Breach of bail offence key to helping fight juvenile crime

The State Government did not reintroduce breach of bail as an offence for young offenders in measures announced this week. Opposition police spokesman Dale Last on why they should.

It’s a simple question, one car or two?

Reintroducing breach of bail as an offence for young criminals wasn’t included in the state government’s measures announced this week. It’s not part of their plan.

This is why it should be.

Today, if a magistrate grants bail to a dangerous, repeat car thief, they could be slapped with bail conditions. But if they break those conditions, there is not a single letter in the law that means they could be charged by police. Nothing.

Burdekin MP and shadow police minister Dale Last. Picture: Matt Taylor

They might be associating with criminals the magistrate banned them from seeing. Nothing.

They might be out at 1am instead of home by 6pm. Nothing.

They might leave the care of their guardian. Nothing.

The next time we see that young offender in the system is only after they steal another car.

If breach of bail became an offence and they broke any one of those conditions, police could intervene early. The offender is back in the system before that next car is stolen.

So given the events we’ve seen unfold across Queensland recently, you could be forgiven for asking, one car or two? Changing the youth justice laws and keeping Queenslanders safe is the most important issue facing our state today.

And while we will not get in the way of the state government’s plan when their legislation goes before parliament this month, we won’t be going away either.

It’s their plan, but it does not go far enough.

That is what the community is saying. That is what police are saying. That is what victims are saying.

That is what we are saying.

Until there are repercussions for actions, we’re going to see more communities ripped apart.

And we can’t stand by and allow that to happen.

This government must act now and reinstate breach of bail as a criminal offence.

Enough is enough.

Dale Last is the LNP member for Burdekin and Opposition Police spokesman.