Ideas on the table already
LNP still tight-lipped on crime plan
THE state opposition won’t be releasing a “glossy brochure” about its highly anticipated crime plan anytime soon.
The LNP has been looking to move away from the controversial crime policy it took to the 2020 state election, which included curfews for kids and fining parents.
While the party has been workshopping its new crime plan behind the scenes, it does not intend to release all the reforms just yet.
However, policies such as breach of bail and early intervention, which formed part of the party’s election commitments, will remain key pillars of the new plan.
Opposition police spokesman Dale Last said rather than worrying about a glossy brochure, he had been consulting with people at the coalface of the youth crime epidemic.
In January, Mr Last said the party would be working to
form the crime plan over the next six months.
“The fact is that all the brochures and reviews the Labor government has commissioned have done little and Queenslanders deserve an actual solution, not more rhetoric,” Mr Last said.
The LNP has been highly critical of the government’s five-point youth justice plan, which included GPS trackers for some young offenders and called on parents or carers to guarantee bail. The Burdekin MP said he had spoken extensively about reforms the LNP would implement, such as addressing drug and alcohol addiction, point of release programs to provide support and ensure accountability and improved supervision and transition from custody into school, training and jobs.
He said reforms that the LNP had already proposed were met with support at a recent Queensland Police Union National Conference on Youth Crime.
“What we have seen from Labor is a lot of talk, but the fact is they have lost control of youth crime,” Mr Last said.
“The GPS tracking trial has been a dismal failure, our jails are stretched to the limits and people still wake up every day to check if their car is still in the driveway.
“The renewed focus on early intervention in Townsville is testament to the fact that the LNP’S policy on youth crime is on the mark. Unfortunately, it has taken deaths and lives being put at risk for Labor to listen and adopt the approach that I have been talking about publicly for months.”