found it.
http://www.thedaily.com.au/news/2008/oct/10/aap-tougher-qld-laws-for-child-neglect/

found on thedaily.com.au news site

Tougher Qld laws for child neglect

Published 9:47a.m. 10th October 2008

Updated 11:27a.m. 10th October 2008

Queenslanders can now challenge one another to duels but face gaol for leaving their children unsupervised.

Assaults on frontline public servants, such as child safety officers will attract the same penalties as assaults on police or prison officers under sweeping reforms to the state's criminal law.

Attorney-General Kerry Shine said the Criminal Code and Other Acts Amendment Bill, passed by State Parliament Thursday night, equipped Queensland with a criminal code that reflected a contemporary society.

"There were some obvious areas that needed to be refocused - obsolete provisions such as the offence of challenging a person to a duel - which have been repealed," Mr Shine said.

"But the amendments also introduce new offences into the code, one specifically aimed at parents and carers who leave their children unsupervised for an unreasonable period."

Parents and carers who leave children aged under 12 abandoned in public places, vehicles or home alone for unreasonably long periods face three years in prison.

The changes include an increase from two years to 14 years in prison for an accessary to manslaughter or attempted murder.

Last edited by I Hate GOV, DEPT; Fri 10 Oct 2008 09:58:PM.