July 9, 2024
Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington has welcomed the announcement by Opposition Leader David Crisafulli of tougher penalties for juvenile offenders.
The LNP released its “Adult Crime, Adult Time” policy at the LNP’s State Convention on the weekend.
The policy would be implemented if the LNP gains power at the October 26 State election.
Mrs Frecklington said it would restore consequences for actions.
“This policy will help address youth crime in the South Burnett and send a clear message to youth offenders they will serve serious time for their crimes,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“For too long now youth criminals have been tormenting our local communities, and they often get nothing more than a slap on the wrist.”
She said the LNP’s policy would focus on serious crimes including murder, manslaughter, wounding, break-ins, robbery, car theft and the dangerous operation of vehicles.
“This is the tough-on-crime response people of the South Burnett have been asking for, while Labor has repeatedly refused to listen,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“If you violate the sanctity of someone’s home, breaking in and robbing them, you should receive adult time.
“When someone loses their life to a youth crime, or are seriously wounded, they should be assured these offenders will face the same tough sentences as an adult would.”
We need to prevent crime not lock up for longer.
I am not an expert but I would presume that the longer a youngster spends incarcerated the more likely they will become institutionalised.
Obviously bail issues are a problem around the country as a whole: if no crime is committed then it is a moot point.
How to prevent crime? It takes a village to raise a child. It is not police, it is not courts, it is us.
I would like to see more foot patrols by the police but we are all responsible.
I agree with Andrew – we will get further as a society if we tackle the root causes of crime rather than focus purely on punishment.
For example, a new report has just found that Alice Springs – surprise! surprise! – has a chronic homelessness problem. No wonder they’ve had a CBD crime wave, is it? And the same can probably be said of any area where high levels of poverty exist alongside areas of wealth.
Sounds good BUT where are you going to warehouse these kids? Our adult jails are packed out, our youth detention centres are overcrowded, you’re not allowed to store them in watchhouse cells any more so where are you going to put them? The hypothetical “boot camps out west” don’t exist (thank goodness).
How about looking at the reasons WHY so many kids are breaking into houses, nicking cars and running riot? They can’t see a reason not to, not because of the lack of punishment or consequences but because they can’t see a better future for themselves, so they may as well have “fun” now, before they die.
Spend the money in the community.
Commit funding for long-term projects … 10, 20 or 30 years not just 12 months.
Spend the money on alcohol and drug rehabilitation centres. How many places are available in Queensland right now? I’d be surprised if there were half-a-dozen vacancies where people (young or old) could book in today and get help.
Deb Frecklington used to be a solicitor. She would have seen these kids and adults in court, and defended them. She knows the root cause of the problems are not the magistrates or “the system”, but the intergenerational poverty, child abuse, drug issues and joblessness.
Build hope and health and the crime will drop away. But that’s too hard and takes too long. It’s much easier to just bang on about crime and “lock ’em up”.
It won’t work but it may win some votes.
I too, agree with Andrew and also Over It All. The young offenders have no fear and therefore no reason not to commit crimes. It is not up to the police force to spend so much of their valuable time in apprehending these wayward youths. Surely society values haven’t disappeared completely! Have the parents or guardians of children and youths given up on their responsibilities? The young ones obviously need care, discipline, guidance and understanding, and no doubt a brighter future to look forward to. Although it’s obvious the answer is not as simple as that.