Qld’s plan to solve youth crime: What you said

The Palaszczuk government’s tough on youth crime stance has been accused of falling flat – and many seem to agree. JOIN THE CONVERSATION

Out of time and out of answers.

The Palaszczuk government’s tough on youth crime stance has been accused of falling flat – and readers seem to agree.

In the wake of the horrific Boxing Day home invasion that left North Lakes mother Emma Lovell allegedly stabbed to death, the state government responded to widespread fury in the community by strengthening youth crime laws.

From the 10-point plan released just days after the tragedy, which was paraded by the government as “tough laws made even tougher”, the maximum penalty for stealing a car was increased from seven years to 10.

Another key measure included a more severe penalty of 14 years if there were any aggravating factors including the offence being committed at night and using or threatening violence.

But no juveniles have been slapped with either of the increased maximum sentences since the reforms were legislated in March up until the end of September, according to government data released in November.

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli said the data was proof the 10-point plan had failed. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen/Courier Mail

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli said the revelation shows the government’s celebrated 10-point plan had failed to deliver results.

“This was a cobbled together announcement that was big on political preservation but small on the protection of people,” he said.

Readers were quick to join the debate.

Many claimed this was another sign of a failed government, while others insisted there are wider issues that need to be addressed.

See what you had to say below, cast your vote and join the conversation >>>

WHAT YOU SAID

Time’s up, Anna

Albo’s Non Transparency

Queen Palachook should retire. She loves red carpets but hard politics she does not.

GRW60

Everything Anna and her incompetent ALP government do is a stunt. They are excellent in having billion dollar budget blow outs on every project they touch.

Geoff

Another example of this mob “talking the talk “ But Not “walking the walk”

Neil

BTW, how are the hate crime and serious vilification laws recently passed in Queensland going?

Another token announcement with no substance.

Dave

Another Day, just another Labor Failure. Does anything change under Palaszczuk? She and her Govt are so out of touch and arrogantly refuse to listen to Qlders.

There’s an easy fix

Ed

If there is no minimum than you could have a maximum of life it doesn’t matter. The public and victims of crime must be put first and criminals lose all their rights. Its very simple certainly not complex.

Jennifer

No good increasing sentences if the judges ignore them & just give the criminals a slap on the wrist.

Oliver

Forget Maximum Penalties. Bring in Minimum Penalties.

Pedro the elder

Mandatory Sentencing. Bring back hard labor.

Milan

Increasing maximum sentences was never going to work if judges never apply the maximum sentence……..pretty obvious that increasing minimum sentences is what is required

Get politics out of it!

Simon

If it’s up to the courts to decide the penalties, not the politicians; then perhaps the judges should be up for election, so as they are accountable to the community as are politicians.

Stereo-always pending

We have heard enough about “the strongest laws in the country …” hyperbole. Strong mandatory minimum sentencing to back our Police force. Help them help us. Force our Judiciary to sentence criminals in line with public expectations. Breach of bail? Automatic meaningful incarceration.

Fay

Unfortunately you cannot control the judicial system and it is up to the judge to issue penalties. We live in a democratic country so unless the LNP is planning to change this, penalties won’t change much unless the judges want to do so.

Steven

To fix the problem, we could dispense with the “doctrine of the separation of powers” and to hell with the non-understanding judiciary.

That system is clearly seen as an impediment to justice in other freedom loving countries such as North Korea and Russia, not to mention Germany for a time almost a century ago, where it was then found to only confuse matters.

There could be a slight problem with the High Court and the Constitution, but surely nothing a referendum couldn’t fix – where there is a will, there is usually a way.