A notorious wife killer may be kept behind bars for another decade under a state's proposed parole reforms that have been backed by victims' families.
Gerard Baden-Clay is up for parole next year after receiving a life sentence for murdering his wife Allison in 2012 in a crime that shocked the country.
However, he may be kept in prison until 2037 after the Queensland government announced restricted prisoner changes to be introduced to parliament.
"This is a significant change to ensure we prioritise the rights of victims," Corrective Services Minister Laura Gerber told reporters on Monday, saying the reforms were aimed at the "worst of the worst".
Following a parole board review, the state government is set to expand the classification of restricted prisoners, previously limited to child killers and multiple murderers.
The classification allowed the board to delay a prisoner's parole consideration by up to 10 years.
Under proposed laws, the restricted prisoner definition would be expanded to include anyone sentenced to life in prison.
Baden-Clay received a 15 year non-parole period as part of his life sentence after being found guilty of his wife's murder.
The proposed parole changes were backed by Allison Baden-Clay's sister Vanessa Fowler after years of advocacy.
"We are the secondary victims following the murder of my sister Allison," she told reporters on Monday.
"We were also handed a life sentence when she was murdered, and we live without her, and we miss her each and every day.
"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."
Ms Fowler had been fighting for change for years, acting as chair of the Allison Baden-Clay Foundation that was established to raise domestic and family violence awareness.
She fronted media on Monday alongside Ms Gerber and Danielle Carroll, sister of Kelly Wilkinson who was murdered by her estranged husband Brian Earl Johnston in front of her children on the Gold Coast in 2021.
Johnston was sentenced to life for her murder in 2024, receiving a non-parole period of 20 years.
"He was given 20 years, and 20 years is still not a life sentence," Ms Carroll said.
"This doesn't just affect me, it affects my whole family."
Ms Gerber made the announcement on Monday following an independent report into the state parole board.
In other changes following the review, victims will be notified when a prisoner is released on parole.
Victim submissions must also be considered by the board during a parole application and the board can publish its decisions if it is in the public interest.
"These changes are about ensuring the human rights of victims are prioritised - for too long victims were left sidelined and secondary," Ms Gerber said.
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