Queensland to introduce new laws against fatal punches in plan to stamp out drunken violence

Updated

Queensland Premier Campbell Newman has announced the State Government will introduce a new law for people who punch and kill someone while drunk.

Mr Newman says he is determined to stamp out drunken violence in the state, but does not want to stop people from having fun.

The new law is one plank of a draft action plan aimed at stamping out nightlife violence, which also includes establishing 15 "Safe Night Precincts" across the state.

The Labor Opposition, however, says earlier lockouts and closing times are the only way to curb violence.

Mr Newman says the law against "unlawful attack occasioning death" will be similar to a manslaughter charge and will have a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

"It will particularly, for example, take away the excuse for accident," he said.

"If you punch someone in the head and you cause their death you are not going to get off under this law because you have quite obviously aggressively and wilfully gone out to hurt someone else."

Mr Newman says the legislation will also allow courts to ban people from clubs and pubs.

"The ultimate sanction will be a court banning order. The legislation allows for the courts to issue up to lifetime bans to offenders," he said.

"There'll be the opportunity for police to issue banning orders and we'll ask for community feedback on how much that should be."

The Government is also looking at introducing compulsory drug and alcohol education in high schools.

Safe Night Out Strategy open for public consultation

The Premier says the strategy will be open for public consultation for a month and then be trialled for a year.

"This framework is about targeting people who do the wrong thing and letting other people have a great night out," he said.

"It's also about saying Queensland is a place where we want to let people let their hair down and enjoy a great night out.

"We are not making judgments on people's partying or drinking habits. We're targeting those troublemakers so the rest of us can have a great night out."

State Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk says the Newman Government is putting the interests of business ahead of public safety.

"In Newcastle we have seen a 33 per cent reduction in alcohol-fuelled violence by reducing the trading hours," she said.

"Campbell Newman is being a coward by not addressing the fundamental problem, which is reducing trading hours to reduce the alcohol-fuelled violence."

The push for tougher alcohol-fuelled violence penalties comes after New South Wales introduced new laws, including mandatory eight-year prison terms for anyone who fatally punches someone while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

The legislation also includes a new precinct in central Sydney where bars and clubs will be subject to strict new conditions, including lock-outs.

The NSW Government announced the measures in response to pressure over the death of 18-year-old Daniel Christie from a single punch at Kings Cross.

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