Queensland youth crime victims criticise new government committee
1 year, 4 months ago

Queensland youth crime victims criticise new government committee

ABC  

Two high-profile victims of youth crime have criticised the Queensland government's parliamentary committee examining the issue. Key points: Youth justice reform advocates say government committees are places where ideas "die" They say they need the government to hear them rather than just listen Committee chair Sandy Bolton hopes her appointment takes the politics out of the debate Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced yesterday that the special temporary committee would be chaired by independent Member for Noosa Sandy Bolton. "We want key stakeholders from various groups, not just a government committee where ideas come in and then they die," he said. Ben Cannon, who helped start the Voice for Victims advocacy group after witnessing a traumatic home invasion, said the committee was "a step in the right direction" but was not enough. "To then create another committee that's tabled and chaired by a variety of bureaucrats — we're worried it'll just get lost in the myriad of committees that the government already has."

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History of this topic

Queensland youth justice laws to be updated after stabbing at Yamanto
2 days, 12 hours ago

Queensland youth justice laws to be updated after stabbing at Yamanto

ABC  

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli says there will be further changes to youth justice laws in the face of community outrage over a stabbing west of Brisbane on Monday. The offence was not included in the LNP's flagship 'adult crime, adult time' policy, under which juveniles convicted of serious offences — including murder, manslaughter, and robbery — face the same penalties …

Queensland youth justice laws to be updated after stabbing at Yamanto
Trending News
2 days, 12 hours ago

Queensland youth justice laws to be updated after stabbing at Yamanto

ABC  

Premier David Crisafulli says there will be further changes to youth justice laws in the face of community outrage over a stabbing west of Brisbane on Monday. "There will be more changes to the Youth Justice Act, many more, and Queenslanders need to know that we are serious about making sure that we reverse ten years of changes in the …

Australia: Why children as young as 10 face life sentences in Queensland
1 month ago

Australia: Why children as young as 10 face life sentences in Queensland

Firstpost  

Queensland’s controversial new laws allow children as young as 10 to face the same sentences as adults for serious crimes. Representational Image/iStock Queensland’s controversial new laws, branded “Adult Crime, Adult Time,” have turned heads across Australia and internationally. Maggie Munn, First Nations Justice Director at the Human Rights Law Centre, stated, “Times like this make me wonder how the Premier …

Debate has started on Queensland's youth justice bill, aiming to hold young offenders to harsher penalties
1 month ago

Debate has started on Queensland's youth justice bill, aiming to hold young offenders to harsher penalties

ABC  

Queensland Parliament has begun debating the youth justice law bill, which features the LNP's "adult crime, adult time" policy. "Making Queensland Safer Laws were a key plank throughout the 2024 election, the people of Queensland have spoken on this issue," Ms Frecklington said. The bill was fast tracked through a parliamentary committee hearing last week, Ms Frecklington said the committee's …

Queensland parliamentary committee gives green light to LNP's 'adult crime, adult time' youth justice policy
1 month, 1 week ago

Queensland parliamentary committee gives green light to LNP's 'adult crime, adult time' youth justice policy

ABC  

A Queensland parliamentary committee has given the green light to the state government's contentious youth justice law changes, which include the LNP's centrepiece "adult crime, adult time" policy. In another submission, Australian Workers' Union — which represents workers in detention centres — said the proposed changes would lead to an "influx of youth offenders entering a youth detention system that …

Backlash mounting against Queensland 'adult time, adult crime' legislation
1 month, 2 weeks ago

Backlash mounting against Queensland 'adult time, adult crime' legislation

ABC  

Stephanie Smail: An angry backlash against the Queensland Government's youth crime crackdown is mounting, with legal experts arguing its legislation will ruin lives without making the community safer. The Liberal National Party argues its proposed adult crime, adult time reforms will hold young offenders accountable for their actions and put victims at the centre of the youth justice system. What's …

How politicians and the media misuse data to push a youth crime crisis narrative
2 months, 3 weeks ago

How politicians and the media misuse data to push a youth crime crisis narrative

ABC  

Australian news outlets and politicians have repeatedly claimed the country is in the grip of the worst youth crime wave in history. Zooming in on short-term trends The Courier Mail has claimed that Queensland's youth crime rates have skyrocketed to crisis levels. University of Queensland associate professor Renee Zahnow said criminologists relied on crime rates, as offence numbers alone were …

Former minister Jann Stuckey says LNP 'adult time for adult crime' policy lacks clear implementation plans
3 months ago

Former minister Jann Stuckey says LNP 'adult time for adult crime' policy lacks clear implementation plans

ABC  

A former Newman government minister says the Liberal National Party's key election pitch could raise questions about judicial independence. The LNP has been campaigning on the policy of "adult time for adult crime" for months, arguing that greater sentences of imprisonment for children would act as a deterrent to serious offending. Queensland Law Society president Rebecca Fogerty says there is …

Queensland legal experts compare LNP 'adult crime, adult time' policy to failed Newman bikie laws
6 months, 1 week ago

Queensland legal experts compare LNP 'adult crime, adult time' policy to failed Newman bikie laws

ABC  

The Queensland opposition's latest announcement to combat youth crime has been panned by legal experts, with one comparing it to Campbell Newman's failed bikie legislation. The LNP launched its "adult crime, adult time" policy yesterday, which would see minors tried as adults for serious crimes, should the party win government in the October state election. 'More violence, more lockdowns' Queensland …

Youth offender rates rise for first time in more than a decade, with recidivism rates also up, data shows
8 months, 1 week ago

Youth offender rates rise for first time in more than a decade, with recidivism rates also up, data shows

ABC  

In short: The latest national data shows youth offender rates have increased for the first time in more than a decade over the last financial year. The latest national data shows youth offender rates have increased for the first time in more than a decade over the last financial year. The latest youth crime data shows the number of juvenile …

Queensland government to remove 'detention as a last resort' from its youth justice principles
8 months, 2 weeks ago

Queensland government to remove 'detention as a last resort' from its youth justice principles

ABC  

In short: The Queensland government says it will alter the Charter of Youth Justice Principles, replacing "detention as a last resort", with a clause they say will ensure better community safety. The Queensland government says it will alter the Charter of Youth Justice Principles, replacing "detention as a last resort", with a clause they say will ensure better community safety. …

Youth Advocacy Centre taking legal action against Queensland government over watch house crisis
8 months, 2 weeks ago

Youth Advocacy Centre taking legal action against Queensland government over watch house crisis

ABC  

A youth advocacy body is preparing to take legal action against the Queensland government for failing to protect young people in the state's watch houses. "When they are in our watch houses they are separated from adult prisoners and they're provided support through the Department of Youth Justice and other not-for-profit organisations," he said. "Politicisation is the greatest impediment to …

Queensland police charge 90 young offenders with 'posting and boasting' about their crimes on social media
1 year, 1 month ago

Queensland police charge 90 young offenders with 'posting and boasting' about their crimes on social media

ABC  

Queensland police have charged 90 young offenders with "posting and boasting" about their crimes on social media platforms like TikTok under new laws brought in earlier this year. Key points: More than 120 charges have been laid since the laws were introduced in March The laws created an "aggravating factor" for car thieves who post footage of their offending It …

Queensland youth detention centre staff report 'daily' assaults, serious injuries
1 year, 6 months ago

Queensland youth detention centre staff report 'daily' assaults, serious injuries

ABC  

Queensland youth detention centre officers have reported "daily" vicious attacks and serious injuries including broken bones and acquired brain injuries. Key points: Staff have reported being punched, suffering broken bones and attacks with improvised weapons Detention centres were briefly in "night mode" This confines the detainees to their rooms, allowing them out on a "rotational basis" Staff walked off the …

Queensland youth justice minister says evidence provided to court by her department about 13yo boy's detention was not 'fulsome'
1 year, 10 months ago

Queensland youth justice minister says evidence provided to court by her department about 13yo boy's detention was not 'fulsome'

ABC  

Queensland's youth justice department will conduct an urgent review into how long a 13-year-old boy was held in solitary confinement at a Townsville youth detention centre. Key points: The youth justice department presented a one-page spreadsheet to the court on the time the child spent in detention The document showed the child spent 45 days in his cell, including one …

Queensland parliament has passed tough new laws targeting young offenders. This is what's changing
1 year, 10 months ago

Queensland parliament has passed tough new laws targeting young offenders. This is what's changing

ABC  

Sweeping new laws to crack down on young offenders have passed Queensland parliament after three days of debate. It will also apply if the officer reasonably suspects a child "is likely" to contravene a bail condition relating to one of the above offences – which the Queensland Human Rights Commission says appears to be a "very low threshold". Also, if …

Far North Queenslanders respond to justice overhaul proposal to reduce youth crime
1 year, 10 months ago

Far North Queenslanders respond to justice overhaul proposal to reduce youth crime

ABC  

A proposal to make breach of bail an offence for children and expand a GPS tracker trial has received a mixed response in crime-plagued far north Queensland. "We are rushing through amendments, but I would like to know what the government's plan is to reduce youth crime in the first place," he said. Perri Conti, a Cairns resident who runs …

Youth justice overhaul 'directly at odds' with Path to Treaty and Closing the Gap, Queensland government warned
1 year, 10 months ago

Youth justice overhaul 'directly at odds' with Path to Treaty and Closing the Gap, Queensland government warned

ABC  

Queensland's proposed youth justice overhaul is "racially prejudicial", at odds with Path to Treaty and Closing the Gap commitments, and could be met with "extreme resistance" from detention workers, the government has been warned. In one submission, the Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Protection Peak accused the government of a lack of consultation with First Nations leaders, saying …

Queensland victims of crime collective slams 'system abuse' which they say favours young offenders
1 year, 10 months ago

Queensland victims of crime collective slams 'system abuse' which they say favours young offenders

ABC  

High-profile victims of youth crime in Queensland have formed a collective in an effort to decrease offending and the "injustice" in the system, which they say leaves them feeling "unheard, disregarded and unsupported". Key points: The Victims of Crime collective has formed to give a voice to victims They say they are "largely unheard, disregarded and unsupported" The Palaszczuk government …

Queensland opposition reveals plans to tackle youth crime, says detention should not be last resort
1 year, 10 months ago

Queensland opposition reveals plans to tackle youth crime, says detention should not be last resort

ABC  

Queensland's opposition has called for the removal of the presumption of detention as a last resort for young offenders, in the first of its youth crime policy proposals ahead of next year's state election. Key points: State Opposition Leader David Crisafulli announced three proposed legislation changes to combat youth crime They include changes to the Bail Act, new early-intervention methods …

Queensland parents hiring private investigators to track down wayward teens as state grapples with youth crime 'crisis'
1 year, 11 months ago

Queensland parents hiring private investigators to track down wayward teens as state grapples with youth crime 'crisis'

ABC  

Desperate parents are turning to private investigators to stop their kids from becoming young offenders as criminal lawyers warn Queensland is facing a youth crime "crisis". Key points: Investigators say they are increasingly tracking down runaway teenagers Lawyers say juvenile criminals almost always come from "significant disadvantage" "significant disadvantage" Queensland has the largest number of children in custody The increasing …

Queensland to introduce more severe criminal penalties for young offenders in wake of Emma Lovell's stabbing at North Lakes
2 years ago

Queensland to introduce more severe criminal penalties for young offenders in wake of Emma Lovell's stabbing at North Lakes

ABC  

Queensland will introduce more severe punishments for violent offenders in the wake of the stabbing death of North Lakes mother Emma Lovell. New penalties have been announced despite repeated warnings from advocates that there are no "overnight solutions" to curb youth crime, along with calls for a focus on preventive measures. The new measures include: Increasing the maximum penalty for …

Political and Indigenous leaders rally to keep young children out of youth justice system
2 years, 2 months ago

Political and Indigenous leaders rally to keep young children out of youth justice system

ABC  

Victoria's political leaders are facing mounting pressure to raise the criminal age of responsibility, after a Four Corners investigation revealed a report provided to states and territories urged the change two years ago. Key points: Political leaders are calling for urgent reform to the youth criminal justice system Children as young as 10 can end up in the youth justice …

Queensland's youth justice review reveals children held in watch houses for longer, possibly pleading guilty to crimes they didn't commit
2 years, 2 months ago

Queensland's youth justice review reveals children held in watch houses for longer, possibly pleading guilty to crimes they didn't commit

ABC  

Children might be pleading guilty to crimes they did not commit "to avoid the impact" of Queensland's tough bail laws, lawyers have warned during a review of last year's youth crime crackdown. Key points: The report found more children are being held on remand for a longer amount of time Changes to bail conditions were not well understood by lawyers …

The hidden report that spells out the dismal failures of youth detention policy in Australia
2 years, 2 months ago

The hidden report that spells out the dismal failures of youth detention policy in Australia

ABC  

It's a report that politicians don't want you to see. Four Corners, as part of an investigation into ongoing abuses within youth detention, has obtained a report of the Council of Attorneys-General review examining the age of criminal responsibility. "The Commonwealth, State and Territory governments should raise the minimum age of criminal responsibility to 14 years of age, without exception," …

If locking up children in youth detention only makes them repeat offenders, is there a better way?
2 years, 2 months ago

If locking up children in youth detention only makes them repeat offenders, is there a better way?

ABC  

Queensland authorities have known for years that placing children in youth detention is the worst of all possible outcomes — it’s state government policy to keep kids out of custody. Which is why the Premier’s declaration last month that the government is “looking at expanding youth justice detention” and flagging a new youth detention centre in Cairns caught child safety …

Queensland's youth justice system 'in crisis' amid human rights breaches, children's commissioner warns
2 years, 2 months ago

Queensland's youth justice system 'in crisis' amid human rights breaches, children's commissioner warns

ABC  

Queensland is systematically breaching human rights by locking up more children in police watch houses, Australia's National Children's Commissioner says. Key points: Cairns is one of several sites being considered for a fourth youth detention centre to be built Children's Commissioner Anne Hollonds says Australia's youth justice system is "in a state of crisis" There are about 291 young people …

Government pledges full review of Western Australia's struggling juvenile justice system
2 years, 3 months ago

Government pledges full review of Western Australia's struggling juvenile justice system

ABC  

Western Australia's government says a comprehensive review of the state's juvenile justice system will deliver the best possible outcomes for both young offenders and the community. Key points: WA communities are still struggling with high youth crime rates Some feel that intervention is crucial and that detention is not deterring offenders Many have welcomed the review, but others feel it's …

Queensland passes new youth justice legislation in crime crackdown aimed at 'hardcore' young offenders
3 years, 8 months ago

Queensland passes new youth justice legislation in crime crackdown aimed at 'hardcore' young offenders

ABC  

Queensland's Parliament has passed contentious new youth justice legislation that is set to become law in a bid to "crack down" on recidivist young offenders, despite concerns raised by advocates. Key points: Police Minister Mark Ryan says the bill targets the "10 per cent cohort of hardcore youth offenders" Youth justice advocates have warned the legislation will be ineffective and …

The government's 'war on kids' won't stop the youth crime problem in Queensland, experts say
3 years, 10 months ago

The government's 'war on kids' won't stop the youth crime problem in Queensland, experts say

ABC  

"If I had just one person that loved or cared about me … I think that would have reduced a lot of the crime." In an exclusive interview with the ABC, Queensland's former public guardian and now managing director of Child Wise, Natalie Siegel-Brown, said it was an "inappropriate time" for the government to bring in such measures. Education for …

Former royal commissioner into youth justice slams Queensland's 'knee-jerk' measures as police welcome new powers
3 years, 11 months ago

Former royal commissioner into youth justice slams Queensland's 'knee-jerk' measures as police welcome new powers

ABC  

Leading youth justice advocates, including a former royal commissioner, have slammed Queensland's crackdown on youth crime, warning the "knee-jerk" measures will fail to reduce rates of offending and instead push children "further to the margins". Key points: Advocates say the "knee-jerk" youth crime crackdown will further cement re-offending and trauma in children The head of the youth crime taskforce says …

Youth crime in Townsville creating tension among business, residents and police
4 years, 10 months ago

Youth crime in Townsville creating tension among business, residents and police

ABC  

An 11-year-old boy allegedly caught on CCTV trying to rob a takeaway shop owner at knifepoint had been granted bail 10 times in recent months, Townsville police say. Key points: Police say an 11-year-old boy had been charged with 57 offences since October last year in a pattern of "escalating" offending Police and residents say they're frustrated by juveniles being …

Townsville stolen car chase reignites community anger over youth crime
5 years, 2 months ago

Townsville stolen car chase reignites community anger over youth crime

ABC  

A series of crimes allegedly involving children as young as 11 in the north Queensland city of Townsville has politicians and members of the community calling for action. Key points: Three young people in Townsville have been charged with crimes in recent days Police say a "core group" of offenders are behind a lot of property crime in the city …

Future riots could be avoided as Australia takes steps towards national youth detention oversight
5 years, 10 months ago

Future riots could be avoided as Australia takes steps towards national youth detention oversight

ABC  

Violent rioting at a Northern Territory youth detention centre that eventually saw detainees tear-gassed could have been avoided, the National Children's Commissioner believes. Key points: Formal monitoring of NT youth detention centres began last week Steps are being taken nationwide to ensure compliance with an anti-torture treaty This could prevent riots such as one that occurred at Darwin's Don Dale …

Labour announces plans to make provision of youth services compulsory to tackle violent crime
6 years, 5 months ago

Labour announces plans to make provision of youth services compulsory to tackle violent crime

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, and Cat Smith, shadow minister for voter engagement and …

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