Newsroom

November 22, 2024

With the first sitting week of Queensland’s new Parliament under the Crisafulli Government just days away, Hinchinbrook MP and Katter’s Australian Party (KAP) Deputy Leader Nick Dametto is urging the government to commit to tougher laws by adopting Castle Law and collaborating with KAP on a Relocation Sentencing strategy for repeat youth offenders.

Mr Dametto said it was time for the Crisafulli Government to deliver on its promise of making Queensland safer by adopting youth crime strategies that adequately matched the momentum of the youth crime scourge occurring across Queensland.

“The new government has already adopted elements of KAP’s youth crime strategy, including the removal of detention as a last resort, adult crime = adult time, and Relocation Sentencing (in principle), but more needs to be done,” Mr Dametto said.

“If the Crisafulli Government is serious about its adult crime = adult time stance, it needs to outline which offences are covered and how it plans to manage the increased number of offenders in detention.

“Existing detention centres are already at capacity, and without fully adopting KAP’s Relocation Sentencing policy, the government will struggle to implement these changes without blowing our State’s budget.

“KAP’s Relocation Sentencing policy provides a practical, cost-effective solution by relocating offenders to isolated, structured environments away from urban areas, giving them a chance to rehabilitate while serving their time.

“I and my KAP colleagues are ready to work collaboratively with the Crisafulli Government to implement this fit for purpose approach as needed. We’ve spent the best part of a decade building this policy guided by the experiences and views of the North Queensland community.

“The former Labor government’s unwillingness to work with others on youth crime led to its failure and political demise. The LNP now has the opportunity to learn from those mistakes and not govern from their Brisbane pedestal.

“In addition to Relocation Sentencing, the KAP, and over 40,000 Queenslanders, are calling for Castle Law to be enacted. Residents deserve the right to defend their homes, families, and property without fear of prosecution. Castle Law would provide this protection but most importantly, would act as a deterrent for would-be offenders.

“The policies are ready. What we need now is a government with the political will to implement them.”