June 1, 2018
The chairman of the Barambah Local Justice Group, Bevan Costello, is one of five new members to be appointed to the Queensland Sentencing Council.
The Council provides independent research and advice to the State Attorney-General, seeks public views on sentencing options and aims to promote community understanding of sentencing matters.
Bevan, a Wakka Wakka Elder, is well-known in the Cherbourg and Murgon communities for his work at Cherbourg State School and the former Ficks Crossing Rodeo School.
He is also Deputy Chairman of the The Ration Shed committee, a founding member of the Cherbourg Men’s Group (and plays guitar with Muddy Flats).
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Yvette D’Ath announced the appointment of the five new members on Friday.
Joining Bevan on the Sentencing Advisory Council will be:
- Chairman John Robertson — recently retired from the District Court, Judge Robertson is the author of the Queensland Sentencing Manual, a practical resource designed for those involved with sentencing and criminal law. He is a former President of the Children’s Court of Queensland and Deputy President of the Queensland Community Corrections Board.
- Jo Bryant — CEO of Protect All Children Today (PACT) which provides support to children who give evidence in court; Ms Bryant is an advocate for children’s rights as well as aged and disability rights.
- Vicki Loury, QC — a Consultant Crown Prosecutor for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions; Ms Loury’s work primarily focuses on homicide trials and appearing for the Crown in criminal appeals in the Court of Appeal.
- Cheryl Scanlon, APM — currently at the Crime and Corruption Commission, Deputy Chief Superintendent Scanlon was previously Operations Commander, Child Safety and Sexual Crime Group at Queensland Police Service.
Mrs D’Ath said the appointees, approved by Executive Council, would broaden the Council’s expertise in criminal law, victims of crime, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander justice issues, serious crime and youth justice.
“All have made considerable contributions to our justice system, and I am confident their expertise will be invaluable to the Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council,” Mrs D’Ath said.
The Council was re-established by the State Government in 2016 to provide independent research and advice, seek public views and promote community understanding of sentencing matters.
The latest appointments bring the Council membership to 12.
The other members of the Council are:
- Prof Elena Marchetti – Elena is a Professor of Law at Griffith University where she researches the areas of criminal law, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the justice system and domestic and family violence
- John Allen, QC – John is the public defender with Legal Aid Queensland where he regularly advises on the merit of appeals against sentence
- Debbie Kilroy, OAM – Debbie is one of the founders and CEO of Sisters Inside, which advocates for the human rights of women and girls in the criminal justice system
- Kathleen Payne – Kathleen is a defence barrister specialising in criminal law, domestic and family violence, and institutional child sexual and other abuse
- Dan Rogers – Dan is a legal director of private criminal law firm, Robertson O’Gorman
- Warren Strange – Warren is the Executive Officer of Knowmore, a national community legal service which assisted people engaging with the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse
