‘Definition of madness’: New Mulgrave candidates hit out at proposed youth detention centre

Cracking down on crime will be the conservative parties’ trump card in the key seat of Mulgrave, with new candidates keen to criticise Labor’s plans to build a youth detention centre in the electorate by 2027.

The LNP's candidate for Mulgrave Terry James and Deputy Opposition Leader Jarrod Bleijie have taken a swipe at Labor's record on crime in the region. Image: Samuel Davis

Cracking down on crime will be the conservative parties’ trump card in a key Far North electorate ahead of next month’s state election with candidates calling out Labor’s plans to build a youth detention centre in the region.

But Labor has hit back, with Youth Justice Minister Di Farmer accusing rivals of “scaremongering and misinformation campaigns” ahead of voters heading to the ballot box.

The LNP and Katter’s Australian Party officially unveiled their contenders for the seat of Mulgrave with former Cairns mayor Terry James and school teacher Steve Lesina on the hustings early on Monday.

Under the LNP, Mr James said the proposed 40-bed centre set to open in 2027 would not be located in the area’s growth corridor between Edmonton and Gordonvale.

“I’ve listened to the debate a lot,” he said.

“The people don’t want a detention centre in Edmonton.

“And if that’s what they want, I’ll be listening to them and advocating for their wishes.”

KAP candidate Steve Lesina has worked with the Northern Pride junior development program in recent years. Picture: Steve Lesina

Meanwhile, the KAP has ruled out building a facility in the electorate altogether with a “bush sentencing” program the preferred course of action for youth criminals.

“If we look at the youth crime rate, it’s going up which is why people are saying we need more youth detention centres,” Mr Lesina said.

“We should have fewer people in detention centres because we’re trying to fight against that. It’s a revolving door.”

Member for Traeger Robbie Katter rejected comparisons between the KAP’s program and the LNP’s failed attempts at boot camps during the Campbell Newman years.

“If a judge has the ability to sentence and put a kid on the bus the next day, then you can properly organise these programs,” the KAP leader said.

“The hard recidivist kids, who are the ones that are most difficult to get to and participate in these programs, are forced into it.”

Youth detention centres don’t work, Mr Katter said.

“I think it’s madness when you have 95 percent recidivism out of Cleveland’s detention centre and you think, ‘Let’s build the same thing and keep trying what we’re doing,’” he said.

“That is the definition of madness … it’d also be much more cost effective to the taxpayer.”

Despite scouting multiple sites for the centre near Edmonton and Gordonvale, Ms Farmer said it was still yet to be determined where the facility would be based.

“Political opponents should stop their scaremongering and misinformation campaigns,” she said.

“A final site determination has not been made. A project to construct a new 40-bed youth detention centre near Cairns is in the planning stage.

“Site investigations continue, and the Department of Housing, Local Government, Planning and Public Works are doing more detailed assessment of potential sites.

“A Cairns youth detention centre will deliver therapeutic design elements which aim to support rehabilitation outcomes for young people and improve community safety.”

The ALP has yet to officially announce who will replace retiring Speaker Curtis Pitt but is expected to announce its candidate later in the week.

Mr Pitt exclusively revealed to the Cairns Post that he was endorsing award-winning actor Aaron Fa’Aoso as his chosen successor late last month.

Originally published as ‘Definition of madness’: New Mulgrave candidates hit out at proposed youth detention centre