06 Apr Community called to comment on youth crime

Katter’s Australian Party MPs are urging Queenslanders to have their say and use their voice at public hearings next week to help address the State’s youth crime crisis.

The Queensland Parliament’s Legal Affairs and Safety Committee is seeking public input into its inquiry into the Youth Justice and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2021 and public hearings will be held in Mount Isa on 16th March, Cairns on 17th March and Townsville on 18-19th March.

The Bill, which has prompted a submission and petition from the KAP, purports to propose measures to support community safety, reduce youth offending and reduce crime victimisation.

These include strengthening the Youth Justice bail framework including trialling electronic monitoring devices and creating a presumption against bail for certain offences; proposing that offending while in parental care aggravates the offence when sentencing the offender; trialling handheld scanners to detect knives and changing hooning laws to extend the responsibilities of a car owner.

“This is a critical opportunity to give your feedback on the Bill and use your voice to address the escalating crime crisis that is affecting Queensland right now,” Traeger MP and KAP Leader Robbie Katter said.

“Let’s make sure the North and North-West has a strong voice in this process.”

Despite mounting tragic events linked to youth crime, the KAP was bitterly disappointed by the Queensland Government’s failure to introduce emergency youth justice legislation into the Parliament last month.

“This is an extremely acute problem plaguing the North right now and this Government has a very strong track record or kicking the can down the road,” Mr Katter said at the time.

To speak to the committee at one of the public hearings, register online at https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/work-of-committees/committees/LASC/inquiries/currentinquiries/YJandOLAB2021 or ring 3553 6641 by 10am on Monday, 15th March.