LNP to move amendments making breach of bail an offence

Breach of bail would become an offence in Queensland for young offenders under a push by the LNP to amend new youth justice laws that are set to pass parliament this week.

Breach of bail would become an offence for young criminals in Queensland under an LNP push to amend new youth justice laws that are set to pass parliament this week.

The government has resisted making the move amid repeated calls from the LNP for breach of bail to be made an offence in a bid to deal with youth crime in Queensland.

The opposition is expected to move their own amendments to the government’s youth justice legislation when the Bill comes before parliament this week to make breach of bail a crime for juveniles.

The government’s proposed laws include a raft of reforms, including creating a presumption against bail for certain offences – meaning it will be up to the young person charged to persuade a court to release them on bail.

Leader of the Opposition David Crisafulli. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli said the LNP would not oppose the government’s legislation, but they would ask for the “offence of breach of bail” to be made law under the changes.

“This has been a consistent demand from Queenslanders, and failure to accept this positive solution would put political face-saving ahead of community safety,” Mr Crisafulli said.

LNP police spokesman Dale Last said the opposition believed bail was a “privilege” and not a right.

“Offenders who are released on bail should abide by the conditions of that bail undertaking, and if they breach their bail they should be taken back into custody and reappear before court,” he said.

“It’s time the State Government listened and acted on behalf of all Queenslanders.”

Youth Justice Minister Leanne Linard has previously insisted that making breach of bail an offence does not work, claiming earlier this year that 90 per cent of offenders who were convicted of the offence when it was last in place went on to reoffend within 12 months.

Queensland Minister for Children and Youth Justice Leanne Linard. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

Under the government’s new laws, breach of bail will be enshrined in legislation as an aggravating factor when judges make a decision over the punishment they give an offender.

Courts will also be able to deploy GPS tracking devices as a condition of bail on 16 and 17-year-olds, under a 12 month trial in certain regions of the state.