offence of a
sexual nature … involving violence” or “an offence of a sexual nature … against a
child”.5
[12] The Attorney-General may apply to the court for either a continuing detention
order6 or a supervision order.7 A continuing detention order results in the detention
in custody of the prisoner beyond the date of expiry of the sentence then being
served. A supervision order provides for the release of the prisoner under
supervision notwithstanding the expiry of the sentence.
[13] Section 13 of the DPSOA is a critical provision. It has significance to the present
application as the provisions which deal with breaches of supervision orders8 adopt
terms and concepts included in s 13. Section 13 is in these terms:
“13 Division 3 orders
(1) This section applies if, on the hearing of an application
for a division 3 order, the court is satisfied the prisoner
is a serious danger to the community in the absence of a
division 3 order (a serious danger to the community).
(2) A prisoner is a serious danger to the community as
mentioned in subsection (1) if there is an unacceptable
risk that the prisoner will commit a serious sexual
offence—
(a) if the prisoner is released from custody; or
(b) if the prisoner is released from custody without a
supervision order being made.
3 Dangerous Prisoners (Sexual Offenders) Act 2003 (Qld), s 3.
4 Section 5(6).
5 Section 2 and the Schedule (Dictionary).
6 Sections 13, 14 and 15.
7 Sections 13, 15 and 16.
8 Primarily see section 22.
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(3) On hearing the application, the court may decide that it
is satisfied as required under subsection (1) only if it is
satisfied—
(a) by acceptable, cogent evidence; and
(b) to a high degree of probability;
that the evidence is of sufficient weight to justify the
decision.
(4) In deciding whether a prisoner is a serious danger to the
community as mentioned in subsection (1), the court
must have regard to the following—
(aa) any report produced under section 8A;
(a) the reports prepared by the psychiatrists under
section 11 and the extent to which the prisoner
cooperated in the examinations by the
psychiatrists;
(b) any other medical, psychiatric, psychological or
other assessment relating to the prisoner;
(c) information indicating whether or not there is a
propensity on the part of the prisoner to commit
serious sexual offence sin the future;
(d) whether or not there is any pattern of offending
behaviour on the part of the prisoner;
(e) efforts by the prisoner to address the cause or
causes of the prisoner’s offending behaviour,
including whether the prisoner participated in
rehabilitation programs;
(f) whether or not the prisoner’s participation in
rehabilitation programs has had a positive effect
on the prisoner;
(g) the prisoner’s antecedents and criminal history;
(h) the risk that the prisoner will commit another
serious sexual offence if released into the
community;
(i) the need to protect members of the community
from that risk;
(j) any other relevant matter.
(5) If the court is satisfied as required under subsection (1),
the court may order—
(a) that the prisoner be detained in custody for an
indefinite term for control, care or treatment
(continuing detention order); or
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(b) that the prisoner be released from custody subject
to the requirements it considers appropriate that
are stated in the order (supervision order).
(6) In deciding whether to make an order under subsection
(5)(a) or (b)—
(a) the paramount consideration is to be the need to
ensure adequate protection of the community; and
(b) the court must consider whether –
(i) adequate protection of the community can
be reasonably and practicably managed by a
supervision order; and
(ii) requirements under section 16 can be
reasonably and practicably managed by
corrective services officers.
(7) The Attorney-General has the onus of proving that a
prisoner is a serious danger to the community as
mentioned in subsection (1).”
[14] Section 13 operates in this way:
(a) the test under s 13 is whether the prisoner is “a serious danger to the
community”;9
(b) that initial question is answered by determining whether there is an
“unacceptable risk that the prisoner will commit a serious sexual offence”10 if
no order is made;
(c) if that conclusion is reached, then a supervision order (as opposed to a
continuing detention order) can only be made where the adequate protection
of the community can be ensured by the making of a supervision order;11
(d) where “adequate protection of the community” can be ensured by a
supervision order, then the making of a supervision order ought to be
preferred to the making of a continuing detention order.12
[15] By s 20, a warrant may issue for the release of a prisoner on supervision upon
suspicion of a contravention or likely contravention of the supervision order. By
s 22, orders may be made by the court upon proof of contravention. Section 22
provides:
9 Section 13(1).
10 Section 13(1) and (2).
11 Section 13(6).
12 Attorney-General v Francis [2007] 1 Qd R 396 at [39]; Attorney-General (Qld) v Yeo [2008] QCA
115; Attorney-General v Lawrence [2010] 1 Qd R 505; LAB v Attorney-General [2011] QCA 230;
Attorney-General for the State of Queensland v Ellis [2012] QCA 182; Attorney-General (Qld) v
Fardon [2013] QCA 64.
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“22 Court may make further order
(1) The following subsections apply if the court is satisfied,
on the balance of probabilities, that the released prisoner
is likely to contravene, is contravening, or has
contravened, a requirement of the supervision order or
interim supervision order (each the existing order).
(2) Unless the released prisoner satisfies the court, on the
balance of probabilities, that the adequate protection of
the community can, despite the contravention or likely
contravention of the existing order, be ensured by the
existing order as amended under subsection (7), the
court must—
(a) if the existing order is a supervision order, rescind
it and make a continuing detention order; or
(b) if the existing order is an interim supervision
order, rescind it and make an order that the
released prisoner be detained in custody for the
period stated in the order.
(3) For the purpose of deciding whether to make a
continuing detention order as mentioned in subsection
(2)(a), the court may do any or all of the following—
(a) act on any evidence before it or that was before
the court when the existing order was made;
(b) make any order necessary to enable evidence of a
kind mentioned in section 13(4) to be brought
before it, including, for example, an order—
(i) in the nature of a risk assessment order,
subject to the restriction under section 8(2);
or
(ii) for the revision of a report about the
released prisoner produced under section
8A;
(c) consider any further report or revised report in the
nature of a report of a type mentioned in section
8A.
(4) To remove any doubt, it is declared that the court need
not make an order in the nature of a risk assessment
order if the court is satisfied that the evidence otherwise
available under subsection (3) is sufficient to make a
decision under subsection (2)(a).
(5) If the court makes an order in the nature of a risk
assessment order, the psychiatrist or each psychiatrist
examining the released prisoner must prepare a report
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about the released prisoner and, for that purpose, section
11 applies.
(6) For applying section 11 to the preparation of the
report—
(a) section 11(2) applies with the necessary changes;
and
(b) section 11(3) only applies to the extent that a
report or information mentioned in the subsection
has not previously been given to the psychiatrist.
(7) If the released prisoner satisfies the court, on the balance
of probabilities, that the adequate protection of the
community can, despite the contravention or likely
contravention of the existing order, be ensured by a
supervision order or interim supervision order, the
court—
(a) must amend the existing order to include all of the
requirements under section 16(1) if the order does
not already include all of those requirements; and
(b) may otherwise amend the existing order in a way
the court considers appropriate—
(i) to ensure adequate protection of the
community; or
(ii) for the prisoner’s rehabilitation or care or
treatment.
(8) The existing order may not be amended under
subsection (7)(b) so as to remove any requirements
mentioned in section 16(1).”
[16] By s 22, once the contravention is proved, the court must rescind the supervision
order and make a continuing detention order13 unless the prisoner satisfies the court
that continuation on supervision in the community will ensure the adequate
protection of the community notwithstanding the contravention of the supervision
order.14 The concept of “the adequate protection of the community” in s 22(7) has
the same meaning as it bears in s 13.15 Therefore, a prisoner facing an application
under s 22 must prove that the supervision order will ensure adequate protection of
the community by removing any unacceptable risk that he will commit a serious
sexual offence.
[17] However, the issue under s 22 of the DPSOA is not whether there is an
unacceptable risk that the prisoner will breach the supervision order. Rather, the
13 Section 22(2).
14 Section 22(7).
15 Kynuna v Attorney-General (Qld) [2016] QCA 172 at [60]; see also Turnbull v Attorney-General
(Qld) [2015] QCA 54 at [36].
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issue is whether there is an unacceptable risk that he will commit a serious sexual
offence.16
Expert evidence as to risk
[18] Often supervision orders imposed upon prisoners under the DPSOA are breached
through the ingestion of alcohol or illicit substances in contravention of particular
conditions. Often it is necessary for the Attorney-General to take action on such
breaches as the consumption of alcohol or illicit substances may herald an increase
in the risk of the prisoner committing a serious sexual offence. Often though it
doesn’t.
[19] On the occasion of Mr Wason’s first contravention in 2020, psychiatrist, Dr Beech,
provided an opinion that:
“I would view this as a minor lapse into alcohol use in someone who
has tended to resort to alcohol to manage stresses. Clearly,
Mr Wason could have done better by contacting the supports around
him but to his credit he had not absconded, had not gone onto a
drinking binge off the Precinct, and had instead consumed a small
amount of alcohol at his residence. There are no other indications
that he had been rejecting supervision and instead I think the overall
trajectory indicates an anti-social man who is maturing, settling
down, and doing much better than he had on his previous release in
2013.
In my opinion, Mr Wason still remains at moderate-high risk of re-
offending but this risk is significantly reduced, down to low, on the
supervision order. I recommend, if he is released, that he returns to
AODS for counselling. It would be helpful to facilitate his return to
AA. I think it is important that he is assisted to find employment
because that pro-social activity will lessen the risk in the longer
term. He needs to return to Dr Madsen for ongoing psychological
counselling and support.”
[20] Where a breach of this kind is alleged and actioned, it can often be some time
before the proceedings are finalised. That is undesirable. The supervision order is
designed not only to protect the public but also to rehabilitate and reintegrate the
prisoner into the broader community.17 Long periods in custody during the term of
the supervision order does not assist in achieving that aim.
[21] The Attorney-General clearly recognised here that the contravention, while
significant, may not justify the rescission of the supervision order and the
imposition of a continuing detention order. Steps were taken to ensure that the
matter was quickly concluded. That included instructing one (rather than the usual
two) psychiatrist to examine Mr Wason and prepare a report. That is a
commendable approach.
[22] Psychiatrist Dr Arthur was retained. He opined that:
16 Attorney-General (Qld) v Francis [2012] QSC 275 at [64]-[67].
17 See the objects of the DPSOA, s 3.
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“Prisoner Wason was re-released to the supervision order on 29
October 2020, again residing at the Wacol Precinct. From the
papers, it appears that his presentation over the next 6 months
followed a similar trajectory in that he was described as a generally
cooperative, respectful and compliant man who attended
psychological therapy, did not show overt oppositional or hostile
attitudes towards supervision and verbalised his intention to remain
abstinent from substances. Again, there was a significant death in
his family. He had been proactive about seeking treatment and was
prescribed Naltrexone to help him manage cravings for alcohol.
Whilst he did not attend drug and alcohol counselling he did
reconnect with Alcoholics Anonymous, although it took him over 4
months to do so. He also connected with an employment provider
and had plans to complete a forklift course.
In regard to stressors, it appears that there had been some minor
conflict with another supervisee at The Precinct which had been
resolved without incident. He had bought toys that he wished to
send to his younger relatives via his mother; this was disallowed on
the basis that it possibly represented attempts at grooming
behaviour. Corrections also restricted prisoner Wason’s plans to sell
his artwork through one of his brothers, although he was still
allowed to distribute work through his mother and possibly his
sister. He had indicated a desire to contact his children although it
appears that they were not similarly motivated. There had been an
interaction with his case manager on 8 April where he had to be
reminded not to make plans (such as going fishing with another
supervisee) without being given approval first. At the time his case
manager noted a: ‘... faint glimmer of hostility’. He had also spoken
about his brother’s mental health issues and gambling addiction.
In the days prior to the contravention, his mental state was
described as stable although he was suffering from an upper
respiratory tract infection and had been told to self-isolate until he
was cleared of COVID-19. There appeared to be some confusion
about his leave passes the day prior to the contravention but no
indication that he was significantly frustrated or distressed by this.
He provided a positive breath test around 1 pm on 10 April 2021
and admitted to drinking two ‘tallies’ of beer which had been
purchased for him by a stranger whilst he was shopping in Goodna.
Based on his blood alcohol readings, it seems likely he consumed
the alcohol that morning. He told staff that he was feeling stressed
due to family fighting (of which there was no mention in the
documentation). Although he did not state it, it is possible that he
was also frustrated with not being able to go shopping when he
needed to.
Prior to his return to custody, prisoner Wason had acknowledged
various supports including family members, Dr Madsen, his AA
sponsor, case manager and a Social Worker. He was unable to give
an explanation as to why he did not contact these supports prior to
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using alcohol, with the inference that this was an impulsive
decision. Given that the contravention occurred on Saturday
morning, it was reasonable to assume that his Psychologist or case
manager would not have been easily available.
In regard to his sexual functioning, whilst he described a reduced
interest in sex (which he attributed to taking Naltrexone), he
continued to actively source out pornographic DVDs and expressed
an intention to visit the local brothel, although did not seem entirely
comfortable with this. He remained circumspect in regard to
discussing masturbatory practices.
I note some minor contraventions in regard to exclusion zones and
not being contactable by phone.
Overall, it appears that prisoner Wason made some attempt to
address the risk of alcohol use with medication and affiliation with
Alcoholics Anonymous. In a similar fashion to his previous
contravention, his drinking was a single episode which involved
only moderate amounts of alcohol and was not associated with any
emotional or behavioural disturbance.
This recent contravention highlights prisoner Wason’s vulnerability
to impulsively using alcohol to manage emotional distress. Whilst it
is likely that he was experiencing some frustrations with the
restrictions of his order, there is no evidence of a rejection of
supervision or any associated hostile/oppositional behaviour. It is
not clear why he did not utilise the supports available to him,
perhaps indicative of the impulsive nature of his actions, or
alternatively his lack of self-awareness/self-monitoring.
RISK ASSESSMENT
I see no reason to modify my previous risk assessment. Based on
structured clinical judgement, prisoner Wason’s unmodified risk of
sexual reoffending remains moderately high, with the key risk
factors being substance use, sex as coping and his underlying
Antisocial Personality Disorder.
His estimated risk is reduced to low with the provisions of his
current supervision order.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Prisoner Wason requires ongoing, high level support in regard to his
alcohol use. Even with the use of Naltrexone and the involvement
of AA (albeit relatively briefly), there was a lapse in control over
his drinking. It was not clear why he did not return to drug and
alcohol counselling with AODS, but given the gravity of his
situation I would recommend that he take advantage of all possible
treatment modalities including individual counselling, group
therapy and medication. If not done, an emergency plan should be
formulated which includes a list of people he can contact by phone
at any time of the day or night. Consideration should also be given
to increasing the dose of Naltrexone or augmentation with
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Acamprosate, as there are some studies that suggest a combination
of these two drugs is more effective than taking them individually.
Consideration should also be given to a trial of SSRI antidepressant
(such as Citalopram or Paroxetine) which may assist with affect
regulation and impulsivity.
As I noted in my previous report, he should continue with
psychological therapy addressing his underlying personality
vulnerabilities and negative attitude towards women. Employment
and/or regular engagement in meaningful daytime activity would
provide him an alternate source of self-esteem and further protect
against a return to substance use. It seems that he may not have
disclosed the level of distress he was feeling in relation to family
matters. Access to cultural supports/counselling which would allow
him to discuss these issues more openly may be helpful, as would
closer monitoring of his interactions with family members.”
Position of the parties
[23] Mr Wason admitted the contravention. He submitted that he had discharged the
obligation cast upon him by s 22(7) of the DPSOA, namely proving that the
adequate protection of the community could be ensured by his release on
supervision notwithstanding the contravention of the supervision order.
[24] The Attorney-General concedes that it is open on the evidence to conclude that
Mr Wason has discharged the onus upon him and ought to be released.
Conclusions
[25] This is Mr Wason’s second contravention of the supervision order which has been
in place since 2 December 2019. Mr Wason’s unmodified risk of serious sexual
reoffending is considered by Dr Arthur to be moderately high. However, I accept
Dr Arthur’s opinion that the supervision order has operated so that the consumption
of alcohol by Mr Wason was detected and could be actioned. I accept Dr Arthur’s
opinion that the supervision order reduces the risk of serious sexual reoffending by
Mr Wason to low.
[26] In those circumstances, I find that Mr Wason contravened the supervision order as
alleged.
[27] I find that the release of Mr Wason on the supervision order provides adequate
protection of the community against the commission by Mr Wason of a serious
sexual offence.
[28] Given that the adequate protection of the community can be ensured by the making
of a supervision order, Mr Wason’s release on supervision ought to be favoured to
his continued detention.18
18 Attorney-General (Qld) v Francis [2007] 1 Qd R 396 at [39]; Attorney-General (Qld) v Yeo [2008]
QCA 115; Attorney-General v Lawrence [2010] 1 Qd R 505; LAB v Attorney-General [2011] QCA
230; Attorney-General for the State of Queensland v Ellis [2012] QCA 182 and Attorney-General
(Qld) v Fardon [2013] QCA 64.
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[29] For those reasons, I made the orders which I did.
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Official source: https://www.sclqld.org.au/caselaw/QSC/2021/107