Editorial: State government must use every measure to cut youth crime

The state government will this week introduce its Adult Crime, Adult Time youth justice legislation. The move has plenty of critics, but it is clear strong change is needed.

The crash caused the deaths of church pastor Michale Chandler, 29, dancer Kelsie Davies, 17, and nurse Sheree Robertson, 52.

Revelations that the 13-year-old accused of killing three women in an horrific crash in Maryborough had just weeks earlier been caught driving a stolen car at 200km/h should be unfathomable.

But it is the unfortunate reality of the youth crime scourge that is still gripping Queensland.

The teen in question, part of a car-stealing ring known to police, was driving with his friends and skylarking out of the windows, and was going so fast the bonnet of the car flung back on to the windscreen, smashing it.

Police will allege that three weeks later he lost control of another stolen car, causing a crash that killed 52-year-old nurse Sheree Robertson, youth pastor and occupational therapist Michale Chandler, 29, and 17-year-old dancer Kelsie Davies, rocking the town of Maryborough to its core.

Details of the teen’s shocking behaviour in the lead-up to the fatal crash on April 30 have been laid bare by the courts on the eve of the first parliamentary sitting week since the election.

Photographs show the shocking impact of the Maryborough crash.

The priority for the new LNP government this week will be introducing its signature youth justice legislation – Adult Crime, Adult Time.

During the campaign it assured voters it would have these new laws in place before Christmas.

The Adult Crime, Adult Time laws have their fair share of critics who say it is nothing more than a catchy slogan that will do little to curb the escalating youth crime problem in this state.

But it is clear that something needs to be done as what has been tried by the previous government has not worked.

New data obtained by the government after its first 29 days in power shows that in the past 12 months youth crime has become worse.

The figures show a 12 per cent jump in youth crime in 2023/24 compared to the previous year.

The number of proven offences committed by young people rose from 41,155 to 46,130 over the same period.

The data also revealed that Queensland was on track for its worst year since 2020 for car thefts by teens.

In July when the then-state government released the crime statistics for the 2023/24 financial year it was sold as a “reduction in the rate of youth offences” and that the number of unique young offenders had fallen by 2 per cent.

Politicians routinely use different sets of statistics to spin their own narrative

In releasing this data, the LNP is trying to convince Queenslanders they have been kept in the dark by the previous government as to the true extent of the crime problem.

Given that new premier David Crisafulli staked his future leadership on driving down crime numbers over the next four years – even committing during the election campaign to not seeking a second term if he failed – a cynic might argue the new government is trying to lay the foundation to wriggle out of that off-the-cuff commitment.

Wherever the truth lies there is no question crime is the No. 1 issue in this state and we welcome all measures being put on the table to get it under control.

PM THROWS ONE-TWO COMBO ON BULLYING

Another major milestone has been reached in the effort to protect our children online, with the Prime Minister’s commitment today for a national standard to tackle bullying.

It comes after historic legislation was introduced on Thursday to raise the age of access to social media to 16 after a campaign by The Sunday Mail highlighting the harms caused by tech platforms.

Anthony Albanese has again acted swiftly, this time to specifically tackle bullying, after a spate of tragic suicides around the nation. The federal government has written to all state and territory leaders and committed to funding an expert-led review to find the best ways of addressing the scourge of bullying.

Federal Education Minister Jason Clare said: “This would inform policies … to provide children and parents confidence that no matter where their child goes to school, if they’re experiencing bullying, it will be managed in an appropriate way.”

This is another positive step in helping our children, whom we must protect at all costs.

Responsibility for election comment is taken by Melanie Pilling, corner of Mayne Rd & Campbell St, Bowen Hills, Qld 4006. Printed and published by NEWSQUEENSLAND (ACN 009 661 778). Contact details are available at www.couriermail.com.au/help/contact-us