What you said about Qld adult crime adult time laws

Queensland’s adult crime adult time laws continue to divide many, particularly after two teens were granted bail. HAVE YOUR SAY

Seanne and Dylan McMahon clean up after their house was invaded on Australia Day this year. Picture: Channel 9

Will it work, is it a political play, or is it the perfect plan?

Queensland’s “Adult Crime Adult Time” laws continue to divide the state after it was revealed two teenagers, accused of a terrifying home invasion in Wellington Point, were granted bail, sparking outrage from the victims.

The 15-year-old and the 17-year-old were arrested following a police pursuit involving a stolen vehicle and a police helicopter along Vienna Rd at Alexandra Hills on Australia Day.

Authorities alleged the pair, along with others still at large, broke into a home in Wellington Point, terrifying couple Dylan and Seanne McMahon.

Police alleged four individuals threatened residents and stole the family’s Chrysler from the Wellington Point property on Sunday night.

The stolen car was later tracked by a police helicopter, with officers monitoring its movements across the Redland area.

The pursuit came to a halt in Thornlands when police deployed a tyre deflation device.

The vehicle continued but hit a traffic island on Vienna Rd at Alexandra Hills where the two teen boys were apprehended.

Both were charged with a total of seven offences including unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

Despite police opposing bail, the two accused were released after facing the Children’s Court in Cleveland on Tuesday.

Police say investigations are ongoing, with more youths believed to be involved.

Capalaba MP Russell Field, whose son Matthew died at an intersection on Vienna Rd at Alexandra Hills in 2021; and ex-Capalaba MP Don Brown who says the LNP’s ‘Adult Time for Adult Crime’ promise is hollow.

The case put newly-elected LNP MP Russell Field under immediate pressure.

Mr Field’s son Matthew and daughter-in-law Katherine Leadbetter and their unborn child were killed four years to the day at an intersection on Vienna Rd less than 1km away.

The young couple had been struck by an out-of-control car driven by an unlicensed teen on Australia Day.

Mr Field won the seat of Capalaba from the former Labor MP Brown in the October state election, largely campaigning on a tough-on-crime platform under the slogan “Adult Time for Adult Crime”.

In a statement on Wednesday, Mr Field said his sympathies were with every victim impacted by young offenders.

The issue sparked debate among readers, with many questioning how the new laws could work.

Others, meanwhile, said it was a doomed attempt by the LNP, while some argued we need patience.

See what you had to say below and join the conversation >>>

WHAT YOU SAID

They won’t work

Robyn

Adults don’t do adult time how in the world do you expect adult time for adult crime. Will never happen. Chisstafully is full of hot air …

Paulie

Trump is showing in the US that change can happen from day one! Nothing changing here though. Young criminals still ruling the streets of Queensland.

Marg

Police can arrest these juveniles but if the judiciary give them bail, what hope is there. the judiciary need to apply the appropriate sentences when trials occur but granting bail is not the right message.

Noela

Blame the woke Judiciary!

The new Govt needs to make mandatory legislation concerning these sorts of violent crimes. Community expectations are not being met.

A weapon that was found at the Wellington Point house after an alleged home invasion on Australia Day this year. Picture: Contributed

Wider issues

John C

One question where were the Parents? Time that the Parents of these young offenders have to front the Court and give an explanation for the problems these young people who are in their charge and creating trouble in our society?

Retired Lawyer

Qld burnt its old school cops under the previous commissioner and now crime is out of control.

Peter

The judiciary can’t sentence the offenders to detention, as there is nowhere to send them. All the jails are already overcrowded and understaffed as it is.

FordMan

Its time to start putting some heat onto the judiciary around community sentencing expectations and if necessary, to introduce mandatory sentencing changes including the removal of bail options for any violent crimes which would include home invasions. Unfortunately the damage that has been done by successive Labor governments to soften and weaken most criminal law is massive and as such it will take years to undo what the liberal attitudes of the “Left” has done to all forms of criminal law.

LNP is a mess

Helen

This again demonstrates that the LNP is nothing but spin, lies and propaganda with no solutions and no idea!

Paulie

The LNP has had more than enough time and a large enough majority to introduce legislation to compel judges to detain serious offenders such as these. They should have had that legislation ready to go from day one. That’s what we voted for.

David

What’s going on? See what happens when you rush through new laws.

Greg

I said all along this will be a one term, four year LNP Government, and I stand by that comment. They’re already flailing in many areas, and as time goes by, there will be a lot of very disgruntled voters who fell for their spin with no substance.

Police arrest two teens on Vienna Rd at Alexandra Hills on Australia Day. Pictures: Contributed

Give it time

The Other Bruce

The LNP has 35 years of mess to fix. While it should be done quickly, 6 months is a bit rich to turn around three and a half decades of maladministration. How they deal with the teething problems is the measure that should be applied. Let’s look how they’re travelling by October.

Dr Giggles

Better fix this up David, and fast …

Wildside

Judiciary make the rules not the LNP

Michael

Governments don’t control crime – police do. This highlights the futility with passing “stronger” laws – all for show and they really achieve nothing.