How LNP leadership plan to crackdown on Mackay youth crime

Standing up with an almost-victim-of-crime in Mackay, the LNP deputy also wouldn’t be drawn in on whether his party would be prepared to incentivise companies to hire formerly incarcerated people.

An LNP cohort has used an almost break-in at a Mackay mum’s home as an opportunity to take political swings ahead of the state election.

Opposition deputy leader Jarrod Bleijie, Whitsundays MP Amanda Camm and Mackay’s LNP candidate Nigel Dalton shared the story of India Williamson, who woke one night in April to phone alerts that a stranger was at her front door.

The individual covered their face but appeared to be young, and attempted to open the door before realising it was locked and leaving.

Deputy opposition leader Jarrod Bleijie joins Amanda Camm and Nigel Dalton to speak with India Williamson. Photo: Fergus Gregg

She said the situation was made scarier after seeing on social media that a number of cars had been stolen in the area that same night.

“It made me very grateful I had checked the door was locked,” Ms Williamson said, adding since then she’d been more scared, feared for herself and her two children and begun sleeping with ‘something’ under the bed.

Ms Camm was quick to point fingers at Labor for failing “Mackay and the Northern Beaches when it comes to crime”.

Mr Bleijie used the opportunity to promote the LNPs ‘Adult Crime, Adult Time’ and ‘Stay on Track’ policies.

“We want to make sure that when young offenders they are also rehabilitated in the community,” he said.

Mr Bleijie emphasised the importance of youth offenders receiving education opportunities in detention and becoming employed when released.

However when asked if the LNP intended to offer employers incentives to hire former offenders, he was unable to provide a clear answer.

“If you’re in detention we will also make sure you are rehabilitated after to get you out of detention,” he said.

Mackay MP Julieanne Gilbert at Racecourse Mill on Wednesday, August 16, 2023, to talk about two industrial sites in Mackay being declared a State Development Area. Picture: Contributed

Under the ‘Stay on Track’ policy the state government will delegate the responsibility of rehabilitating youth offenders to non-government organisations and not-for-profits who will be eligible for $175 million in funding distributed by an independent board, partially made up of youth crime victims.

Mr Bleijie said an example of eligible community organisation was the Australian Street Aid project, which at one point did employ at risk youth at their cafe but now primarily focused on addressing homelessness in the Mackay area.

But Incumbent Mackay MP Julieanne Gilbert fired back calling Mr Bleijie’s accusations “rubbish”.

“We are not the government that sacked police officers that was the Newman LNP,” Ms Gilbert said.

“We have employed police, I meet new recruits every couple of weeks.”

Ms Gilbert said while the LNP could introduce new sentencing laws the final decision remained with the judiciary.

“Some of the announcements the LNP have made, according to the experts, will not improve our crime statistics,” she said

When asked if harsher sentencing laws could have a disproportionate impact on Indigenous communities Mr Bleijie said that attitude led to the crime crisis.

“I would say I respect their views, but this is exactly what hasn’t worked in the last 10 years.”

“Something has to change.”

Ms Gilbert emphasised the work done to support First Nations people in Mackay pointing to the success of the Kutta Mulla Gorinna Special Assistance School.

“There are 64 students from our community who would otherwise be disengaged that are completing their secondary education,” she said.

“The LNPs policies focus is all about locking young people up and then trying to rehabilitate them afterwards.”