Qld Budget: $440m to tackle youth crime

More than $440m has been set aside in the state budget for a range of initiatives to address youth crime, including diversionary programs and new youth detention centres.

Cash for seniors to upgrade home security in a bid to ward off teen crime has been doubled to $30m as part of a suite of measures to tackle the state’s escalating youth justice crisis. 

As one of the hot button issues facing the Palaszczuk government in the past 12 months, Tuesday’s state budget saw more than $440m set aside for a range of initiatives to address youth crime, including diversionary programs and new youth detention centres.

It included $96.2m over four years for youth co-responder teams, and $64m for police resources including youth crime rapid response squads and high-visibility patrols.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk also spruiked additional funding of $400,000 to scope and support enhanced co-ordination of youth justice, early intervention and prevention services in Mount Isa and Toowoomba.

“The local communities have said they want more engagement, more activity for the young people,” she said.

Additional funding of $12.8m over three years will support police monitoring social media platforms to identify and respond to criminal activity, $4.2m in cash to continue culture-based rehabilitation for young First Nations peoples in Cairns, Mount Isa and Townsville, and funding of $2.8 million over three years to deliver a fast-track sentencing pilot in four locations for 18 months to address delays in court proceedings.

PCYC Queensland will also be given additional funding of $50 million over two years for a grant program to facilitate infrastructure development in priority locations, which the government says will improve “frontline social program delivery and intervention initiatives targeting youth offending and recidivism, and victimisation”.

Ms Palaszczuk said she was “very proud” of the investment, and it would see PCYCs getting back to “that core business of engaging young people”.

The budget also set aside $850,000 over two years to “engage at risk young people in pro-social activities” and divert them away from congregating at Stockland and other shopping precincts in Townsville.

Treasurer Cameron Dick said this year’s budget “reflects the importance this government places on youth justice and getting outcomes that meet community expectations”.

“At the very heart of this budget is the government’s commitment to make our communities safer and reduce youth crime,” he said.