Murderer Gerard Baden-Clay could remain behind bars for an extra decade under proposed parole reforms aimed at Queensland’s worst offenders.
The former Brisbane real estate agent, who murdered his wife Allison Baden-Clay in a case that shocked the nation, is due to become eligible for parole next year after serving the 15-year non-parole period attached to his life sentence.
Reforms follow independent review
The reforms follow an independent review into the state’s parole system, with the government backing 31 of 46 recommendations aimed at strengthening the rights of victims and their families. Among the proposed changes announced by Queensland Corrective Services Minister Laura Gerber on Monday was an expansion of the “restricted prisoner” category to include offenders serving life sentences, giving the parole board the power to keep them behind bars for up to 10 more years.
Queensland Corrective Services Minister Laura Gerber said the proposed reforms would strengthen victims’ rights in the parole process.
Baden-Clay's case revisited
Gerard Baden-Clay presented himself as a charming real estate agent, devoted husband and doting father before his carefully constructed life unravelled in 2012 when he reported his wife Allison missing. Her body was discovered 10 days later under a bridge in Brisbane’s west, sparking one of the country’s most high-profile murder investigations. Detectives quickly became suspicious of Baden-Clay after inconsistencies emerged in his account of Allison’s disappearance.
The case was also examined on 7NEWS’ true crime podcast Kiss & Kill, which explored the hidden warning signs and double life Gerard Baden-Clay tried to conceal before murdering his wife.
Government pushes for longer sentences
Now, as his parole eligibility date approaches next year, the Queensland government is pushing reforms designed to keep the state’s worst offenders behind bars longer. The changes have the backing of families of murder victims.
“We believe that 15 years doesn’t qualify as a life sentence,” Vanessa Fowler, Allison’s sister and chair of the Allison Baden-Clay Foundation, said.
The overhaul would also strengthen victims’ rights, including notifying families when offenders are granted parole and considering victim submissions during applications. “For too long under Labor, parole was seen as a right as opposed to a privilege,” Gerber said. “The fact that a victim found out that their prisoner was granted parole by bumping into them in a supermarket demonstrates the failures of the parole system under the previous Labor government.”
Expanded restricted prisoner category
Under the proposed overhaul, anyone serving a life sentence, including murderers like Baden-Clay, would be classified as a “restricted prisoner”, expanding the category beyond multiple murderers and child killers. If passed through parliament, the legislation would apply to prisoners already in the system, with all 330 offenders currently serving life sentences in Queensland to be classified as restricted prisoners.
“So now anyone sentenced to life imprisonment can be held behind bars for up to 10 more years longer,” Gerber said.
