Politicians make the laws

WHEN will the penny finally drop? Every day we hear of an unprecedented wave of juvenile crime being carried out throughout our beautiful city as well as Townsville and most places in between.

Yes, it appears to be getting a whole lot worse, yet we are reliably informed that it is only a very small group of repeat offenders who are causing the bulk of the misery and hardship. They are regularly apprehended and brought to face the terrifying might of the Juvenile Justice Act, a very intimidating experience that would be I am sure.

Then we throw our hands up in exasperation when nothing happens and they are given unlimited cautions.

Here’s an idea. Stop voting for the same out-of-touch parties year in, year out. The magistrates don’t make the laws they only enforce them. It’s the politicians who make the laws, so if you are really serious, and I mean really serious, about making meaningful change to our so-called “justice system” then put your vote where your mouth is and actually effect real change. If you want the laws changed then change the politicians. Simple.

We have heard it from Labor and LNP election after election: “We are getting tough on crime.” But once they swap seats in Parliament House in Brisbane nothing really changes. Do you honestly think that if this was happening in Brisbane you would have the same response? Come on.

The sooner we wake up to ourselves and unshackle the dead wood politicians south of Rockhampton and start making things happen ourselves through a North Queensland state that is answerable to other North Queenslanders, or at the very least, a genuine North Queensland party that has our interests front and centre, the better.

Alan Benn, Kamerunga