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ISSUE NO. 10
May 2025
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Legal Corner

Parole Conditions in Queensland

By
Prisoners' Legal Service

Prisoners’ Legal Service (PLS) is a not-for-profit community legal centre providing legal assistance to people in Queensland prisons on issues arising from imprisonment. Due to high demand and limited resources, PLS can only assist a small number of people in Queensland prisons. Eligibility criteria is applied when selecting clients to receive our assistance. The information provided by PLS in About Time is for information only and should not be relied on as legal advice. You should seek legal advice about your particular circumstances.

Parole Conditions in Queensland

All parole orders must have conditions setting out what you are required to do and what you must not do while on parole.  

You should be given a copy of your parole order and conditions in writing before you are released on parole. Your parole officer will monitor whether you are following your parole conditions.  

Failure to comply with parole conditions can result in your parole being suspended or cancelled, so it is important that you understand your parole order.  

If you are confused about your parole conditions, you should first try speaking to your parole officer.  

Mandatory conditions  

The following conditions must be included in your parole order and cannot be removed or changed:

  • whether you are to be supervised;  
  • you must carry out your parole officer’s lawful instructions;  
  • you must give a test sample if required to do so;  
  • you must report and receive visits, as directed;
  • you must notify your parole officer within 48 hours of any change in your address or employment; and  
  • you must not not commit an offence.  

Adding new conditions  

The Parole Board can add new parole conditions at any time.  

However, any new parole conditions must be justified because they either ensure your good conduct or stop you from committing an offence.  

Before amending a parole order, the Board must give you an information notice and a reasonable chance to be heard, unless they have good reasons not to.  

Removing parole conditions  

You can write to the Parole Board and ask them to amend or remove a condition of your parole order at any time.

When you write to the Board you need to explain why you think the condition is not necessary and why it does not help ensure your good conduct or stop you from committing an offence.  

Challenging parole condition decisions  

It is possible to challenge decisions about parole conditions through a legal process called judicial review.  

Judicial reviews are complex and you should seek legal advice before starting this type of court application. If you would like further information about judicial review of parole decisions, you can contact PLS to request advice or a copy of our factsheet about judicial review.  

Parole Conditions in Queensland

All parole orders must have conditions setting out what you are required to do and what you must not do while on parole.  

You should be given a copy of your parole order and conditions in writing before you are released on parole. Your parole officer will monitor whether you are following your parole conditions.  

Failure to comply with parole conditions can result in your parole being suspended or cancelled, so it is important that you understand your parole order.  

If you are confused about your parole conditions, you should first try speaking to your parole officer.  

Mandatory conditions  

The following conditions must be included in your parole order and cannot be removed or changed:

  • whether you are to be supervised;  
  • you must carry out your parole officer’s lawful instructions;  
  • you must give a test sample if required to do so;  
  • you must report and receive visits, as directed;
  • you must notify your parole officer within 48 hours of any change in your address or employment; and  
  • you must not not commit an offence.  

Adding new conditions  

The Parole Board can add new parole conditions at any time.  

However, any new parole conditions must be justified because they either ensure your good conduct or stop you from committing an offence.  

Before amending a parole order, the Board must give you an information notice and a reasonable chance to be heard, unless they have good reasons not to.  

Removing parole conditions  

You can write to the Parole Board and ask them to amend or remove a condition of your parole order at any time.

When you write to the Board you need to explain why you think the condition is not necessary and why it does not help ensure your good conduct or stop you from committing an offence.  

Challenging parole condition decisions  

It is possible to challenge decisions about parole conditions through a legal process called judicial review.  

Judicial reviews are complex and you should seek legal advice before starting this type of court application. If you would like further information about judicial review of parole decisions, you can contact PLS to request advice or a copy of our factsheet about judicial review.  

Laws Around Strip Searches in Prisons

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Open Air in Prison: Your Rights Explained

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With people in prisons across the country being subjected to an “epidemic of prison lockdowns”, it is important to note that bare minimum safeguards exist in law, in most jurisdictions, that purport to guarantee at least some time ‘in the open air’ each day for people behind bars.

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By Prisoners' Legal Service (PLS)
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A parole order will include general and specific conditions. These include getting approval from the relevant authority for any travel interstate, or overseas.

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New laws mean that immigration detention officers can now confiscate things like mobile phones, iPads and laptops, which were previously allowed in detention centres. If you’re facing time in immigration detention at the end of your sentence, this article gives some practical tips to prepare for the new rules before you go.

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In recent years, regressive reform of parole laws in many places has made it increasingly difficult for people in prison to access parole.

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By Human Rights Law Centre and Prisoners’ Legal Service

With people in prisons across the country being subjected to an “epidemic of prison lockdowns”, it is important to note that bare minimum safeguards exist in law, in most jurisdictions, that purport to guarantee at least some time ‘in the open air’ each day for people behind bars.

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