Tough youth crime laws under fire ahead of expansion
Fraser Barton |
One of Australia’s toughest youth crime crackdowns has come under fire after a state government claimed it had led to a drop in offending.
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli has taken aim at “young thugs” mocking him online, saying the latest crime data indicated his controversial juvenile laws were working.
In a handful of stats shared by the Queensland government, data showed there was a 32 per cent drop in related cases since “adult crime, adult time” laws were passed in late-2024.
But an advocate has hit out at the legislation as the Liberal National government looks to expand the tough new laws.
Queensland Council of Social Service chief executive Aimee McVeigh called for the release of expert legal advice used by the government to back the expanded laws.
The “adult crime, adult time” laws, currently before a parliamentary committee, are set to be expanded to include more than 30 offences.
The state government has relied on an independent expert legal panel’s advice for the legislation expansion – advice Ms McVeigh said had not been shared.
“We have not had the benefit of reviewing or considering that advice in order to then provide feedback in relation to the bill,” she told the parliamentary committee on Monday.
Ms McVeigh said the laws did not address the cause of youth crime, with Queensland incarcerating more children than any other jurisdiction in Australia.
Under laws passed in December, children as young as 10 face the same maximum sentences as adults for 13 offences, including murder, manslaughter and grievous bodily harm.
Another 20 offences are set to be included in “adult crime, adult time” laws to be debated in May.
Labor MP Meaghan Scanlon also called for the expert legal panel to provide public submissions during Monday’s parliamentary committee hearing.
Asked if the legal panel’s advice would be released, Mr Crisafulli said, “let them do their job first”.
The premier said March crime data showed 453 fewer people had their car stolen and 1033 fewer households had their home broken into, a drop of about eight per cent for both offences.
The number of juveniles charged was also down by 756 cases against the same period in 2024, he said.
The premier said he was “far from satisfied” but believed the laws were working.
Mr Crisafulli has warned “young punks” that the laws will get them after he was taunted on social media by juvenile offenders.
“If you want proof that the message is getting through, the young thugs are online taunting me personally – they even spelt my name right,” he said.
Queensland isn’t the only jurisdiction pursuing tough youth crime laws.
Victoria recently passed an amendment to bail laws that included removing the principle of remand as a last resort for children.
In NSW, controversial youth bail laws passed in 2024 make it harder for 14 to 18-year-olds to be released on serious charges while out on bail for similar offences.
In the Northern Territory, bail laws are set to be strengthened on Wednesday after a teenager was charged following a 71-year-old Darwin store owner’s fatal stabbing.
AAP
