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Legal Corner

Legal Q&A – Is It Mandatory to Do Courses at Minimum Level Security to Get Parole?

By
John

John writes from Lindisfarne, Tasmania.

Ethan Cassidy

To About Time,

Is it mandatory to be at minimum security to get parole? A lot of courses are only offered when at minimum and then courses can take six months to complete. I am currently appealing my sentence, but that means I cannot move to a lower security rating. Would I be forced to drop my appeal just to get to minimum security? Is this fair? My parole is due November 12 but I can’t see how I can get it.

To About Time,

Is it mandatory to be at minimum security to get parole? A lot of courses are only offered when at minimum and then courses can take six months to complete. I am currently appealing my sentence, but that means I cannot move to a lower security rating. Would I be forced to drop my appeal just to get to minimum security? Is this fair? My parole is due November 12 but I can’t see how I can get it.

This
article
was originally printed in the
July 2025
edition of About Time.
By Prisoner Legal Service Queensland
By Prisoner Legal Service Queensland

Generally, debts can be put into two categories. First, there are private debts (e.g. from a bank, a landlord, a car dealer, or ‘Afterpay’). Second, there are debts owed to the State (e.g. unpaid fines).

ISSUE NO. 20
2 MIN READ
Question from Dylan, Port Phillip Prison
Question from Dylan, Port Phillip Prison

I was reading a section of ‘Australia’s National Prison Newspaper’ where it gave some information about bail but I couldn’t find any information about people trying to vary intervention orders (I.V.O).

ISSUE NO. 10
4 MIN READ
By Fitzroy Legal Service, Prisoners Legal Service (NSW Legal Aid), Prisoners Legal Service (QLD) and About Time
By Fitzroy Legal Service, Prisoners Legal Service (NSW Legal Aid), Prisoners Legal Service (QLD) and About Time

Parole is a process that gives some people the ability to get out of prison and serve the last part of their sentence in the community, under the supervision of Community Corrections (which used to be known as Probation and Parole).

ISSUE NO. 6
10 MIN READ
By Daniel Vansetten
By Daniel Vansetten

One of the most important aspects of self-advocacy in prison is to understand the rights of prisoners and the limitations of power of prison authorities.

ISSUE NO. 19
2 MIN READ
By Anthony Burke

The law, like other professions, has its own language. It helps keep all the lawyers huddled around some special stuff and keep the rest of us outside.

ISSUE NO. 26
4 MIN READ
Prisoners’ Legal Service QLD

On 1 April 2026, the Australian Parliament passed new laws which will change the way Commonwealth parole works.

ISSUE NO. 25
3 MIN READ
By About Time

People in prison can apply to transfer from a prison in one state or territory to another, generally for welfare reasons to be closer to family, community supports, or rehabilitation opportunities.

ISSUE NO. 24
4 MIN READ
By About Time

Inspectors and ombudsmen regularly go to prisons and publish reports on what they find and what they think needs to be improved. They also complete reports on issues such as access to healthcare or the use of segregation.

ISSUE NO. 23
4 MIN READ
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