Youth crime: Push for Queensland to ditch on-country program for outback camps

David Littleproud has revealed why he thinks Queensland’s revamped on-country program won’t work in the fight against youth crime as he calls for offenders to be put to work in outback camps.

David Littleproud has revealed why he thinks Queensland’s revamped on-country program won’t work in the fight against youth crime as he calls for offenders to be put to work in outback camps.

The Nationals leader said crime in Queensland had been allowed to escalate under Labor and he believed it was “clear” policies like their on-country program were not working.

Premier Steven Miles revealed last month that expressions of interest had opened to deliver a revamped version of the government’s existing on-country program to tackle youth crime for First Nations offenders.

They said the program would equip young people with basic life skills such as cooking, cleaning and finding housing.

But Mr Littleproud said he had doubts because the on-country programs would be voluntary and could not be forced.

Nationals leader David Littleproud says young offenders should be sent to outback camps to build fences and brand cattle in order to get a “purpose in life”.

“Since the on-country trial started, crime has only continued to increase in towns such as Townsville,” he said.

When the on-country trial was originally launched in 2020, the trial site in Townsville run by Gr8Motive was dubbed a “disappointing fail” by anti-crime advocates following revelations that only a small number of the kids who went actually completed it.

Mr Littleproud said he believes young offenders should instead be sent to outback camps to build fences and brand cattle to get a “purpose in life.”

“The idea for outback camps isn’t new and was successful under The Nationals until Labor ended it in government,” he said.

“Outback camps would help youths learn skills and a trade to get a job and a purpose in life.

“This plan requires bipartisan support, and The Nationals welcome ideas from other politicians who care about keeping the community safe.”

Robbie Katter outside the front of Mount Isa courthouse. Picture: Supplied

Traeger MP Robbie Katter said it was “gratifying” to see the Federal Coalition finally recognising a policy the Katter’s Australian Party had been calling for in North Queensland for seven years.

He said their Relocation Sentencing Policy, which calls for youth offenders to be detained in the outback, would be the most effective tool to arrest the youth crime crisis.

“The biggest question that remains is whether Steven Miles and David Crisafulli will commit to take the lead from the Federal Coalition and implement the KAP policy,” he said.

A Youth Justice Department spokesman said early data indicates young people who participated in an on-country program, compared with those who did not, were less likely to reoffend six months after program completion.

“This was still the case 12 months after completion of the program,” he said.

“A significant improvement in behaviour, emotional regulation, effective communication, managing conflict, and family circumstances was also noted among program participants.”

Youth Justice Minister Di Farmer was contacted for comment.

Originally published as Youth crime: Push for Queensland to ditch on-country program for outback camps