Youth crime put on Premier’s agenda
TOWNSVILLE’S three Labor MPs have requested an urgent meeting with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to discuss the city’s youth crime crisis.
Thuringowa MP Aaron Harper said there was more the State Government could be doing about crime.
“There needs to be more accountability in my mind,” he said. “More needs to be done and as elected representatives there’s an expectation that there needs to be strong rep- resentation and … we will provide that. Crime is an issue that we want addressed, not just me, but ( Mundingburra MP) Coralee O’Rourke and ( Townsville MP) Scott Stewart.”
Mr Harper said he had ideas about what could be done but would not reveal them.
“They are relevant ideas from speaking with senior police about what more can be done, particular with recidivist offenders,” he said.
“I will reserve commentary until my time with the Premier, along with my fellow MPs.
“I'm sure that my fellow MPs will also be putting things forward in those discussions.”
Mr Harper said the December 22 incident in which a stolen car ran another car off the road was the main trigger for him calling for a meeting.
“It is completely unacceptable behaviour that we have seen, people placing other’s lives at risk,” Mr Harper said.
Two 16- year- old boys have been refused bail over the crash and will face Townsville Magistrates Court on January 10 and February 7.
Townsville MP Scott Stewart said tougher consequences should be considered.
“These thugs who think it’s OK to steal cars and joy- ride really need the full consequences of the law imposed on them,” he said. “Where are the parents – why aren’t parents knowing where these kids are.”
Mr Stewart said the battle against youth crime could only be won by educating parents and improving the environment children were raised in.
“That’s why we are throwing all these resources behind teaching these parents how to be a family, how to take responsibly for themselves and their children,” he said.
A spokesman from the Premier’s office confirmed a meeting with the three Townsville MPs would go ahead.
Mr Harper said the time and location of the meeting would be decided when Ms Palaszczuk returned from holidays on January 12.
Mr Harper said he had requested the meeting be held before the first sitting of Parliament in February. A TRUE- BLUE Townsville battler hopped on a public bus to the pub after winning more than $ 1 million in a Keno jackpot.
The 78- year- old Currajong man who wishes to be referred to only as “Charlie” was catching up with a mate at the Cowboys Leagues Club on Friday when he won the big prize. He played seven games of Keno with six of the same numbers he has been using since 1997, plus an additional four.
“I don’t put 10 numbers very often and I’ve had the same six numbers since the beginning,’’ he said.
The retiree then watched as 10 out of the 10 numbers from his $ 7 ticket appeared on the Keno screen, scoring a massive $ 1,636,024 cash prize.
“I saw six of my numbers come up and I knew that I’d won $ 900,” he said. “I was pretty happy with that. And then I saw more of my numbers come up. I counted them up and I thought ‘ that can’t be right’.’’
In true- blue Aussie battler style, he continued on with his normal day, jumping on his usual 12.15pm bus to the Dalrymple Hotel before having an afternoon nap. “It hasn’t sunk in yet,” the winner said. Charlie plans to use his cash prize to help his family and buy a house in Rosewood near Ipswich, where he lived for 12 years before moving to North Queensland.
Keno’s Queensland manager David Dicker said: “Keno loves making millionaires and we love it even more when someone is able to do something wonderful for their loved ones.”
OLIVIA GRACE- CURRAN