Editor’s View: State’s late action does not go far enough

After days of community outcry following the horrific murder of mum Emma Lovell, the state government finally declared it will take action. So where was the urgency, asks The Editor.

After days of community outcry following the horrific murder of North Lakes mum Emma Lovell, the state government has finally declared it will take action.

Since Ms Lovell’s death on Monday Police Minister Mark Ryan and Youth Justice Minister Leanne Linard had been sticking to the party line – that Queensland’s youth justice laws were “amongst the strongest in the nation”. But yesterday, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk fronted Queenslanders to announce a suite of changes to the Youth Justice Act to “make tough laws even tougher”.

While the two positions are not inconsistent, it does suggest that there was initially no urgency to act.

The Premier’s announcement included increasing the maximum penalty for stealing a car from seven to 10 years in prison, plus a more severe sentence of 14 years if the offence occurs at night or if the offender is violent. But the glaringly obvious point to these highly touted changes is that any shift to the maximum sentence – rather than the minimum – is only as effective as their implementation.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk along with Police Minister Mark Ryan, Youth Justice Minister Leanne Linard and Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll announce changes to youth justice laws in Queensland. Brisbane Thursday 29th December 2022 Picture David Clark

A higher maximum penalty offers little deterrent to potential offenders when they are rarely used anyway, with almost half of criminals who steal a car facing no prison time and those who are incarcerated receiving, on average, months – not years – behind bars. ­

Similarly, the government’s push that the Youth Justice Act will be amended to require courts to take into account previous bail history, criminal activity and their track record when sentencing has already been shot down by legal experts – who say this already happens under multiple existing acts.

Of course, the great tragedy is why it took the horrific death of mum of two Ms Lovell, 41 – killed on the front lawn while defending her family home – for any action to be taken at all.

For months the government has faced persistent questions over its handling of young criminals, while ignoring a very real and growing sense of fear within the community.

In November the parents of murdered teen Angus Beaumont – Ben Beaumont and Michelle Liddle ­– fronted up to Queensland’s parliament to push for a further overhaul of youth justice laws.

Angus was just 15 when he was killed after being stabbed by two 14-year-olds – both repeat violent offenders, with one on bail and the other on parole at the time of the murder.

And the government’s poor management of the ongoing crisis was further highlighted when a highly anticipated report from former Queensland police commissioner Bob Atkinson into the effectiveness of legislative changes to curb youth crime was finally released at 8.17pm on a Tuesday last month­ – after more than eight months on the desk of the government.

North Lakes stabbing victim Emma Lovell. Picture: Facebook

While the government has fronted up with its own plan, other ideas should not be dismissed without proper consideration.

Former top Gold Coast cop Jim Keogh, who led the war on bikies on the Glitter Strip, has called for the defunct $220m Wellcamp quarantine facility to be converted to house repeat juvenile offenders. While left-field, it has the potential to be a viable option for the currently mothballed and taxpayer-funded project – and a good idea is a good idea.

The government should be acknowledged for listening to the growing chorus of outrage from ordinary Queenslanders, who say they are fearful in their own homes. But it has squandered an opportunity to take decisive action and these measures are frankly too little, and too late.