A parole board exercising discretion under s 166 of the Corrective Services Act 1988 (Qld) is obliged to consider the public interest in encouraging prisoner cooperation with authorities in the prosecution of organised crime and corruption. A board that states it does not perceive its statutory duty to encourage or discourage such cooperation has failed to take into account a relevant consideration. Where a sentencing judge makes a post-sentencing recommendation for early parole based on subsequent cooperation, the board should treat that recommendation as providing a sound prima facie basis for release, taking the application out of the general run of cases.
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