HARSHER ACTION ON CRIMS, PARENTS
The family of a beloved mum killed in a triple-fatal crash allegedly involving a stolen car are calling on the Premier to take “real action” on youth crime before more lives are lost.
Former Townsville resident Michale Chandler, 29, was killed in the crash on Saltwater Creek Rd in Maryborough that also claimed the lives of Kelsie Davies, 17, and nurse Sheree Robertson on April 30.
A 13-year-old boy, who was allegedly behind the wheel of a stolen car, has been charged in relation to the crash.
Members of Ms Chandler’s grieving family are now urgently calling on the Queensland government to do more to crack down on youth crime.
A day after burying her niece, Megan Donnelly stood by her grave and delivered a powerful message for Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk urging her to ensure high-risk juvenile offenders get the “harsher punishments they deserve”.
“This is the ultimate price innocent people are paying because there are no ramifications for crime,” she said. “They’re robbing our houses, they’re stealing our cars, they are killing our family members. This is so close to home. Your family will be next because everyone is eventually going to be affected. Nothing is changing it. Nothing is stopping the cycle from repeating.”
“The jails are holiday camps; they commit crimes to get back into them. They have to be punished. There have to be real consequences.”
Ms Donnelly – who lives in Townsville – said the night her niece was killed, about 17
stolen cars around Townsville were reported on Facebook.
“These kids have just got free range all night long, and all the parents who are enabling this behaviour should be held accountable,” she said.
“Maybe we need to reintroduce a type of national service. South Korea does it, and they are the most respectful country I’ve ever travelled to.”
Ms Donnelly said Michale grew up in Townsville and went to Pimlico High School. She was devoted to her church and family and was a doting mother to her two young children. She said her family was still struggling to come to grips with the tragic way she’d been killed.
“I can only hope that my niece and the other girl in her car died without suffering. It’s just so wrong that this is happening. No one should have to experience that. These kids should be locked up because they’re killing people, they’re terrorising communities.”
Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill paid tribute to Michale and echoed her family’s calls for “real action” to address youth crime during a council meeting on Wednesday.
“The people of Townsville have been demanding action, the people of Queensland have been demanding action,” she said.
“Communities across the state have come forward and warned of the likelihood that lives could and will be lost. Innocent people have been killed as a result of apparent inaction.
The consequences of this statewide increase in property theft have far-reaching implications that are not being met with a suitable response. It is not enough that we pay our respects and send our thoughts and prayers to the bereaved.
“Real action is what is owed to the families of the deceased. Real action means ensuring offenders face real consequences for their actions. Real action means we empower our police and judicial systems to process these criminals and ensure they are not able to reoffend. Real action puts the safety and prosperity of our community before the rights of the offenders.
“As a council, we will continue to take the lead on community safety in the areas we can implement real change. I pushed hard on the state government on my concerns around breaches of bail conditions. They must act so we can avoid these types of tragic events.”