Town’s crime plague

MAREEBA residents will gather to demand action on youth crime at a rally in Davies Park on December 19.

Former Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Inspector Denis McKinley is spearheading a campaign to address what he says is rampant crime in the Tablelands township.

“The justice system is out of whack, there’s no consequences for these offenders, and this message needs to get to the Premier,” Mr McKinley said. “They are causing absolute pandemonium in this town, they have no respect for the police or anybody else.

“They target the elderly and the vulnerable, and they damage public assets every night, they congregate behind the back of the post office.”

Mr McKinley said alcohol restrictions and curfews for those under 16 would help.

He said Mareeba’s reputation was at stake, with visitors, including grey nomads, being accosted at ATMs.

Aaron Jonsson, of 2 Wheels N Wear motorbike shop, is among dozens of businesses to have been broken into.

“The situation is terrible, people need to be held accountable for their action,” Mr Jonsson said. “A curfew would help, but it has got to be policed and police have got their hands tied.”

Mareeba resident Barry Simpson said “talkfests” including a roundtable with Cook MP Cynthia Lui this year had proven fruitless.

“It’s bloody bad – Mareeba has become a dumping ground for recidivist miscreants and it is high time Cynthia

Lui represented all people in Cook, particularly those who have been victims of crime,” Mr Simpson said.

Joan Moore, 85, who received an Order of Australia medal for services to the community, was shaken after her home was broken into and her vehicle stolen.

“I feel unsafe, I’ve got to stay here, will it happen again – probably,” Mrs Moore said.

“We are all frightened, terrified. This has just about pushed me over the edge.”

Mareeba Shire Council has asked State Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to address escalating youth crime.

Councillor Locky Bensted said it was time for the state government to step up.

“It is quite simply unacceptable to have elderly residents, and mums and dads with young kids intimidated,” Mr Bensted said.

Ms Lui did not respond before deadline because she was in parliament.

Police statistics reveal crime levels are at their highest since 2017 with 2287 offences recorded this year. This compares with 1198 in Atherton and 14,950 in Cairns.