KAP intent on pushing ahead with new facility
THE Katter’s Australian Party believes it can force the federal government to fund a relocation sentencing facility in Lake Julius, if the party secures the balance of power.
The minor party, which currently has one MP in parliament – Bob Katter – has four candidates vying for a spot in the House of Representatives.
It has been trying to get relocation sentencing as an option on a state level for years, proposing that youth would learn skills for when they reenter society. However, the policy has failed to gain traction at a state level, with the party now making a decision to take it to the federal government.
KAP’S Herbert candidate Clynton Hawks said the party didn’t need the government to back the policy, it needed help to build the facility.
The party believes the facility will cost about $25m to build.
“What I want is to start construction on this facility so we can actually push the state government along and tell them to back it,” Mr Hawks said.
He said nothing was being done about crime in the city.
Mr Hawks said he would “disregard” criticisms of the policy that say taking young offenders out of the area they commit crimes in could cause more issues.
“We’re going to be teaching them skills so they can return to Townsville, or wherever they are, and be functioning members of society,” he said.
KAP deputy leader and state MP Nick Dametto said a $25m commitment from the federal government was a “pretty big stick” to hold over the state government.
He said the party had tried to secure funding to help with a feasibility study or a business case to get the project off the ground but had received no support yet.
Labor candidate for Herbert John Ring said he would be happy to sit down with the KAP to look at its policy to explore if it was something he could support.
“If they want to partner with me and get things done for our community, or for them to come and sit down and talk … because I’m up for making a difference in my community,” Mr Ring said.
Herbert MP Phillip Thompson said he would continue to push the state government to take action on crime.
“Having a facility like this is all well and good, but it’ll sit empty unless the state Labor government changes the youth justice legislation, which we know it refuses to do,” Mr Thompson said.
He added that the Coalition government would invest in and had already funded, earlyintervention programs and facilities for at-risk youth.