Opposition calls for “rushed” youth crime laws to be made public prior to parliament sitting

The Opposition has called for youth justice law changes to be made public ahead of parliament sitting, so Queenslanders can have their say.

The Opposition has called for youth justice law changes to be made public and shown to Queenslanders ahead of the parliament sitting, after implying that the government is “rushing” the new laws through.

“The LNP is today calling on the Premier to release the changes to the youth justice act well ahead of the sitting later this month,” Opposition Leader David Crisafulli said.

“The Premier has said that these laws, when parliament finally resumes, will be passed on the week that they’re tabled.

“If that’s the case, and the Government believes in these changes, show them to Queenslanders ahead of the sitting and allow Queenslanders to have their say.

“They deserve to see the legislation before the Government rushes it through parliament.”

Leader of the Opposition David Crisafulli. Picture: File photo/ Lyndon Mechielsen

Mr Crisafulli added that Queenslanders should have the right to read the reform and make suggestions prior to it being passed in parliament.

“I don’t think it’s a tough request to let Queenslanders see the laws ahead of the sitting, and be able to have their say,” he said.

“That’s what good democratic government would look like.

“If it’s going to be tabled and passed in the same week, allowing everybody to have a look at those laws and having a say on them would be good open democracy, and we’re asking the government to do that and give Queenslanders the time to make those suggestions”.

The youth justice laws, announced on December 29, will be among the first introduced to the Queensland parliament in late February, after the Government’s resistance to recall parliament ahead of schedule, following calls from the Opposition to resume early.

“For over a month we have repeatedly called for the parliament to be recalled early, because Queenslanders know we are in the midst of a youth crime epidemic and we believe that these changes can’t come soon enough. Now, that has been resisted,” Mr Crisafulli said.

Deputy Opposition Leader Jarrod Bleijie added that any refusal from the Palaszczuk government to release the legislation would expose a lack of confidence from the Premier that these reforms will make a change.

“If the Premier doesn’t release the changes to the Youth Justice Act, it will be abundantly clear she doesn’t even back her own laws or the Government hasn’t finished writing them,” Mr Bleijie said.

“How embarrassing for the Premier that these changes need to be kept under wraps because her Government is worried they’re weak and won’t solve youth crime in Queensland.”

The new legislation includes increasing the maximum punishment for stealing a car – regardless of the age of the offender – from seven to 10 years in jail, and amending the Youth Justice Act to require courts to take into account previous bail history and criminal activity when sentencing.

Mr Crisafulli said no details have been shared in regards to financial implications of this youth justice reform.

“We haven’t seen any of those details and neither has the cabinet by my recollection,” he said.

“There’s nothing in the budget, and it was an announcement by the Premier that I believe caught even the people standing beside her off-guard.

“So let’s have a look at it, let’s have a look at what that means - costings, timelines”.

The new laws were announced just days after Brisbane mother-of-two Emma Lovell was stabbed to death following a violent home invasion allegedly involving teenagers, on Boxing Day.

Ms Palaszczuk had said during the announcement: “Community safety has to come first here. We stand with the Lovell family and the community.”