Australia's National Prison Newspaper

Australia's National
Prison Newspaper

Welcome to About Time

About Time is the national newspaper for Australian prisons and detention facilities

Your browser window currently does not have enough height, or is zoomed in too far to view our website content correctly. Once the window reaches the minimum required height or zoom percentage, the content will display automatically.

Alternatively, you can learn more via the links below.

Donations via GiveNow

Email

Instagram

LinkedIn

ISSUE NO. 2

AUGUST 2024

Donate Here

Legal Corner

Travel While on Parole

By

Prisoners’ Legal Service (PLS) is a not-for-profit community legal centre that is dedicated to providing information and advice to people in Queensland prisons. PLS provides information and advice in relation to issues arising from imprisonment, including human rights violations, use of solitary confinement, parole matters, and obtaining access to rehabilitation. Due to high demand for assistance and limited resources, PLS can provide a limited number of people in Queensland prisons with assistance and representation. Eligibility criteria is applied when selecting clients to receive our assistance.

Font Size
Font Size
Line Height
Line Height
Dyslexia Friendly
Black & White
Hide Images
Night Mode

This is intended to provide legal information only and is no substitute for legal advice. If you wish to take any action arising from matters raised in this publication you should consult a lawyer immediately.

Can I travel when I’m on parole?

A parole order will include general and specific conditions. These include getting approval from the relevant authority for any travel interstate, or overseas.

Interstate travel

Getting approval to travel to another state or territory in Australia will come from the relevant state or territory agency.

In Queensland for example, if you wish to travel interstate for fewer than seven days, permission must be first given by your Parole Officer, or by the Parole Board. If you have been granted parole by a Court (‘Court ordered parole’) then the period of leave outside of Queensland may be more than seven days. The Parole Board can also grant permission to travel interstate for more than seven days. An approval granted for travel can be subject to conditions that the Parole Board considers to be appropriate.

Approval processes are in place in each state and territory. The requirements for obtaining permission to travel, as well as details such as how long you can be away for, are specific to each location. Talk with your Parole Officer about what is required to get interstate travel approval in your state or territory.

Overseas travel

You will also need approval to travel overseas whilst on parole. In Queensland you have to get permission from the Parole Board, which will only grant permission to travel overseas for compassionate purposes in exceptional circumstances.

As with interstate travel, the application process for obtaining permission to travel overseas while on parole depends on the rules in your state or territory. In all cases, prior approval is required in order to travel overseas.

Can I travel when I’m on parole?

A parole order will include general and specific conditions. These include getting approval from the relevant authority for any travel interstate, or overseas.

Interstate travel

Getting approval to travel to another state or territory in Australia will come from the relevant state or territory agency.

In Queensland for example, if you wish to travel interstate for fewer than seven days, permission must be first given by your Parole Officer, or by the Parole Board. If you have been granted parole by a Court (‘Court ordered parole’) then the period of leave outside of Queensland may be more than seven days. The Parole Board can also grant permission to travel interstate for more than seven days. An approval granted for travel can be subject to conditions that the Parole Board considers to be appropriate.

Approval processes are in place in each state and territory. The requirements for obtaining permission to travel, as well as details such as how long you can be away for, are specific to each location. Talk with your Parole Officer about what is required to get interstate travel approval in your state or territory.

Overseas travel

You will also need approval to travel overseas whilst on parole. In Queensland you have to get permission from the Parole Board, which will only grant permission to travel overseas for compassionate purposes in exceptional circumstances.

As with interstate travel, the application process for obtaining permission to travel overseas while on parole depends on the rules in your state or territory. In all cases, prior approval is required in order to travel overseas.

Legal Q&A

Do you have a general legal query that you want answered?

Submit Your Question

Federal parole

If you are on a federal parole order and wish to travel interstate, you should check the interstate travel conditions included in your parole order to confirm which agency you need to get permission from.

If you wish to travel overseas you must obtain permission from the federal Attorney-General or their delegate. During the first quarter of a federal parole order, overseas travel will only be approved in urgent or exceptional circumstances, and the maximum period of travel permitted during this time is four weeks.

For the remainder of your federal parole period, travelling overseas is only allowed for a legitimate reason that cannot be delayed until after the parole period has ended. Travelling overseas for a holiday will not normally be approved. The maximum period of travel permitted during this period of parole is six weeks.

Applications should be made in writing and contain detailed information about why you want to travel overseas. The applications should be made to your Parole Officer at least two months before you plan to travel, unless circumstances do not allow such time.

The Attorney-General’s office recommends that you do not apply for a passport or make travel arrangements to go overseas until you receive written permission to travel from the delegate of the Attorney-General.

Federal parole

If you are on a federal parole order and wish to travel interstate, you should check the interstate travel conditions included in your parole order to confirm which agency you need to get permission from.

If you wish to travel overseas you must obtain permission from the federal Attorney-General or their delegate. During the first quarter of a federal parole order, overseas travel will only be approved in urgent or exceptional circumstances, and the maximum period of travel permitted during this time is four weeks.

For the remainder of your federal parole period, travelling overseas is only allowed for a legitimate reason that cannot be delayed until after the parole period has ended. Travelling overseas for a holiday will not normally be approved. The maximum period of travel permitted during this period of parole is six weeks.

Applications should be made in writing and contain detailed information about why you want to travel overseas. The applications should be made to your Parole Officer at least two months before you plan to travel, unless circumstances do not allow such time.

The Attorney-General’s office recommends that you do not apply for a passport or make travel arrangements to go overseas until you receive written permission to travel from the delegate of the Attorney-General.

Legal Q&A – No Body, No Parole

Legal Q&A – No Body, No Parole

Legal Q&A – No Body, No Parole

By About Time
By About Time

I wonder if you could explain the new "No Body No Parole" law in New South Wales, where now people charged with murder or manslaughter need letters from the head of police?

Legal Corner

ISSUE NO. 8

3 MIN READ

What You Need to Know About OPCAT

What You Need to Know About OPCAT

What You Need to Know About OPCAT

By Andreea Lachsz
By Andreea Lachsz

When people are imprisoned, they lose their freedom, but they do not lose all of their human rights. International human rights law makes this very clear.

Legal Corner

ISSUE NO. 2

9 MIN READ

Common Human Rights Issues in Prison

Common Human Rights Issues in Prison

Common Human Rights Issues in Prison

By Prisoners’ Legal Service (Queensland)
By Prisoners’ Legal Service (Queensland)

This article discusses some of the human rights that may be relevant in prison with reference to human rights protections under the Human Rights Act 2019 (QLD) in Queensland.

Legal Corner

ISSUE NO. 8

6 MIN READ

Legal Q&A: DSP After Prison

Legal Q&A: DSP After Prison

Legal Q&A: DSP After Prison

From Al
From Al

What is the legal sentence period after which an inmate must reapply for the DSP?

Legal Corner

ISSUE NO. 5

2 MIN READ

Leave a Comment

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
0 Comments
Author Name
Comment Time

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere. uis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

Common Human Rights Issues in Prison

By Prisoners’ Legal Service (Queensland)

This article discusses some of the human rights that may be relevant in prison with reference to human rights protections under the Human Rights Act 2019 (QLD) in Queensland.

Legal Corner

ISSUE NO. 8

6 MIN READ

Legal Q&A – No Body, No Parole

By About Time

I wonder if you could explain the new "No Body No Parole" law in New South Wales, where now people charged with murder or manslaughter need letters from the head of police?

Legal Corner

ISSUE NO. 8

3 MIN READ

The Federal Election: Voting and More

By About Time

The federal election is coming up. It happens about every three years. It’s for electing the government for the whole country – the federal government.

Legal Corner

ISSUE NO. 8

9 MIN READ

Do You Have a Right to Legal Representation?

By Daniel Vansetten

If you believe your right to a fair trial has not been provided, you should seek advice from a lawyer.

Legal Corner

ISSUE NO. 7

5 MIN READ

Get the full paper in print each month.

6-Month Subscription:

Physical copy of About Time delivered to your home or organisation each month for six months. Paid upfront.

Subscribe for $70

12-Month Subscription:

Physical copy of About Time delivered to your home or organisation each month for twelve months. Paid upfront.

Subscribe for $125

Newsletter

Be the first to learn about our monthly stories, plus new initiatives and live events

You've successfully registered!
Something went wrong when we tried to register your details. Please try again.

Support Australia's first national prison newspaper

A place for news and education, expression and hope.

Help us get About Time off the ground. All donations are tax deductible and will be vital in providing an essential resource for people in prison and their loved ones.

It's
About Time.

A place for news and education, expression and hope.

Help us get About Time off the ground. All donations are tax deductible and will be vital in providing an essential resource for people in prison and their loved ones.

Donate Here

Newsletter

Be the first to learn about our monthly stories, plus new initiatives and live events

You've successfully registered!
Something went wrong when we tried to register your details. Please try again.