Youth crime crisis: LNP to target school drop-outs
Opposition Leader David Crisafulli reveals $40m “early intervention fund” to help school drop-outs from turning to a life of crime.
QLD Politics
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Hundreds of school dropouts will be offered alternative education programs to keep them from falling into a life of crime if the LNP are elected in October.
The LNP will reveal details about its $40m early intervention fund on Sunday, including plans to award contracts to four youth engagement programs that focus on crime prevention.
It says the programs will potentially help 900 students.
Gold Coast based Men of Business, which mentors young men, will be one of the first specialised programs to receive funding through the policy if the party are voted in.
The extra money will mean the group can expand it current services to children in grades 7-12.
Opposition Leader David Crisafulli said the policy was designed to help youths who had fallen out of mainstream schooling and “plug them back into the community”.
“Education, mentoring, life skills and community connection will put these kids back on the right track,” he said.
The announcement comes as the new LNP candidate for Capalaba, Russell Field, launches his The Change We Need campaign - a platform that reflects collective community outrage and demands for change for Queenslanders impacted by crime.
A well-known crime victim advocate, Mr Field was thrust into the spotlight after a drunk and high 17-year-old with a lengthy criminal history ran a red light and crashed, killing his son Matthew Field, daughter in-law Kate Leadbetter and unborn grandson Miles on Australia Day in 2021.
The youth was sentenced to just six years behind bars.
“The teenager who killed my family in a stolen car was on bail for the seventh time,” Mr Field said.
“We need to shut the revolving door on bail, get these kids off the streets and prevent crime before it happens by keeping them on the right track to begin with.”
Mr Crisafulli said he and Mr Field had stood “shoulder to shoulder” with Queenslanders who had lost loved ones.
“When I met Russell I promised him we would restore safety where you live and I’m honoured he’s standing with the LNP,” Mr Crisafulli said.
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