The Queensland attorney-general's latest move to be tough on crime has civil libertarians claiming he is attacking the separation of powers.
Jarrod Bleijie is looking at dumping court-ordered parole and suspended jail sentences, due to community concern about crimes committed by offenders on parole.
Currently about 300 offenders are returned to jail each month for parole breaches, and Mr Bleijie says that's clearly a problem.
The former lawyer has held a "strong position" for years and expects reform by the end of the year.
"I don't think it is effective," he said.
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
"The rights of offenders are coming before the rights of victims.
"I think offenders are thumbing their nose at the law because they know they're going to be released on a particular date because the court has ordered them to be released on that date."
The Newman government promised to throw the book at crims during the election campaign, but some say its gone too far.
The state could breach UN conventions if it goes ahead with a proposal to name and shame young offenders and house 17-year-old offenders in adult prisons.
The AG is also accused of excessively appealing sentences to appear tough on law and order.
On Wednesday he asked the Director of Public Prosecutions to appeal the sentences given to three teens for a series of bag snatches on the Gold Coast.
The teens, aged 15 and 16, avoided jail time and received probation and community service.
It's the fifth appeal this year.
Australia's top civil libertarian Terry O'Gorman says dropping court-ordered parole and suspended jail sentences is an attack on judicial independence.
Under the changes, judges would lose the power to base their decision on the facts of individual cases.
He challenged Mr Bleijie to produce evidence that the current system was not working.
"The announcement fundamentally attacks the separation of powers," the president of the Australian Council of Civil Liberties says.
The Bar Association of Queensland can see no need or benefit in change.
"The Queensland Bar Association encourages the broadening of sentencing options available to judges," Peter Davis SC says.
