Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk recently announced that a new $250 million youth remand centre designed to hold 50 children will be “rapidly” built at Wacol. This will be alongside the youth detention centres planned for Woodford and Cairns, currently slated to open in 2026.
Whilst there is no question the facility is needed (although the cost is eye-watering), let’s not forget why it’s needed. And nor should it be seen as the solution to the Youth Crime Crisis gripping all of Queensland, including Bribie Island and surrounds.
How did we get here?
Over eight years ago, the Palaszczuk Government watered down the Youth Justice Act. There were no consequences for actions and a cohort of young criminals was created.
Since then, crime has been on the rise to the point it has now reached crisis levels. Newly released figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics sadly prove what we are all feeling, Queensland is officially the crime capital of Australia.
In 2022, almost 200,000 Queenslanders were victims of crime. That’s 200,000 Queenslanders in one year – what a sad indictment on the Palaszczuk Labor Government.
You are more likely to be robbed, have your home broken into, or your car stolen in Queensland than in any other part of Australia.
At the same time there are fewer police officers now than two years ago.
And this is costing you money.
Insurance premiums in Queensland rose by 21% last year – the biggest jump in the country.
According to Canstar, higher crime was a significant driver of this rise - higher crime means more insurance claims, which leads to higher insurance premiums.
The LNP lobbied and lobbied and lobbied the Palaszczuk to reintroduce “breach of bail” as an offence. After eight years of telling us they wouldn’t, they couldn’t, they did. It’s why, now, they need to “rapidly” build a youth remand centre at Wacol – so these kids don’t end up stuck in watch houses.
But, again, don’t think that’s the end of the problem. When the judiciary comes to sentencing these young criminals, they still come up against the principle of “detention as a last resort” in the Youth Justice Act. It’s that simple – the judges must consider detention as a last resort. Until we remove that principle from the act, we have effectively shackled the judiciary and created a revolving door for young offenders.
Like “breach of bail”, the Palaszczuk Labor Government must listen to the LNP and to Queenslanders and agree to remove detention as a last resort in sentencing.
But the current youth justice system is failing at both ends of the spectrum. The Palaszczuk Government have created a cohort of kids for who detention is necessary. But we must stop future generations of young people, of children, heading down the same path.
That’s why you’ve also told us in the LNP we must be implementing gold standard early intervention and prevention programs to prevent kids turning to crime in the first place and to turn young offenders around before they get caught in the cycle of repeat offending.
The LNP Opposition wrote to the Queensland Audit Office (QAO) calling for an immediate review of the more than $1 billion being spent on prevention and early intervention programs. There is no doubt some of those services are working. But it’s also pretty clear that many are not!
The QAO is currently undertaking that audit - assessing whether youth justice strategies and programs are effective in reducing crime by serious repeat offenders and improving community safety. They expect to table their report in parliament before March 2024. We eagerly await the findings of that audit as they will help guide how a future LNP state government would invest in prevention and early intervention.
A key responsibility of a government is to create a safe environment for people to live their lives. The Palaszczuk Labor Government have given up. An LNP government will have no greater priority than providing this to Queenslanders.
As I wrap up, if you have been impacted by crime, or your insurance premiums have jumped significantly, share your story with me. Please email me at Glass.House@parliament.qld.gov.au with your experience.
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