CALL FOR ACTION ON CRIME
“CRANKY and fearful” residents came together again on Saturday to call on local politicians to address Townsville’s worsening crime problem.
Led by Take Back Townsville founder and former KAP candidate Julianne Wood, an estimated 50 residents joined Herbert MP Phillip Thompson in front of his Aitkenvale office, to share their anti-crime message.
With “shocking” crimes dominating recent media coverage, Ms Wood was initially disappointed by the turnout.
“It was just a gathering of us to come together and be seen, to talk about the previous couple of days and what had happened,” Ms Wood said.
“It shouldn’t be up to us to try and figure out what to do, that’s what the politicians are paid to do.”
She said they planned a barbecue on The Strand and were exploring the option of submitting a petition directly to Queensland Governor Paul de Jersey, calling on him to remove local sitting members.
Townsville’s local Labor members Scott Stewart, Aaron Harper and Les Walker said the state government was acting on the community’s concerns by legislating a raft of changes targeting the 10 per cent of recidivist youth offenders responsible for 48 per cent of all youth crime.
These included reversing the presumption of bail, courts seeking assurances from parents and carers that bail conditions could be adhered to, and legislation allowing GPS devices to be fitted to 16 and 17-year-olds beginning today.
“In Townsville there are a range of programs like Project Booyah, Transition to Success and the joint Police and Youth Justice Coresponder strike team, which are having an impact,” they said.