Carolyn Male MP, State Member for Pine Rivers said that last week Parliament passed two important laws to enable police to have new telephone tapping powers and to send people to jail who throw rocks at a vehicle on Queensland roads.

Carolyn Male said the use of phone tapping powers will now be available to Queensland law enforcement officers.

“The Telecommunications Interception Act 2009 will enable Queensland police and officers of the Crime and Misconduct Commission to apply for telecommunications interception warrants, to assist in the investigation of serious crime in Queensland.”

“This Legislation that has been introduced by the Government has ensured that the fundamental rights and liberties of Queenslanders are protected, through the inclusion of the Public Interest Monitor.”

“The Public Interest Monitor is an independent barrister whose role in telecommunications interception applications is to represent the public interest by testing applications against the statutory criteria, cross-examining witnesses where necessary, and making submissions to the judge.”

Carolyn Male said that in addition to this any person who throws a rock at a vehicle on a Queensland road can now be sent to jail, whether someone was hurt as a result of their actions or not.

“These new laws create a specific offence under the Summary Offences Act 2005, to target rock throwing, laser pointing and other specified conduct which endangers or is likely to endanger the safe use of vehicles.”

“In Queensland we already have tough laws targeting offenders who throw rocks at vehicles, with the intention of injuring or killing someone.”

“These people can be charged with a range of offences including manslaughter, murder, wilful damage, or endangering the safe use of a vehicle with intent.”

“But the new laws passed by the Parliament tonight will allow police to charge offenders even if they can not prove intent, and no one is injured.”