A sentence of two years' imprisonment for possession of 15.877 grams of pure methylamphetamine (73% purity, nearly eight times the 2.0 gram threshold) is within the permissible sentencing range where the offender has an escalating drug-related criminal history, was convicted after trial, showed no remorse, and committed the offence while on notice for other offences. Section 160B(4) of the Penalties and Sentences Act 1992 (Qld) creates an anomaly whereby a Magistrates Court's parole release date, set by reference to an existing sentence, may prevent the Court of Appeal from setting an earlier parole release date on re-sentence, even where the original sentence has been set aside.
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