I am excited to share our bold initiatives to tackle youth crime in Queensland and here in Pumicestone.
Under our Making Our Community Safer plan, the LNP, if elected in October, will introduce Adult Crime, Adult Time and a $175 million Staying on Track program, aimed at serious youth offenders and reducing repeat offences.
Adult Crime, Adult Time
Our Adult Crime, Adult Time policy ensures that youth offenders committing serious crimes like murder, manslaughter, serious harm, home invasions and dangerous driving will face the same sentences as adults. As the LNP Leader, David Crisafulli, put it: "Youth criminals will face real consequences for their actions".
An expert panel will also be established to assess and expand the list of offences qualifying for adult sentences.
We know when adult sentences kick in, the rate of offenders committing crimes like robbery and breaking into homes with intent dramatically drop-off, which suggests sentences are a major deterrent for crime.
Nearly a decade ago, Labor watered-down our youth crime laws, creating a generation of hardcore youth criminals who know they don’t face consequences for their crimes. Labor’s actions have emboldened youth offenders to terrorise our communities without any impact for their crimes. If you violate the sanctity of someone’s home, breaking in and robbing them, you should receive adult time.
Queenslanders have been aghast at hardened youth offenders who repeatedly commit serious crimes and have never been sentenced to a night in detention.
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.
Staying on Track Program
Complementing this policy, we would introduce the $175 million Staying on Track program, which will provide an intensive 12-month rehabilitation plan for youth offenders transitioning from detention to community life.
Under the LNP’s plan, young people will have 12-month post-release support from a community service who is partnered with them while in detention, to bridge the transition to community, offering stability and a pathway to education and employment over the year after release.
Every plan will be tailored to the young person and designed to help them prepare for a productive future in employment and community, with tasks including schooling or TAFE, driving lessons, professional mentoring, volunteering, sports and extra-curriculars.
Queensland has the highest rate of recidivism in Australia, with 91% of young people released from detention returning within a year, exposing detention is serving only to detain, not rehabilitate offenders.
Detention should not only remove dangerous youth from our streets but also rehabilitate them. The Staying on Track program will support youth offenders in turning their lives around, offering stability and a pathway to a productive future.
LNP's Commitment to Community Safety
These policies sit alongside our previous announcements of amending the Youth Justice Act to remove the “detention as a last resort” provision and prioritising victims' rights over those of offenders.
Our comprehensive approach to youth crime reform highlights our commitment to making Queensland communities safer. By focusing on both accountability and rehabilitation, we aim to reduce youth crime rates and provide offenders with opportunities for a positive future.
As your LNP candidate for Pumicestone, I wholeheartedly support these measures. They are crucial for restoring community safety and confidence in our justice system.
Only the LNP has the right priorities for Queensland’s future, ensuring serious offenders face the consequences while providing necessary support for reintegration into society.
For more information on the LNP’s Making Our Community Safer plan, please visit the LNP’s official website lnp.org.au
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