‘The justice system isn’t working’: Heartbroken parents launch parliamentary petition following horror Aus Day crash

The parents of Matthew Field, who was killed alongside his pregnant partner Kate Leadbetter in a horror Australia Day crash, have launched a parliamentary petition after the teen behind the wheel was sentenced.

The heartbroken parents of Matthew Field, who died alongside his pregnant partner Kate Leadbetter in a horror Australia Day crash last year, have launched a parliamentary petition to protest the sentence of their teenage killer.

Russell and Ann Field were the first to sign an “appeal against manifestly inadequate sentence” after their son’s killer received a six-year jail term for the crime on Wednesday.

The petition had gathered more than 5000 signatures in a matter of hours.

Matthew, Kate and their unborn child Miles were killed while walking their dogs after the teen – drunk and high behind the wheel of a stolen car – ran a red light and crashed into a truck, before rolling the four-wheel-drive across an intersection at Alexandra Hills.

The teen, who was 17 at the time of the crash, was sentenced to 10 years jail, but was to be released on parole after serving six years, including the time he’s already spent behind bars.

It means he would walk free on Australia Day 2027.

Russell Field said the court proceedings over the past week had been “very disappointing”.

“Even though we thought this individual might be getting a lighter sentence than what he should be, it was pretty devastating to get a true indication of the previous sentences and activities,” he said.

“To be handed down a sentence of six years for the killing of Matt, Kate and Miles, let alone the other offences he had carried out on the day – to have that then incorporated in six years served concurrently just goes to show that, somewhere along the line, the justice system isn’t working and it hasn’t been working for some time.

Ann and Russell Field have been joined by MPs and councillors calling for an appeal on the sentence handed down to the teen driver who killed their son Matthew Field, his partner Kate Leadbetter and their unborn child Miles in Alexandra Hills. Picture: Tara Croser

“There needs to be a change – unless we stand up now and do something, there cannot be in our eyes a more heinous crime that will instigate change.”

Mr Field said “time and time again, there is no actual, real punishment”.

“No matter what your history is in life, everybody knows right from wrong, and if not, it is on social media every day of the week,” he said.

“This individual walking out of court got back in the car to go back to prison and would have been fist-pumping all the way home.

“This particular instance will hopefully never be repeated again. If this doesn’t send a message to the lawmakers of this state, nothing will.”

In response to the petition, Opposition Leader David Crisafulli said “we are here to change a Youth Justice Act that is letting Queenslanders down across the state”.

“This tragedy rocked a family, it tore apart a community and it showed a state that we have to do more to get on top of youth crime,” he said.

“What we saw in the handing down of the sentence this week shows a broken youth justice system, a sentence that doesn’t reflect community expectations.

“There is a second part to it, though, and that is making sure that we have laws that are fit for purpose. We have a Youth Justice Act that enables young offenders to be able to turn around their life.”

Redlands Mayor Karen Williams said “community outrage can now be turned into community outcome”.

“I’m asking every parent, every grandparent, every tow truck driver, every member of this community in the state of Queensland to sign this petition so those lives are not lost in vain,” she said.

https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/Work-of-the-Assembly/Petitions/Petition-Details