First access to Gympie Children’s Court as new media laws roll out

More than a dozen children have faced court on a total of 70+ charges, including rape, supplying drugs, assault, stealing cars and break and enter, after the Queensland Children’s Court opened its doors under new laws.

More than a dozen Gympie region children have faced court on a total of more than 70 charges ranging from rape to car theft, break-and-enter and assault.

Thirteen Gympie region children have faced court on a total of more than 70 charges ranging from rape to car theft, break-and-enter and assault.

Details of the matters before the region’s Children’s Court can be revealed following changes made by the state government to allow for greater transparency on youth justice matters.

The new laws allow accredited media to cover matters in Children’s Court, which had previously only been heard in closed court.

The changes were introduced amid claims of a youth crime crisis in Queensland.

Prohibitions still remain on identifying any of the youths who appear at the court.

Thirteen Gympie region children have faced court on a total of more than 70 charges ranging from rape to car theft, break-and-enter and assault.

Only one of the 13 matters before the court on Thursday, September 12, proceeded to sentencing: A teenager who had committed 24 crimes, including break-and-enter and shoplifting, over more than a year.

The remainder of cases were adjourned for various reasons, including one in which the court heard Legal Aid had reportedly provided funding to two separate law firms for the same child.

A non-exhaustive list of the charges included rape, supplying dangerous drugs, supplying weapons, break-and-enter, stealing, threatening violence, fraud, trespass, car theft, wilful damage, and going armed so as to cause fear.