Community crime forum to shine light on victims’ plight
Fed up with a lack of support for crime victims, a Far North former social worker, has organised a community forum to connect with other victims this weekend. How to get involved.
Cairns
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Fed up with a lack of support for crime victims, a Far North former social worker, has organised a community forum to connect with other victims.
Cairns woman Rowena Bullio had her 4WD stolen from her home early this month.
While her vehicle was recovered, Ms Bullio said the incident stirred her to do something for the community.
“I’m concerned about this community, particularly with the juvenile crime and there doesn’t seem to be any sign of abating,” Ms Bullio said.
As an Indigenous woman with 40 years’ experience in the youth and social welfare sector, Ms Bullio said she was concerned the youth crime issue would further divide the community.
“I’m concerned about race relations and being a local, born and raised, this is a beautiful community and I’m concerned that when things are starting to go pear shaped, people slip into apathy,” she said.
“We have a boiler happening, it’s bubbling and I care enough to do this.”
Ms Bullio said her main focus was to give victims a platform to share their stories and work with community leaders to offer support and concrete action on curbing youth crime.
“We want the government to do something,” she said.
“People have had enough. We just want something to curb this youth crime, but we also need to remember the victims.”
Ms Bullio said the continuing impact of youth crime would deter visitors to the region.
It comes after reports two international tourists were pelted by youths in the Cairns CBD earlier this year.
“We’ve got two heritage listed properties on either side of Cairns, the Wet Tropics Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef,” she said.
“People come here but the visitors aren’t safe, nobody’s safe in here.”
Aside from strong deterrent , Ms Bullio said parents and families needed to step up and take responsibility for their children.
“There needs to be an effective deterrent from doing this. When they say harsher penalties for juvenile crime, what does that look like?” she said.
“Families need to take a lot of responsibility and if the family is in a deficit for whatever reason, the service providers are very stretched to do what they can.”
Youth Justice Minister Di Farmer said her priority was protecting Queenslanders and supporting victims, and that her government understood the impact and trauma crime had on people’s lives.
“That’s why we have the toughest laws in the nation to tackle youth offending,” she said. “The average number of serious repeat offenders decreased 18% from 497 in October 2023 to 405 at 31 July 2024.”
Ms Farmer said the government’s approach to youth justice was backed by $1.3bn in funding to deliver better infrastructure and resources.
“Our plans are working. Youth crime is falling,” Ms Farmer said.
“The Miles Government is investing in evidence-based programs that are proven to increase community safety and reduce youth offending, leading to fewer victims of crime.
“We’ll continue to take the advice of the experts on prevention, intervention and detention strategies.”
The Cairns Community and Youth Crime Forum will take place at Royals Church on Saturday, September 28, from 1pm to 4.30pm.
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Originally published as Community crime forum to shine light on victims’ plight
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