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Under Queensland’s criminal law, communications with counsellors about sexual offending are subject to a ‘protected counselling communication privilege’ during the legal process. This privilege governs what can and cannot be accessed from a complainant’s confidential conversations with counsellors.
From 1 November 2025, Queensland courts will no longer accept “good character” references in sentencing for sexual offences unless those references are directly relevant to an offender’s rehabilitation prospects or likelihood of reoffending.
In Queensland, when a court convicts an offender, one important question arises: should a formal ‘criminal conviction’ be recorded against the individual? Very often, the court, has a discretion whether or not to record a conviction.
Provocation is a legal concept that recognises that sometimes people react in the heat of the moment to serious insults or wrongful acts like assaults and other offences of violence. In Queensland, provocation can be a complete defence to assault and a partial defence to murder.