Teen ‘bashed, robbed’ while waiting for bus

A horrified Coast mother is demanded an extra police presence after her son was allegedly "bashed, robbed and left on the road" while waiting for a bus.

Maroochydore bus stop near the Plaza.

A HORRIFIED mother is pleading for an extra police presence after her teenage son was allegedly "bashed, robbed and left on the road" while waiting for a bus at Maroochydore.

The Hungry Jack's employee, 17, had just finished his shift and was waiting for the bus to head home to Sippy Downs when he said he was set upon by two juveniles.

Member for Maroochydore Fiona Simpson raised the issue in the parliament this week, calling on the State Government to provide more police and security and tougher laws rather than make excuses for the latest incident.

The boy's mother said her son was left disoriented, dizzy and with a "swollen, blackened face".

She said the attack happened on Monday, February 10 about 8.30pm.

The mother said the pair "punched" her son in the head and "threw" him onto the ground and "took off" with his bag.

She alleged the pair struck him again and "left him in the middle of the road".

"He couldn't see out of one eye and everything was black when he came to," the mother said.

Ms Simpson said she understood one person had been charged and the other was yet to be apprehended.

Power cuts homes, but no rain damage

Both the mother and Ms Simpson said anti-social behaviour at the bus stop was common.

"It's this main bus stop that's the problem. I want security here from the minute the bus runs and until it stops," the mother said.

"My son has never had something like this done before, but I have heard of it happening time and time again.

"Police are just around the corner too... it's terrifying.

"So many kids have jobs at the Sunshine Plaza but it's becoming unsafe and scary for everyone."

Ms Simpson said the situation had become unacceptable.

"I understand one person has been charged and police are looking for another alleged offender as well, and we await the outcome of the justice system to judge the facts and the alleged offenders," Ms Simpson said.

"However we cannot wait for action to make this bus station, the public transport and many other public areas on the Coast in what has become an unacceptable breakdown in public safety.

"This is not the first time this bus station and the public transport network has been at the heart of a public safety issue."

Speaking in parliament, Ms Simpson tabled the mother's letter and said that Labor has gone soft on crime and the people of Queensland were paying for the crime crisis through increased property crime and rising insurance bills.

She called for more resources for police and security, particularly on the bus network, and for a reintroduction of tougher laws such as penalties for breach of bail and removing jail as a last resort for juveniles who committed serious crimes.

"I want to see people rehabilitated but not at the expense of failing to keep the community safe and address serious crimes."

A spokeswoman for Queensland Police Service said the safety of patrons in and around the Maroochydore bus station continues to be a priority for authorities.

"A CCTV upgrade provided by the Department of Transport and Main Roads will come on line in the next six months and ongoing operations with TransLink at peak times are just two examples of this partnership approach," she said.

"The most recent arrest for robbery in relation to the assault referred to in the article was assisted by timely access to the network of CCTV footage.

"Within 48 hours of the complaint being made serious criminal charges had been laid against offenders for the alleged assault of the young man.

"Sunshine Coast police continue to prioritise foot patrols with uniformed and plain clothed officers of the Maroochydore bus stop at relevant times in accordance with our priority policing model."

Originally published as