Sunshine Coast dad Michael Stewart’s youth crime funding plea

The father of a slain Sunshine Coast teen has slammed what he says is an imbalance in funding support after a slew of youth crime measures were announced.

Michael and Kerri-Lyn Stewart lost their son Balin, 16, on January 20, 2022, to an alleged stabbing murder. Photo: Patrick Woods.

The grieving father of slain teen Balin Stewart has slammed what he says is an “outweighed bias” towards perpetrators, demanding more support for victims of crime.

The Buddina dad’s calls came in light of the Palaszczuk Government’s $332m youth crime package announced in state parliament on Tuesday, February 21, as it also vowed to publish key performance indicators demanded by News Corp Australia’s Queensland mastheads.

The Enough is Enough campaign demanded the publication of several key indicators experts say are crucial to driving youth crime rates down, with the state government announcing it would meet the demands after the opposition had earlier backed the campaign.

Among the slew of measures announced by the Palaszczuk government on Tuesday there was $100m assigned for enhancing youth justice programs including intensive case management, $66m for more proactive policing, $17m for youth justice worker support and two new detention centres were also confirmed.

But Michael Stewart has slammed the $9m announced to enhance support for victims of crime.

“A perpetrator leaves behind hundreds of affected victims yet the spending is grossly biased,” he said.

Balin Stewart, 16, who was allegedly stabbed to death outside his Buddina home on January 20. Picture: Supplied

Mr Stewart and his wife, Kerri-Lyn, recently marked a year since their son’s death.

Their boy, just 16, bled out on the front lawn of their family home as they desperately tried to save his life after he was allegedly struck with a single blow to the chest delivered by another boy, 17, charged with Balin’s murder, on January 20, 2022.

“I have PTSD, my wife, depression, my children anxiety, my grandchildren anxiety and loss of innocence,” Mr Stewart said.

“Balin’s four grandparents suffer daily, our brothers have been affected, our closest friends who Balin called Aunties and Uncles have nightmares, anxiety and depression. Seven of Balin’s school friends have dropped out of school, just to scrape the tip.”

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk speaks during Question Time at Parliament House. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

Mr Stewart said it was “very insulting” that funding for perpetrators outstripped that for victims by more than tenfold.

Mr and Mrs Stewart launched the Balin Stewart Foundation and #BinthebladeforBalin campaign after his death and continue their efforts to educate schoolchildren of the perils of knife violence.

Mr Stewart said he was a firm supporter of education and intervention as the first steps, but said when it progressed to violence, consequences – namely taking young offenders off the streets – had to be dealt out.

He said he supported a three or five-strike policy at the intervention stage for petty crimes, provided there was scope for more serious action to be taken sooner if required.

Michael and Kerri-Lyn Stewart, it's a year to the day Friday since their son Balin, died from a stab wound on their front lawn. Picture: Patrick Woods.

He said he supported programs that could intervene at an early or petty crime stage and rehabilitate youths by establishing respect and work ethic.

“There needs to be a trigger for intervention if the offences are escalating,” he said.

“Juvenile crime is killing our kids, it’s killing people, and we’re not doing anything.”

He said he saw the current campaign and public sentiment as a “tipping scale point in time” and put politicians from all sides on notice.

“If somebody dies because of this in future, politicians who haven’t changed these laws really have blood on their hands,” Mr Stewart said.

“If these politicians want their job next election, they better do something about it. We’re not going to be quiet about it.”