Townsville’s business community seeks government’s help tackling crime, anti-social behaviour

Conceding that Townsville’s youth crime problem is far from fixed, the premier has committed to doing more for the city than anywhere else in the state, singling out one particular area of concern.

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli with Knight Frank’s Craig Stack at the Community Cabinet breakfast function at Flinders Lane in Townsville. Picture: Evan Morgan

Despite saying the state government had seen encouraging signs, Queensland’s Premier has reaffirmed his determination to “stomp on the youth crime crisis” plaguing the Townsville region, committing millions to deter crimes against businesses, and taking aim at anti-social behaviour.

Flanked by his Ministerial team, who were in Townsville on Monday as part of the state government’s Community Cabinet, Premier David Crisafulli said the youth crime problem was “deeply personal” to him, after it “ripped the heart and soul out of this city” over the last decade.

“I have too many people I love who live here to allow it to continue. We have made two changes to laws, and there will be more, and you are going to see more police than ever before, and the early intervention programs,” Mr Crisafulli said.

“There is going to be more done in this city and a greater focus on it than anywhere else in the state.

“There are some green shoots in some of the (criminal) sentences that have been given, and there’s some green shoots in some of the numbers, but it is so far from where I want it to be.”

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli, with Minister for Small Business Steven Minnikin, Mundinburra MP Janelle Poole, Townsville MP Adam Baillie and Thuringowa MP Natalie Marr at Community Cabinet breakfast function at Flinders Lane in Townsville. Picture: Evan Morgan

He said they still had a long way to go in strengthening laws governing youth crime, after being “baked in” over the last 10 years.

“I want people in the city to know that there are going to be fewer victims now. We are going to get this city back to the place it was, and we are going to stomp on the youth crime crisis,” he said.

“It is my number one priority for this place and I will not take my eyes off the prize.”

Meeting with the business community, which crowded into Flinders Lane for the Townsville Chamber’s Coffee With Cabinet event, Mr Crisafulli heard from Knight Frank NQ senior partner Craig Stack.

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli, with Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie, Treasurer David Janetzki and Minister for Housing Samuel O’Connor at a Community Cabinet breakfast function at Flinders Lane in Townsville. Picture: Evan Morgan

The business leader praised the government’s Secure Communities Partnerships Program, saying it would help address anti-social issues discouraging small and family business operators in the CBD.

“To know that there’s this type of initiative out there where they can collaborate and act in a collegiate way with other businesses within their immediate locality or their centre, is really important,” Mr Stack said.

“We found that when small businesses and family businesses know that there’s more than one in their immediate environment, who want to take on the challenges of this anti-social behaviour, they feel a little bit more empowered (and) don’t feel alone.”

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli at Community Cabinet breakfast function at Flinders Lane in Townsville. Picture: Evan Morgan

The Premier said the former government’s decision to water down the laws by decriminalising public drunkenness and urination, had led to an escalation in the behaviour.

“Public drunkenness remains a festering sore that we have to do something about … I’ve seen it just go boom and escalate. (We’re) getting all the agencies together and working a way through that it doesn’t get put in the too hard basket,” he said.

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli at Community Cabinet breakfast function, speaking to the local business community, including Townsville Chamber of Commerce president Miranda Meers. Picture: Evan Morgan

Flinders Lane was packed with business people to speak with the Queensland Premier and ministerial team. Picture: Leighton Smith.

“This is something that (Townsville MP) Adam Baillie is driving … (his) view is that it can be sorted with a bit of private sector nous, and a bit of government get-up-and-go, and we’re just going to bring the two together.

“I’ll have more to say about that in the weeks ahead, about what that format looks like.”

Originally published as Townsville’s business community seeks government’s help tackling crime, anti-social behaviour