Feedback from victims of crime will be streamlined to government through an independent advisory group announced in Queensland. The Palaszczuk government confirmed the establishment of the body on Wednesday, with an interim victims' commissioner announced last week. Both form part of a response to growing concerns about youth crime across the state. Acting Premier Steven Miles believes the advisory group could be up and running by the end of the year. "If it needs some legislation, that might take a bit longer but we could at least have a group in place and then the legislation can follow if we need to," Mr Miles told ABC Radio. "This is really about saying that we acknowledge we can do better for victims, and we want to do that as quickly as we can." The independent advisory group will provide a stronger voice, engage with victims of crime, and help identify what can be done to improve support. Ministers, police chief Katarina Carroll and Voice for Victims representatives convened on Wednesday to discuss how the body might be delivered. Voices for Victims spokesman Ben Cannon welcomed the commitment but said details around its framework and powers needed to be fine-tuned. Mr Cannon led a 250-strong protest outside parliament last month that rallied for more rights for victims. "The proof will be in the detail," he told Nine's Today show on Thursday. "We're also going to ask that they put in simple terms the framework they would see that committee looking like and the powers that committee will have." The acting premier said along with feedback from Voices for Victims, the government would consult with other victims groups in the coming weeks. "There are many other groups that need to have a say on this proposal and feel like they have some ownership," he told reporters in Brisbane. Opposition Leader David Crisafulli welcomed the decision as a step in the right direction. However, he said "it shouldn't have taken a brave group of Queenslanders to get the government to acknowledge that youth crime is in crisis". Australian Associated Press
