Vyleen White death: Family throws support behind LNP plan to get tougher on youth criminals

The family of an Ipswich grandmother allegedly stabbed to death by a teen in a shopping centre carpark has slammed the state government’s youth crime stance and pledged to back the LNP.

The family of an Ipswich grandmother allegedly stabbed to death by a teenager at Redbank Plains slammed the government’s “crappy laws” and pledged to vote for the LNP in October.

In another blow to the state government as it struggles to convince Queenslanders crime policies are working, Opposition Leader David Crisafulli again appeared alongside a prominent victim of crime.

Mr Crisafulli on Monday visited the home of Victor White, whose wife Vyleen was allegedly fatally stabbed by a teenage boy at Redbank Plains Shopping Centre in February.

Mr White backed the LNP’s policy to sentence kids who commit serious crimes as adults and took aim at the premier for dismissing it as a “slick four-word slogan”.

Town Square Redbank Plains Shopping Centre stabbing victim Vyleen White.

“Vyleen’s law is only a slogan in their mind so if Vyleen’s life was a slogan, well, this government should hold their head in shame,” he said.

Mr Miles again declined to be drawn deep into the merits of the LNP’s policy, but said the government had a safety plan that was working.

“The best way to keep the community safe is with an evidence-based, expert informed comprehensive plan for community safety, one that focuses not just on detention and punishment,” he said.

“Of course, there has to be consequences, but one that also supports victims and one that intervenes early and prevents crime … and that’s what you have with our policy.”

Youth Justice Minister Di Farmer argued the state government was working to rehabilitate young offenders and said the LNP’s $175m wouldn’t be enough.

Vyleen White’s widow Victor. Picture: Liam Kidston

“There’s not a lot of detail on the LNP policy as always, it doesn’t really sound like a lot to me,” she said.

“We currently run programs for young people in the youth justice system that are addressing all of the issues that affect those young people; domestic violence, poverty, homelessness, lack of engagement with education, substance abuse.

“We’re spending over half a billion dollars on those young people at the moment so the figures do seem quite rubbery to me.”

Speaking on 4BC radio on Monday morning, Mr Crisafulli said the youth crime crisis was getting worse, with the number of victims on the rise.

“If you look at the figures, it shows you that Queensland is ground zero when it comes to the youth crime crisis, with over 290,000 victims,” he told host Bill McDonald.

“That’s more than Victoria and New South Wales in that 12-month period, despite the fact their populations are so much larger than ours, you’re twice as likely to get your car pinched or your home broken into if you live in Queensland and New South Wales.

“So we can’t just keep doing what we’re doing over and over again. And I looked victims of crime in the eye, people like Russell Field (whose son, daughter-in-law and unborn grandson were killed by a youth driving a stolen car), and I said that their loss wouldn’t be in vain.

“And you can’t continue to see the carnage that is unfolding at the hands of young criminals.

“So by saying adult crime, adult time for those serious offences, it sends a message.”

Opposition David Crisafulli with Victor White. Picture: Liam Kidston.

As well as the announcement of harsher sentencing, Mr Crisafulli said there would also be a “staying on track” program for young offenders.

“So that there is that level of support where a relationship is formed, when they’re on the inside, they get educated,” he said.

“And when they are on the outside, there is somebody there to try to keep them on the straight and narrow.

“And I actually think that makes sense, not just from a social point of view, and making sure that there’s less victims and less repeat crime.

“It also makes sense financially because it means you’re not going to have to have as many of these young people returning to jail.

“It’s about making sure that those who belong in jail are there.

“And those who have the prospect of being able to turn their life around are supported to do that.”

Mr Crisafulli said the Making Queensland Safer laws could be in effect by the end of the year if he is elected.

“I’m serious about this. It will be the first bill that we take to the parliament. It’ll remove detention as a last resort, it’ll rewrite the sentencing provisions to make sure that in legislation, we’re going to embed victims’ rights ahead of the rights of the offenders,” he said.

“We’re going to make sure that victims actually get updated about what’s happening during that process because they often told me they feel they’re in the dark.”