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LNP announces remote rehab for repeat youth offenders

David Crisafulli has announced repeat young offenders would be sent away to be rehabilitated at two remote facilities in the north and south of the state — though the LNP won’t pay to construct them.

Leader of the Opposition David Crisafulli. Picture: Liam Kidston.
Leader of the Opposition David Crisafulli. Picture: Liam Kidston.

Repeat young offenders would be sent away to “circuit breaker” facilities for three to six months to be rehabilitated under the latest plank of the LNP’s community safety plan.

It will involve setting up two remote facilities in the north and south of the state — though the LNP won’t be paying to construct them.

Instead they will put $80m across four years to fund the operation of the program.

There will be 60-beds spread across the two facilities, where kids will be offered “intensive rehabilitation”.

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli is adamant the facilities are not jails, as the kids won’t have individual holding cells.

Opposition Youth Justice spokeswoman Laura Gerber also insisted the LNP’s policy was different to the Katter’s Australian Party relocation sentencing platform.

Laura Gerber shadow minister for youth justice. Picture: Liam Kidston.
Laura Gerber shadow minister for youth justice. Picture: Liam Kidston.

This despite both policies explicitly calling for youth offenders to be sent to small remote facilities to undergo “intensive rehabilitation”, with kids to be provided formal schooling, and those who commit sex-related crimes, murder or manslaughter to be excluded.

Under the LNP’s policy children would be sentenced to their “circuit breaker” program for three to six months.

“It will allow for another sentencing option for magistrates and judges, and it really is something that has been lacking for a very long time, and it’s something that magistrates have been calling for,” Ms Gerber said.

But Treasurer Cameron Dick has attacked the rehabilitation facilities announcement, claiming it had not been properly costed, questioning the affordability of the project.

“The 48 bed expansion of the Cleveland Youth Detention Centre was opened by Jarrod Bleijie 10 years ago in 2014 and in 2014 that … cost $183m, that’s $4.85m a bed,” he said.

“Today the LNP says they can deliver 60 beds for $80m.

Treasurer Cameron Dick. Pic: Adam Head
Treasurer Cameron Dick. Pic: Adam Head

“At best, the LNP will have an unsecure facility without the staff to provide the support to turn around the lives of young people.

“At worst, David Crisafulli is lying again about the true cost of these facilities.”

Mr Dick also criticised LNP Youth Justice spokeswoman Laura Gerber for saying the two facilities had been costed into the LNP’s budget.

“She said ‘it’s all budgeted, it’s in our budget,’ what budget? What’s she talking about?” he said.

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Original URL: https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/state-election/lnp-announces-remote-rehab-for-repeat-youth-offenders/news-story/310190d77aea337625916822261fc77c