CRIM KIDS TO PAY BACK
LNP vows to get tough on serious young offenders
THE LNP has promised a tougher stance on young criminals should it win the next state election.
The hard- line youth justice policy would see young offenders forced to pay back the community for their crimes and the courts given power to restrict eligibility for driver’s licences of people found guilty of car theft and hooning offences.
The LNP would also make breaching bail an offence for young offenders, remove the principle of detention as a last resort after a second offence and give courts the ability to name and shame those found guilty of a third offence.
“Labor scrapped the LNP’s tough youth justice reforms and every single North Queenslander in some way or another has paid the price for that decision,” said Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls.
JUVENILE delinquents will be forced to pay back the community for their crimes under reforms flagged by the state Opposition.
If the LNP is voted in at the upcoming state election they also plan to force young criminals into community service, make them spend more time locked up and if they’ve stolen cars, they won’t be eligible for drivers’ licences.
The reforms will replace Labor policies which the LNP says have led to a “revolving door” at the Townsville Courthouse.
Shadow attorney- general Ian Walker yesterday detailed key aspects of the LNP’s youth crime strategy.
“The LNP will introduce a minimum mandatory community payback scheme for young offenders convicted of unlawful entry, car theft or hooning offences,” Mr Walker said.
“These offenders will be required to undertake a community service order to show their remorse and reparation for their crime.
“This will be mandatory after their first offence – no ifs, no buts and no more excuses. The LNP will also provide courts with the ability to restrict a young person’s eligibility for a driver’s licence if they have been convicted of certain car theft and hooning offences.”
LNP leader Tim Nicholls said the Labor Party had failed Townsville with its soft crime policy. He said young criminals were running riot on North Queensland streets without any fear of repercussions.
“The LNP will make no apologies for being tough on youth crime so North Queensland residents can reclaim their communities,” Mr Nicholls said.
“The LNP will introduce breach of bail as an offence for young offenders after we listened to our frustrated police.
“Our hard- working police are sick to death of arresting some young thug in the morn- ing only to rearrest them in the afternoon after they have been given a free pass.
“The LNP will also remove the principle of detention as a last resort for repeat young offenders after their second offence and give courts the ability to name and shame an offender after their third offence.”
Mr Walker said Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s socalled “crackdown” on youth crime had resulted in only 17 young criminals being hauled before the much- hyped “high risk court”.
“Annastacia Palaszczuk should hang her head in shame because she sold out Townsville by putting the interests of young thugs ahead of families to secure votes with the innercity bleeding heart brigade,” he said.
“North Queensland communities are sick to death of young offenders running riot on their streets with impunity.
“The blame for this falls firmly at the feet of Annastacia Palaszczuk.
“Labor scrapped the LNP’s tough youth justice reforms and every single North Queenslander in some way or another has paid the price for that decision.
“The LNP will not let North Queenslanders forget that Annastacia Palaszczuk put the interests of young thugs and her own job ahead of them.”
THE LNP WILL MAKE NO APOLOGIES FOR BEING TOUGH ON YOUTH CRIME SO NORTHNO QUEENSLAND RESIDENTS CAN RECLAIM THEIR COMMUNITIES. OPPOSITION LEADER TIM NICHOLLS ( LEFT)