Opinion: Youth crime fix must be about more than winning votes

Labor’s approach to the youth crime crisis has been pathetic, but while the LNP’s latest policy may win votes, it’s unlikely to fix the real problem, writes Kylie Lang.

• Your say: Tensions erupt

David Crisafulli is right: the “generation of untouchables must end”. But before rushing to slap young offenders with adult sentences, consider punishing their parents.

Kids aren’t born bad. Behaviour is learned.

Yes, we Queenslanders are completely fed up with juveniles running amok, including the most heinous crime of murdering people in their own homes.

However, we need politicians to look at the bigger picture and not just react to public sentiment.

While it is encouraging to see Mr Crisafulli stand for something – and I look forward to details on how this significant change to the legal framework might play out – the answer is not as simple as treating kids as adults in the eyes of the law.

Opposition David Crisafulli, news conference on Adult Crime, Adult Time, Redbank Plains. Picture: Liam Kidston.

A mate of mine is a district court judge and is adamant that locking kids up doesn’t work, partly because when they are behind bars they learn more anti-social behaviour.

The judge thinks the state government needs to start with families, and put money into better supporting parents to parent properly.

I would agree – yet what government would be prepared to take this big leap, which requires a longer commitment than a four-year term?

It’s far easier – and makes for better headlines – to vow to get tough on criminals.

Labor has been pathetic in dealing with youth crime. Watering down laws and then blaming the courts for not doing their jobs while juveniles laugh at the system they manipulate with ease.

Former Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk couldn’t even be bothered meeting with victims of youth crime.

And now we have an epidemic.

While I understand Mr Crisafulli’s position – “adult crime, adult time” – it has to be about more than vote grabbing as we hurtle towards the October state election.

I’d like to see a detailed and well-conceived plan of the suite of measures the LNP has in mind, because treating kids like adults at the point of sentencing will not fix the problem.