‘Abject failure’: Crisafulli slams youth justice laws despite new reforms

The State Opposition has slammed the Queensland government’s youth justice laws as “an abject failure” 12 months after new reforms were introduced. HAVE YOUR SAY IN OUR POLL

The State Opposition has slammed the Queensland government’s youth justice laws as “an abject failure” 12 months after new reforms were introduced.

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Speaking to media on the Gold Coast, Opposition Leader David Crisafulli said that in the year since provisions were made to allow repeat youth offenders to be fitted with GPS ankle bracelets, the policy had only been enforced on three occasions.

One youth offender initially ordered to wear an ankle bracelet had the provision removed after saying they didn’t want to wear it.

Mr Crisafulli said that was ludicrous.

“It’s not a fashion accessory,” he said.

“The State government is not serious about dealing with this problem.”

He said there were 92 juvenile criminals across the state who had committed more than 30 offences each in the past year and cited statistics showing cases of youth assaults, break-ins and stolen vehicles had all increased by more than 20 per cent in the past year.

Mr Crisafulli said he was particularly disturbed by vision of a wild violent rampage involving teens at Wynnum.

“It is troubling, it is unsettling, it is anarchy,” he said.

“Youth crime is out of control in this state.”