Fix youth crime – we all know someone who’s been affected

Plea to regional parliament to attend to youth crime, health and rent crisis

Cairns residents are fed up with youth crime and want the state’s politicans to know about it, according to a random cross section of the public spoken to by the Cairns Post on Wednesday.

With the final sitting day of Regional Parliament taking place in Cairns this morning, the message from locals in the streets of the CBD, at shopping centres, and in the suburbs was clear.

Do something about youth crime that makes a difference in our lives.

The overwhelming majority of people the Cairns Post spoke to said the biggest issue politicians should be focused on solving right now was crime.

“Youth crime is 100 per cent the biggest issue,” said Katelyn Cody of Gordonvale.

“I have been one of the lucky ones who hasn’t had anything happen to me but we all know someone who has.”

Tracey Norvell from Mt Peter was concerned with the community reactions to crime.

“We’re going to end up with a vigilante thing like Rockhampton going on because people are getting pushed to the limits,” she said.

A good number of respondents mentioned other issues, including welfare and health care.

“Cairns is getting bigger and we need to supply better health care,” said Karly Sorensen of Redlynch.

Top of mind for people were also the issues of health, drugs, the rental crisis and resultant homelessness, alcohol and public housing.

Health was high on the list for a recent refugee to Australia.

“I have come recently from the Congo,” said Jack Lubunga of Cairns North.

“The government needs to help refugees, we need help to find homes. Also, there needs to be more money for healthcare and welfare payments.”

On the brighter side, on others’ wishlists for the Queensland government were better public transport, more bicycle pathways to ease traffic congestion, and one person suggested tourism businesses could be enhanced with more government assistance.

Another the Cairns Post spoke to was upset by the federal budget’s planned cuts to the pharmaceutical industry, but the government in Brisbane will probably have little sway over Canberra on that one.