Reader grills Miles, Crisafulli over state’s ‘out of control’ scourge

A Courier Mail reader has put the blowtorch on the leaders over the youth crime crisis gripping the state. Here’s what they had to say.

Andy McLaren from Shailer Park wanted to know what the leaders will do about repeat offenders if elected.

Steven Miles and David Crisafulli have been grilled with their second reader question of the campaign trail.

Andy McLaren from Shailer Park wanted them to answer the following.

“Crime is out of control and the judiciary repeatedly let these people back onto the streets. What will you do to stop this happening in the future?”

Here’s how they responded.

STEVEN MILES

“That’s a really important question and we know that community safety is a fundamental concern for all Queenslanders.

“That’s why we released our new community safety plan, a plan that invests in what we know works and we know that it is working.

“In fact here in the Capricornia region, which is Central Queensland and Mackay, we’ve seen a 24 per cent reduction in offences by youths this year when compared to last year. 

“Now that is a massive change and it’s a result of our community safety plan and the efforts of our police and prevention and intervention programs.

“So we’ll continue to do that. It’s important that we stick with the plan that we know is working.”

DAVID CRISAFULLI

“Judges can only enforce the law of the day, and in the days of the Miles government, laws have never been worse.

“If government changes by the end of the year the making Queensland safer laws will be laws. Adult crime, adult time will be embedded in legislation.

“Removal of detention as the last resort will occur and the rights of victims will be written in legislation.

“That will happen by Christmas and the other part of it, and no discussion is ever complete without the second part, gold standard early intervention, rehabilitation with purpose, giving kids hope, fixing residential care, fixing the child safety department and our plans have been backed by the sector.

“That’s the best way to stop the current generation of untouchables, and stopping the pipeline of the next ones.”