Pollies fire up over the issues of crime and housing

Government ministers have been quizzed about crime and housing at parliamentary question time at a less than well-attended session by Cairns voters.

An after-hours sitting of regional parliament on the second day of sitting at the Cairns Convention Centre certainly had a Far North flavour amid often heated interjection on emotionally charged topics such as saltwater crocodile management and skyrocketing rates of crime.

SOCIAL HOUSING EVERTON MP TIM MANDER

Will the Premier clarify whether the government’s commitment to deliver 5600 social houses through the Housing Investment Fund is to actually build them or only fund them?

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk

We on this side of the House recognise that there are housing pressures.

We recognise that there is nothing more important to a family than to have a roof over their head. We have a clear vision for this state. It is a vision of creativity, of making sure our young people have opportunities and making sure we build more housing across our state. That is why we have set up our construction arm company at QBuild, we are going to have one in Cairns . . .

YOUTH CRIME Kawana MP Jarrod Bleijie

After the Police Minister’s comments on police personnel promises and with the Queensland government workforce data showing there are fewer frontline police now than two years ago, how can the residents of Cairns and the Far North have confidence in a single promise this government makes to deal with the youth crime crisis gripping this region?

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk We are recruiting more police officers. It is not an issue that is uncommon to other parts of the country. As we know, we have put in place stronger laws tackling the issue of crime.

There are many good men and women who are doing great work out there who want those young people out of a life of crime and want them to be in jobs.