Qld‘s broken youth crime promises over the years
All talk, little action. The criticism of Queensland’s response to youth crime can be neatly summarised – but is it fair? HAVE YOUR SAY
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All talk, little action.
The criticism of Queensland’s response to youth crime can be neatly summarised – but is it fair?
In April 2024 then Premier Steven Miles confirmed veteran police officer Steve Gollschewski had been officially appointed commissioner.
In August 2024 he made another promise by fast-tracking the appointment of a dedicated cross-border commissioner to help police operations between Queensland and NSW.
However with David Crisafulli’s LNP sweeping to power in October, tough new “adult crime, adult time” laws came into effect – dividing opinion immediately.
From pledges to clamp down on offenders to vows to listen to communities, here is the timeline of promises on how to solve one of Queensland’s biggest riddles.
What needs to be done about youth crime? Vote below and join the conversation >>>
‘Help develop a whole-of-community response to these issues’
Reinforcements were sent from Townsville in September 2015 to help Mount Isa police rein in youth gangs terrorising the northwest Queensland city.
The surge in youth crime caught the attention of Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, who said it was “disturbing” to see children participating in destructive and anti-social behaviour.
“The Police Minister has asked the QPS to work with the State Member and the Mayor to help develop a whole-of-community response to these issues,” she said.
“Police already conduct proactive patrols across Mount Isa and do not hesitate to take enforcement action against anyone, no matter their age, being violent or destructive.
“But it’s not just about police on the beat – that’s why Mount Isa police are heavily involved in their community.”
‘Committed to addressing crime and the causes of crime’
Townsville officials in May 2016 said soaring youth crime rates proved the city was Queensland’s “unofficial crime capital”.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk insisted she was committed to addressing crime, but offered no solutions to Townsville’s crime crisis.
Instead, a spokesman for Ms Palaszczuk said creating jobs was a priority of the State Government.
“My Government is committed to addressing crime and the causes of crime,” the Premier said. “Importantly, we are working to create new jobs and opportunities for people to get into work through programs like Skilling Queenslanders for Work.”
‘There’s no point making decisions behind a desk in Brisbane’
The mayor of troubled Cape York community Aurukun in May 2016 urged parents to “do their duty” and keep their children in line.
The comments came as Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk landed in Aurukun to meet with community leaders, police and elders in the strife-torn Cape York community.
Ms Palaszczuk said a solution to the ongoing education impasse in Aurukun needed to be found collectively with the community.
“There’s no point making decisions behind a desk in Brisbane ... we need to hear from you first-hand.”
‘For too long it’s been in the too-hard basket – not anymore’
Cleveland Youth Detention Centre was mooted to hold 17-year-old offenders within a year with concerns being raised about the impact of the move on younger inmates.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced her government would push to have all 17-year-olds out of adult prisons within 12 months through new legislation.
“For too long it’s been in the too-hard basket. Not anymore,” she said.
“The issues involved in treating 17-year-olds involved in serious and often violent crimes as young people in our youth justice system and not as adults are complex, which is why we must tackle them through a whole of government process.”
‘Magistrates will be applying penalties that fit the crime’
Some of the state’s worst young criminals in January 2017 faced a specialist High Risk Youth Court as the State Government tried to drive down youth crime rates.
“The court will deal with young repeat offenders, who will see the same magistrate each time they go before the court,” she said.
“Magistrates will be applying penalties that fit the crime.
“Where a young person has committed property damage, the magistrate will be able to consider an order where the offender must help fix the damage they caused.
“It is important that young offenders are held to account for their behaviour.”
‘We’re going to get it right’
The State Government said in August 2018 it delayed the rollout of five youth bail houses across Queensland in order to get the controversial model “right” first.
“We’re going to get it right. You don’t just put them all out at once. You actually make sure you get the model right, that the support services are right,” she said.
“At the end of the day we want to make sure that young people get employment.”
‘I’m more than happy to ask the Education Minister to look into that’
Burdekin MP Dale Last in November 2018 claimed a terrifying ordeal teachers on Palm Island faced was proof the State Government needed to be tougher on youth crime.
Mr Last asked, without notice, whether Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk would support the LNP’s policy to reintroduce breach of bail as an offence for juveniles.
In 2015, the Palaszczuk Government removed breach of bail offences for youth after it had been introduced under the LNP’s Campbell Newman.
“I’m more than happy to ask the Education Minister to look into that and get back to the House,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
Mr Last was critical of Ms Palaszczuk’s response, stating youth crime on Palm Island wasn’t a laughing matter.
‘Where are the parents?’
Under-fire State Government Ministers insisted in February 2020 they were working to clamp down on out-of-control youth crime as furious Gold Coasters said they had had a gutful.
The Palaszczuk Government was under increased pressure to deal with the Gold Coast’s ‘Kindergarten crooks’.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, who was on the Gold Coast at the time, said “where are the parents?”
“What is that young person doing out? Why is a 12 year-old out and not at home,” she said yesterday.
“There has been parental responsibility here as well. If the parents cannot look after their children then we can get support services in or someone else who can.”
‘Criminals, especially young ones, should fear the law’
The State Government vowed to crack down on youth crime, with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk acknowledging deep community anger on the issue.
Declaring that criminals should “fear the law”, Ms Palaszczuk announced a five-point plan that included a “blitz on bail” and targeted, on-country rehabilitation for indigenous youths.
“We acknowledge that local communities and their families have concerns about youth crime,” the Premier said.
“Where there is crime there must be punishment. Criminals – especially young ones – should fear the law. It has to be crystal clear to everybody community safety comes first.”
A week later she announced a crime action committee would be established in Ipswich “as soon as possible” as part of the State Government’s crack down on youth crime.
“Criminals, especially young ones, should fear the law,” she said.
“It has to be crystal clear to everybody community safety comes first.”
‘I want to know why the courts allowed this young man out on bail’
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said she wanted answers following the tragic death of a Brisbane couple.
The tragic death of Kate Leadbetter and Matty Field, after they were hit by an allegedly stolen vehicle while out walking, ignited the debate on bail laws.
“I want to know why the courts allowed this young man out on bail,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“There will be a full coronial inquiry and this young man is now on murder charges, there will be a full court case and there will be a thorough police investigation,” she said.
“If there’s anything more we can do to strengthen our laws, we absolutely will.”
‘The community will be able to feel safer’
Hi-tech drones were planned to be used by police to help tackle youth crime, it was revealed in February 2022.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the new helicopters and drones represented a significant capability increase for police while further protecting the community.
“The community will be able to feel safer knowing police have these new, state-of-the-art resources,” she said.
“It also adds a valuable additional level of security for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.”
‘Community safety has to come first here’
Queensland’s youth crime laws were set to be among some of the toughest in Australia under comprehensive reforms in the wake of Emma Lovell’s alleged stabbing murder, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk promised.
Ms Lovell, 41, was allegedly murdered while defending her North Lakes home from teenage home invaders on the evening of December 26, 2022.
Ms Palaszczuk also announced increased penalties for criminals who “boast” about crimes on social media along with $9.8 million of funding to “fast track sentencing”.
“These are tough measures, they will be put in place,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“Community safety has to come first here, we stand with the Lovell family and the community.”
“ … Crime, especially youth crime, is a complex issue but community safety must come first.”
Ms Palaszczuk said some people weren’t going to like her changes.
‘We need to see more police patrols out there’
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk in January declared legislation to address the youth crime crisis will be her government’s priority for 2023.
“We’re going to be introducing very strong legislation – that legislation is being drafted, some preliminary consultation has already started,” she said on her first day back at work.
“People have a right to feel safe in their streets and in their neighbourhoods ... we need to see more police patrols out there.”
‘We absolutely take community safety very, very seriously’
The state’s youth crime epidemic was laid bare in April 2024 as a new report revealed the number of young criminals in Queensland jumped 5.2 per cent to 11,191 offenders, with 11 of those charged with murder.
It came as Premier Steven Miles confirmed veteran police officer Steve Gollschewski had been officially appointed commissioner.
“It is to keep our communities safer, and make sure that they feel safe,” Mr Gollschewski said when asked what his priority was.
Mr Miles said the new data pointed to the turning of a corner on crime rates, describing the 2023-24 figures as promising.
“I assure all Queenslanders that we absolutely take community safety very, very seriously,” he said.
Opposition Leader David Crisafulli seized on the report and slammed the government for losing control of the youth crime crisis.
‘We absolutely take community safety very, very seriously’
Young criminals running rampant through a small Queensland border town were getting away with their crimes by crossing the border to exploit the loophole of being in another police jurisdiction.
It was reported in August 2024 that the southern border town of Goondiwindi had seen escalating crime, with rates of car thefts and break-ins surging.
Fed-up residents said the offenders were getting away with their crimes by crossing over the border into the New South Wales police jurisdiction to avoid being dealt with by Queensland officers.
Premier Steven Miles fast-tracked the appointment to Goondiwindi of a dedicated cross-border commissioner to help police operations between Queensland and NSW.
‘Torture, child abuse’: Youth crime laws slammed
“Adult crime, adult time” laws would wreak havoc on courts and prisons, target the most vulnerable children and make Queensland less safe, experts claimed in December 2024.
Legal and child safety stakeholders lined up to criticise the government’s flagship election commitment during a rushed parliamentary committee hearing.
The inquiry became tense when Sisters Inside programs director Zofia Wasiak, in her opening statement, accused the government of dredging up failed law-and-order policies due to its “love affair” with locking up kids.
It prompted government chair Marty Hunt to hit back at her “rather offensive” evidence.
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