Board members

The Parole Act 1971 provides for membership of the Parole Board to comprise:

(a) a lawyer who has been admitted to the legal profession for at least 10 years; and

(b) the Director of Correctional Services; and

(c) 2 police officers nominated by the Commissioner of Police; and

(d) 2 persons, each of whom is:

• a medical practitioner; or
• a person registered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law to practise in the psychology profession (other than as a student); and

(e) 2 persons, each of whom represents the interests of victims of crime; and

(f) 10 persons who reflect, as closely as possible, the composition of the community at large and include women and Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders.

The member appointed under (a) is the Chairperson of the Board.

While the Parole Board is comprised of 18 members, they are not all required for every meeting. For matters concerning prisoners serving a life sentence for the crime of murder all six of the member categories must be represented and there must be a minimum of eight members present. For all other prisoners, members referred to in (a), (b), (c), (e) and two of the members from (f) can be represented and there must be a minimum of the Chairperson and three other members present.

A prisoner who is serving a life sentence for the crime of murder cannot be released on parole unless the Members of the Parole Board unanimously agree.