Queensland parole law changes could extend wife killer Gerard Baden-Clay's sentence

The possible release of wife killer Gerard Baden-Clay next year could be pushed back by up to a decade under proposed changes to Queensland's parole laws.

The state government is expanding restricted prisoner legislation to apply to all perpetrators serving a life sentence.

Currently, the state's parole board can only apply the laws to child killers and people who have murdered more than one person.

Restricted prisoners face harsher parole eligibility and can be deemed unsuitable for release for up to 10 years.

Corrective Services Minister Laura Gerber said it meant some of the state's worst criminals could be kept behind bars longer.

"Prisoners that commit some of the most heinous crimes, the most depraved sexual acts, murderers, prisoners like Baden Clay, like Ashley Paul Griffith, prisoners sentenced to life now could be held in prison for up to 10 more years," she said.

"These are significant changes, and they're being made because as a government we are focused on the rights of victims."

Baden-Clay was sentenced to life in prison in 2012 for the murder of his wife, Allison, with a non-parole period of 15 years.

Her sister and chair of her foundation, Vanessa Fowler, said her family was secondary victims of the crime.

"I think the question is, what is the value of a life? And for us, we believe that 15 years doesn't qualify as a life sentence."

There are currently 71 restricted prisoners in Queensland jails, and 330 offenders serving life sentences.

Parole Board changes to strengthen 'rights of victims'

The announcement comes after the release of an independent report into Queensland's Parole Board.

The government supported, or supported in principle, 31 of the 46 recommendations from the review.

Under the changes, victims will be notified when an offender is granted parole, and victim submissions must be considered by the Board during all stages of a parole application.

Community safety will be the main consideration when deciding an offender's parole, and a decision made by the Board can be published if it is in the public interest.

Rejected recommendations included automatically starting the parole process, limiting the number of parole conditions, and limiting the Board's ability to defer a decision.

Rise in delayed parole

The review noted a significant number of prisoners remained in jail past their parole eligibility date.

In 2025, of the 6,460 total sentenced prisoners, 1,809 were held beyond the parole eligibility date; almost a third.

The report noted that the overstaying did not meet community expectations.

"This is truly remarkable in a society where personal liberty is valued," the report reads.

"The delay in releasing a prisoner into the community is also inconsistent with the view that parole provides some assistance in conditioning a prisoner back into the community, and therefore is of some value in reducing reoffending and antisocial behaviour."

It further noted the "high" financial consequence.

It cited data showing the daily cost of a prisoner in Queensland in the 2023/24 financial year was almost $370, or just over $135,000 annually.