Opposition Leader David Crisafulli has declared that Townsville will be one of four sites selected for a proposed government-funded crime “early intervention” school if the Liberal National Party (LNP) wins the upcoming election.
This announcement, made on Oct. 9 in Townsville, formed part of the LNP’s election pledge to deal with youth crime—which has plagued the state—and forms part of its $40 million “Right Track” program, and “Make Our Community Safer” strategy.
“Queensland is in the grip of a youth crime crisis, impacting residents across the state,” Crisafulli stated.
“Nowhere has it been more pronounced, and no city has spoken out more clearly about it than Townsville. This city has called out a generation of untouchables who believe their rights outweigh those of victims.”
As part of the initiative, the Right Track program aims to re-engage up to 900 at-risk youths, and providing mentoring and community engagement before crimes occur.
The program will work with the Men of Business (MOB) Academy from the Gold Coast, which re-engages young Australians that have dropped out of school.
The MOB Academy, operated by Marco Renai, will expand to include grades 7-12.
Committee on Youth Crime Stonewalled
Independent MP Sandy Bolton had suggested reintroducing youth boot camps in Queensland, a policy that the Labor government had previously scrapped.Bolton headed a key inquiry into youth crime.
After engaging with experts and officials, the parliamentary committee identified seven critical areas for investigation, including the effectiveness of the Youth Justice Act 1992, strategies for early intervention, and the need for a long-term vision for Queensland’s youth justice system.
The committee suggested measures to enhance community safety by cutting down repeat offending, and helping young offenders transition back into society.
However, the committee—made up of three Labor MPs, three LNP members, and chaired by Bolton—was eventually disbanded.
It was also repeatedly forced to delay the release of its interim report three times after failing to reach a consensus on its recommendations to the government.
Bolton told Queensland parliament she tried to work “patiently, impartially, respectfully, and collaboratively with both sides of this chamber to give a balanced, nonpartisan report on the many contentious issues that we’ve heard about.”
“That we have not delivered a bipartisan agreement so far, as needed by Queenslanders, has been personally and otherwise deeply disappointing,” she said.
