Rohan Slater

Findings — machine-extracted (anthropic-batch:claude-opus-4-8); verify against the decision

Rohan Slater, an in-house solicitor of 20 years, swore a false statutory declaration falsely claiming he was the responsible person in charge of a vehicle to have his stepson's mobile-phone traffic infringement reissued to him, to protect his stepson's prospects of joining the Queensland Police Service. He was convicted of making a false declaration (s 194 Criminal Code) and fraud (s 408C) and sentenced to 150 hours community service with no conviction recorded. QCAT found the charge proved and professional misconduct established, expressly finding dishonesty. Despite finding Slater presently fit to practise, the Tribunal held general deterrence and protection of the profession's standing required suspension. He was publicly reprimanded, his practising certificate suspended from 1 February to 31 December 2026, and ordered to pay the Commissioner's standard-basis costs.

Duties found breached:

• Proper basis for allegations
• Uphold public trust in the profession
• No baseless or threatened misconduct report

Aggravating factors:

• Blatant dishonesty involving a knowingly false sworn statutory declaration
• Conduct was deliberate and not momentary - the declaration was carefully drafted
• Swearing of a false declaration is fundamentally contrary to expectations of a legal practitioner
• Used the false declaration to induce withdrawal/reissue of the infringement notice

Mitigating factors:

• Over 20 years of unblemished practice with no prior disciplinary findings
• Conduct occurred in personal life, not in professional practice
• Motivated not by personal gain but to protect stepson's prospects of entry to the Queensland Police Service
• Under significant workplace pressure at the time
• Full insight and remorse; sought psychological and other counselling
• Completed 150 hours community service
• Assessed as highly unlikely to reoffend and presently fit to practise
• Not guilty plea was on legal (King's Counsel) advice