Redlands MP Rebecca Young vows to ‘make community safe’ as Youth Justice Laws pass

Dreadful cases of crime after two break-ins this week were detailed in the maiden speech of Redlands MP Rebecca Young along with a vow to work until the area was safe.

Redlands MP Rebecca Young (LNP) talked about crime across her electorate and outlined five sad stories of victims.

Newly-elected Redlands MP Rebecca Young has used her parliamentary maiden speech to send a warning to young offenders that she “will not rest” until the community is safe.

Her message was a day after break-ins left businesses in her electorate at a Victoria Point shopping centre cleaning up thousands of dollars of damage for the second time this week.

The speech was hours before the parliament passed the state government’s proposed Adult Crime, Adult Time laws just before 5pm.

The new laws seek to hold youth offenders to the same standards as adults.

Ms Young, who owns an international freight business, said Redlands was “a community facing challenges” and the new laws were critical to tackling rising crime and ensuring repeat offenders faced justice.

Rebecca Young has visited the retailers at a Victoria Point shopping centre this week where retailers were broken into twice.

The speech detailed cases of crime and incidents that affected five families in the past year in the bayside electorate, which is growing a reputation as a crime hotspot.

“The community is demanding action, and we cannot let them down,” Ms Young said.

“These are not just stories, they are urgent reminders of the challenges our community faces and the action Redlands needs and deserves.

“They represent the struggles, fears and hopes of real people … who deserve better.

“They were not just conversations; they were calls for action, calls for help and they were cries for change.

“I stepped forward to listen, to understand and to fight for the community that had been calling out for action.

“It is these stories that have guided my visions and priorities for Redlands.”

She paid tribute to Sonu, the owner of a FoodWorks, who had four break-ins in one year and lost $70,000 in stock, and suffered emotional stress.

Smashed glass at a Victoria Point shopping centre on Wednesday this week.

She also mentioned Chris, who nearly lost his life after being attacked and stabbed by a youth offender while he was walking to the shop to buy a cooked chicken.

Another victim of crime was small business owner Melissa from Victoria Point whose car was stolen twice in one week.

Ms Young said she would work to ensure people like Thornlands couple Adam and Natalie felt safe in their own homes.

The legislation has faced criticism from advocacy groups and the Opposition, who argued that exposing young offenders to adult detention could exacerbate criminal behaviour by exposing them to hardened adult criminals.

Ms Young acknowledged the need for a multifaceted approach, highlighting the Top Blokes program, which focuses on helping youth.

Along with cracking youth crime in the area, Mr Young also listed a number of promises including the continuation of the 50-cent ferry fares to the bay islands, a 50 per cent subsidy on vehicle barge travel and a multi-level car park at the Redland Bay ferry terminal.