Editorial: No minister, a single by-election win is not a mandate
The government has come out swinging on youth crime after its by-election victory, but it should take a breath, writes the editor.
We are unconvinced that a mandate for statewide change on any topic can be delivered by the vote in a single by-election.
And yet this is exactly what the Crisafulli government appears to be claiming in relation to its shock win in Hinchinbrook last Saturday, where its successful candidate Wayde Chiesa campaigned on a promise of mandatory jail time for any youth offenders who breach their bail conditions.
Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie wasted no time in pushing ahead with that change yesterday: “I think it’s fair to say the government’s now actively considering breach of bail go to jail, considering the historic result we had on the weekend and the strong support from that community for those laws.”
But we fear things have become a bit tangled up here. Let’s unpack it.
First, Mr Chiesa did not come up with this idea himself. That is not how these things work. This was a critical electoral contest for this government. The by-election came just over a year into their first term, and was held in the electorate where the Premier himself was raised. No candidate is going to be allowed to freestyle on policies.
Mr Bleijie was desperate to paint his new MP as being apparently all set to “get to work” on the policy with Attorney-General Deb Frecklington and Youth Justice Minister Laura Gerber as soon as he is confirmed. But that is simply not how things work.
No, the truth here is that the result in the by-election will now be used by the Crisafulli government as justification for the change – which, as with any big moves in the youth justice space – will attract many critics, particularly from the legal fraternity. Being able to claim it is the “will of the people” is a very useful tool for the politicians – who want to push it through.
That is not to say Queenslanders more generally would not support this move. We know there is very little sympathy for youth criminals, particularly those who are repeat offenders. And we also know the apparent revolving-door approach to justice being taken by the courts in the years before the LNP won last year’s state election was even less popular than the kids themselves.
That 1188 offenders aged 10-17 breached bail 9049 times in the year to May 2024 – more than seven breaches per offender – was a damning statistic that demanded attention from those trusted with power by the people of Queensland.
And indeed, the former Labor government introduced breach of bail as an offence for children two years ago – as a result of what was a shocking rise in youth crime, right across the state. But there are still no mandatory minimum sentences for breaching bail conditions, and that means it is still up to the courts to decide how to act. And, generally, they are loathe to lock up kids.
Making anything mandatory is, however, a pretty big stick. You have to be sure you want to wield it.
And advocates have warned that a blunt instrument here risks seeing kids jailed for breaching bail imposed as a result of low-level offending. This is a complex area. It demands due consideration. There are not any simple answers here.
That said, the early signs are that this government’s overtly tough approach – most notably through its “adult crime, adult time” policy – is leading to a reduction in youth crime offences. This is, of course, welcome. And so they are on the right track. However, a single
by-election is not a mandate. The government should take a breath.
JOURNALISM MATTERS
The role that good, solid journalism plays in the community has weirdly been denigrated for a decade or two. The rise of social media algorithms as the gatekeepers of our society has led many to believe that news just happens – and that journalists are all opinionated cheerleaders.
This is – of course – simply not the case. Journalism remains so important.
And the decision last night by State Coroner Terry Ryan to order an inquest into a death 18 years ago be reopened is a case in point.
Dr Karen Mahlo, 52, was found with a kitchen knife embedded in her chest on May 28, 2008, in her Sunshine Coast home.
Her ex-partner John Hehir found her. Within hours, police had ruled that it was a suicide.
But an investigation this year by our crime and investigations editor Thomas Chamberlin uncovered inconsistencies in the evidence – casting doubt over what happened to the loving mother-of-two.
Dr Mahlo’s family have argued for years that an inquest into her death should be reopened – a move that would see police reinvestigate, and the original finding of suicide potentially set aside. They say there is not enough proof that she took her own life. But their pleas have fallen on deaf ears – until Chamberlin’s reporting in the Sunday Mail last month exposed the inconsistencies in a series of front-page articles.
The coroner’s decision is the right one, based on the reporting we have done. We hope what follows brings closure to Dr Mahlo’s family.
Responsibility for election comment is taken by Chris Jones, corner of Mayne Rd & Campbell St, Bowen Hills, Qld 4006. Printed and published by NEWSQUEENSLAND (ACN 009 661 778). Contact details here
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