Calls for action on crime

CAIRNS hotel owners have spoken out against “revolving door” youth crime laws, saying vagrants and trouble makers hanging around their businesses were often back “hours” after being moved on.

Hoteliers Zac Sarnecki of Queens Court Hotel and Leanne Bowden of Il Palazzo Boutique Hotel have called for tougher penalties on offenders.

Ms Bowden said she didn’t feel safe walking around the CBD at night. “It just needs to stop, we’ve all had a gutful and it’s bad for the community and for tourism,” she said.

“I have to warn tourists not to visit certain areas and that’s just embarrassing when we’re trying to make a good impression of our beautiful city.”

Mr Sarnecki said there was a situation two months ago when the daughter of a tourist was pricked by a used needle down the road from the hotel.

“He was forced to get his 10year-old child tested for hepatitis B and he swore black and blue he was never coming back to Cairns again,” he said.

“We also get cars broken into and people trying to jump our fence, which I have to hire a security guard for.”

LNP Cairns candidate Sam Marino said the party proposed tougher measures on youth crime by reintroducing breach of bail as an offence and setting up work farms and reinvestment centres for youth offenders.

“People are not feeling safe walking the streets or at home,” Mr Marino said. “There’s no consequences, the police are doing the best they can but offenders they pick up are back on the street the next night.

“JobKeeper and JobSeeker will not remain forever and crime will increase even further when it does.”