The laws, which allow for child murderers and serial killers serving life sentences to be denied parole for decades, were passed by parliament on Tuesday.

Under the legislation, the president of the Parole Board of Queensland can block those offenders from being granted early release for up to 10 years at a time.

There is no limit to the number of times the president can make that declaration, which Greens MP Michael Berkman says could lead to arbitrary detention.

"These totally unjustified new parole laws got support from everyone but the Greens last night - the worst part is I'm not even surprised," he told AAP.

"Labor is increasingly resorting to this kind of policy by press conference in a desperate attempt to outdo the LNP's 'tough on crime' nonsense."

The board will have a presumption against parole, with convicted serial killers and child murderers having to prove they do not pose a threat to the community before release is granted.

Those who are unco-operative with authorities investigating their crimes can also be blocked, while parole applications from prisoners who do co-operate will be looked upon more favourably.

Corrective Services Minister Mark Ryan said the laws did not change any existing facts.

He said parole was not an automatic right or entitlement for prisoners.

"There will always be the possibility the prisoner might never be released on parole," Mr Ryan told parliament on Tuesday night.

"Nothing in this framework alters that original sentencing decision.

"These new laws aim to protect those who have endured the pain and suffering of losing a loved one as a result of the offences committed, by reducing further re-traumatisation that the parole process may cause."

Mr Berkman said the government should be focusing on policies to reduce the prison population - such as tackling homelessness, poverty and addiction - ahead of making it easier to keep people locked up.

"Rather than actually fixing the parole delays crisis, the government has granted itself an extension, kicking the can down the road while prisons remain dangerously overcrowded," he said.

"The longer people are stuck in prison, the more difficult it is for them to get back on their feet, and the more likely they are to reoffend."

Liberal National Party MP Dan Purdie, a former police officer, strongly backed the laws on Tuesday night.

He initially triggered debate about parole after he tabled a petition with 72,000 signatures in June to deny parole to Barrie John Watts, who was jailed for the 1987 rape and murder of 12-year-old Sian Kingi.

"In these handful of instances the community is within their rights to demand that individuals convicted of such heinous acts as the murder of Sian do not get such regular access to parole consideration," he said.

"Indeed ... the sentencing judge basically said that in that instance life should mean life."

Australian Associated Press