October 15, 2024
Katter’s Australian Party (KAP) Deputy Leader and Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto has called on the LNP to reveal the details of their proposed "Making Queensland Safer" laws as Queenslanders head to the polls to vote in the heated state election.
Mr. Dametto said Queenslanders had endured nearly a decade of failure on youth crime under Labor, and the LNP can no longer stay tight lipped in order to pick up the win.
“The LNP have said they will introduce their crime legislation by the end of the year, but Queenslanders are still in the dark about what those laws actually look like,” Mr. Dametto said.
“If the LNP is in power, the only way they can put through laws by December will be if it is introduced as emergency legislation that bypasses the committee process, therefore not undergoing any public scrutiny whatsoever.
“If they are serious about tackling this youth crime crisis and want Queenslanders to vote them in based on their plan, then they must immediately release their draft legislation and allow for transparency and public scrutiny to occur.
“People are desperate for change, but how can they be sure they’re not just voting for the same failed approach? Queenslanders deserve to know the details of what the LNP is proposing before they go to the polls.
“What does adult time, adult crime mean? Is there going to be a mandatory minimum sentencing component in there as well, because everyone knows you can increase the maximum penalty to the moon, it doesn’t mean the courts will impose it.
“What is the LNP’s plan for the large number of youth offenders they plan to detain? Our detention centres are already bursting at the seams, and watch houses almost need bunk beds installed. The LNP has no clear strategy to accommodate those it seeks to detain.
“Neither of the major parties have ever wanted to consider KAP’s policy on relocation sentencing. What would be a cheaper and far more effective method of detention has never been considered an option by them, which just proves that neither are genuinely focused on reducing youth crime rates.”