Crash victim Sheree Robertson’s family protests against youth crime

The mother, sister and brother of a nurse killed in a triple fatality allegedly caused by a 13-year-old in a stolen car have led a protest outside the courthouse calling for tougher youth crime laws.

The devastated family of a nurse killed in a triple fatal near Hervey Bay held a peaceful protest outside the Maryborough courthouse where a 13-year-old charged over the incident was due to appear on Tuesday.

Sheree Robertson, 52, was killed driving home from a shift at the Maryborough Hospital on April 30, 2023.

Two other women in a separate vehicle – Kelsie Davies, 17 and Michale Chandler, 29 – were also killed in the crash on Saltwater Creek Rd, which was allegedly caused by a 13-year-old driving a stolen Mercedes.

Kaylah Behrens was critically injured in the crash, but woke from a coma about a week later.

The boy has been charged with three counts of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death and one count of unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

‘We’re doing this for our Ree’: Friends and family of Sheree Robertson.

Outside the courthouse on Tuesday, Ms Robertson’s mother Jeanette Allan, her sister Liesa Latimer and brother Glen Robertson were among the people chanting for the state government to bring in tougher youth crime laws.

In the weeks since the crash, the community has been united in its frustration over juvenile crime.

Ms Latimer said her family wanted to help protect the community in the wake of their own devastating loss.

“We’re doing this for our Ree,” she said.

Friends and family of Sheree Robertson hold a peaceful protest outside Maryborough Courthouse.

Holding signs bearing a picture of Ms Robertson, along with the word Justice, Ms Latimer said it was time for the government to hear the community and listen to victims of crime.

Mrs Allan said youth crime wasn’t just a problem on the Fraser Coast, it was an issue across the state.

“This is just ridiculous, it’s gone way, way too far and now it’s got out of control and I don’t know how the hell they’re going to bring it back,” she said.

“I just lost a beautiful daughter and others lost their beautiful daughters to an idiot who was allowed to steal a car. It’s just sad.”

A friend of the family said:

“Queensland laws must change today”.

“People are scared to drive on the roads now. People are scared of having their homes broken into, people are scared to have their cars stolen.

“Youth laws need to start changing today.

“We need to get a safer community back today.”

One Nation Senator Malcolm Roberts spoke at the protest, saying that Ms Robertson’s family needed support in the wake of the tragedy.

“I also want to make sure that the state government gets a message that this community will never let it go,” he said.

Mr Roberts said there needed to be a memorial and laws were needed to protect the community.

He said youth today were “highly troubled” and they found “no meaning or purpose in life”.

Mr Roberts said there needed to be a comprehensive solution.

For the third time, media outlets were not allowed to be present during the 13-year-old’s court mention.

Mr Roberts said it was wrong that the media was excluded, saying it was a “form of censorship”.

“I think the community definitely has a right to know what’s going on,” he said.

In the wake of the crash, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said Queensland had the toughest young crime laws in Australia, but they needed time to work.

“Both sides of politics voted for these stronger laws. They are the strongest laws in Australia that have been put in place,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“They will take time to come into effect … we are throwing a lot of money at this as well – over $1.3 billion dollars.

“We’re building more youth detention centres across the state; we are putting more money into early intervention and prevention.”