March 10, 2020
A day after the LNP vowed to come down tough on young offenders, the State Government has announced sweeping changes to crack down on youth crime.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said on Tuesday she had listened to the community and had acted.
“We acknowledge that local communities and their families have concerns about youth crime,” the Premier said.
“Where there is crime there must be punishment. Criminals – especially young ones – should fear the law
“It has to be crystal clear to everybody community safety comes first.”
The State Government unveiled a five-point plan which includes:
- Tougher action on bail. Offenders posing a risk to the community should not get bail
- A police blitz on bail, appealing court decisions where appropriate
- A 24/7 Police Strike Team involving youth justice workers for high risk offenders
- Culture-based rehabilitation for indigenous offenders through new On Country initiatives trialled in Townsville, Cairns and Mount Isa
- Empowering local communities in the war on crime with $2 million for community-based organisations for local community-based solutions
The 10 community-based crime action committees will be rolled out in:
- Cairns
- Townsville
- Rockhampton
- Mount Isa
- Toowoomba
- Caboolture
- Ipswich
- Logan
- Gold Coast
- Brisbane
Five locations – Townsville, Cairns, Brisbane North, Logan and Rockhampton – will trial a new police/youth justice worker partnership targeting high-risk offenders.
- Related article: LNP Promises Youth Crime Crackdown
So Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and the ALP vow to get tough on youth crime (as part of their election promises) just like the LNP.
You’ve had your chance Premier Palaszczuk, you and the State ALP, already and failed. Maybe we need someone else to do the job of tackling youth crime in Queensland because your government just hasn’t stepped forward and acted in the interest of the people of Queensland in this regard.
A big thank you to the Kingaroy Police (and their Police backup support from other areas) for doing their job “above and beyond”. God bless you for the outstanding work you do curbing youth crime (especially repeat offenders).
The Magistrates let you down and let us down far too often by being light on crime. Magistrates act like Kings and Queens in their “ivory towers” dispensing their brand of justice. They fail far too often to protect the community, especially with domestic violence repeat offenders and youth crime repeat offenders.
Magistrates need to open their eyes and see what is going on around them, that people are hurting (victims of crime). They need to stop thinking of themselves as elitist and do the job they were given to do – protect the community from crime and listen to police input and advice.
Shame Premier Annastacia, You always excel in the talk but when it comes to seeing that it should be done you run away and smile some more. That doesn’t cut the mustard! And some of your ministers do not deserve their jobs either. Pity that Jo-ann Miller had to resign as she did have some get up and go. Some of us will miss her!
Wouldn’t one think that one of the 10 community-based crime action committees would be based in the South Burnett area seeing as we have some fairly rampant goings on {motor vehicle theft etc.} in this localised region. Seems all we can do is hope and hope some more. The Police are doing as much as they are allowed to do and they are working hard to reduce the crime. If only the Govt would get their finger out instead of the “she will be right” attitude!