Michelle Landry and Jarrod Bleijie hold crime forum in Rockhampton

An elderly woman subjected to a home invasion and a woman who had her car stolen were two heartfelt stories shared during the youth crime forum in Rockhampton.

Capricornia MP Michelle Landry held a crime forum in Rockhampton with Deputy Opposition Leader Jarrod Bleijie.

Dozens of concerned victims of property crime have gathered to share stories at a crime forum in Rockhampton.

Capricornia MP and state Deputy Opposition Leader Jarrod Bleijie met with more than 80 people from the Rockhampton region at the forum on Monday.

Among the crowd was an 80-year-old woman who had her car stolen during a home invasion, a woman who had her businesses car stolen and psychologists offering potential solutions.

The forum also heard from concerned parents about how suspending students in trouble at school was also not helping, claiming some youth revelled in the fact they had “a few days off” from school.

Capricornia MP Michelle Landry said it was important to hear the voice of the community.

Deputy Opposition Leader Jarrod Bleijie said the LNP would ‘unshackle’ the judiciary if elected next year.

“People are scared, they’re scared in their homes, they’re scared in the streets, and they really wanted to come and have a say,” she said.

“There were people here from the university talking about mental health problems with people, some of these kids have problems at home and feel safer on the streets than in their own home.”

She said the state and federal government need to look at the programs what will work to help kids.

“Breaking and entering, stealing cars and property are taking a toll on victims. Not just emotionally but financially as well, with associated cost of crime being left for the victims to absorb.”

Deputy opposition leader Jarrod Bleijie said every Queenslander had the right to feel safe in their homes.

Mr Bleijie said if elected in next year’s state election, the LNP would get rid of detention as a last resort for youth offenders.

“We will unshackle the judiciary and we will allow the judiciary to look at all the sentencing options, not just detention or not detention, all of the sentencing options available.” he said.

“Once the auditor general has completed his inquiry into early intervention programs in Queensland, we’ll be best placed to work out in regions.’’’

Youth Justice Minister Leanne Linard said the government had taken “decisive action” on youth crime, introducing breach of bail as an offence and investing funding into programs to help break the cycle of youth offending.

“As part of its comprehensive response to youth crime, the government has announced that it will invest more than $100 million in additional funds into programs proven to make a difference in breaking the cycle of youth offending,” she said.

Ms Linard said as part of the new laws and “tougher penalties” breaching bail was now an offence in Queensland.

During the forum members of the community were able to voice their concerns and share their stories about being victims of youth crime.

Offences such as unlawful use of a motor vehicle with a circumstance of aggravation of violence or threatened violence must be heard by a District Court judge, allowing for increased penalties.

“There are also increased penalties for offenders who have boasted about these crimes on social media. We are also funding more frontline police officers and giving them the tools they need to respond to crime in our community,” she said.

Ms Linard said data, which was published last week, showed the number of “distinct youth offenders” decreased in the Rockhampton LGA by about 14 per cent since 2019, with the Livingstone LGA seeing a reduction of 51 per cent in the same period.

“I know this will be of little comfort to victims of crime. However, the government shares their concern and is acting,” she said.

“Contrast the government’s response with that of the LNP. The LNP has no policy, no plan and no solutions to young crime.”

After the forum Ms Landry will be sending correspondence to Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk with the concerns of people who attended.