Spent Convictions QLD
I was convicted of drug trafficking in QLD 2014 and got a 4 year suspended sentence. I did not spend anytime in prison and never reoffended. At the time my lawyer told me that after 10 years it would stop showing up on background checks.
Recently I accepted a new job offer and resigned from previous job. I did not declare my conviction as I thought it would be spent. I live and work in Victoria and was looking at the Victorian spent conviction rules which I now realise was a mistake. National background check came through 3 days before my start date and they rescinded the job offer.
When I checked the QLD spent conviction rules it seems they do not distinguish between a suspended sentence and a custodial sentence (actual time spent in prison). Because my sentence was more than 30 months it says my conviction can never be spent.
Do I have any options? Is there any point in getting advice from a law firm?
Were the laws changed? Or did my lawyer just give me incorrect advice?
Is there a pathway to plead my case in front of a judge?
I have a BA and was planning to go back to uni for a masters but a professional career seems out of reach now. This is severely limiting my options and the thought that it will never ever go away is crushing me.
Appreciate any advice.