Shocking stories: gangland violence on Gold Coast trams and trains
A State MP says it is “pretty scary” to catch the tram at night as fearful residents reveal their bloody youth gangland encounters on public transport.
Gold Coast
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A State MP says it is “pretty scary” to catch the tram at night as fearful residents reveal their bloody youth gangland encounters on public transport.
Bonney MP Sam O’Connor, during debate on new youth crime laws, told Parliament the biggest issue on the Coast was “shattered” residents feeling unsafe on trams, trains and buses.
“Whether that be catching the train to Brisbane from Helensvale, catching a tram into Surfers Paradise or taking a bus around Labrador, people just do not feel safe. That is a consistent story. I have seen it for myself — it can be pretty scary to catch a tram at night,” he said.
Southport MP Rob Molhoek in a speech which followed Mr O’Connor’s said the youth crime crisis had been compounded by reducing staff at the CBD’s busy police station.
Mr O’Connor quoted concerned residents and workers who had written to him.
A Southport Courthouse staffer wrote: “It’s tough seeing members of youth gangs hanging around train stations, especially Helensvale, committing serious assaults and robberies on unsuspecting citizens and being given a slap on the wrist.
“I personally believe it’s because of the legislation and the lack of power our judicial officers have.”
A mother wrote about her 14-year-old daughter being assaulted by another student.
“She was punched in the back of the head and left with extensive damage to her mouth, lip and jaw as well as a concussion,” Mr O’Connor said.
“The student who allegedly attacked her was given a suspension, and then the school encouraged this mum to report the incident to the police. She said that this is where it became infuriating.
“They sat at the Southport Police Station for two hours before someone could see them. Because the police are struggling to fill positions and are not adequately staffed, when they were seen there was no officer on duty who could take a statement from a minor.
“This mum was instead told that the school had done their job and that there was unlikely to be any further action. She told me that this shows that these kids know they are not going to face serious consequences.
“That is unacceptable in the light of other messaging about how “one punch can kill” or how “one moment can change a life”.”
Mr Molhoek said Southport’s lack of police started with the COVID border patrols.
In February last year, police reached out to the Bulletin saying “there simply isn’t enough police left to keep you safe”. The Government ended border and airport COVID patrols.
Mr Molhoek says 12 months later there is still “an acute lack of police”.
“When the police have been proactive and they have been visible, we have seen some great outcomes. I want to commend the officers of the Southport Police Station particularly for their hard work in fairly trying circumstances,” he said.
Southport police station 10 years ago had about 128 permanent positions but the number had now dropped to under 80, he added.
“And then we wonder why the police are struggling to provide adequate coverage of the electorate of Southport,” he said.
Gaven MP Meaghan Scanlon, in support of the Strengthening Community Safety Bill, said the Opposition in government had slashed $10m from the youth justice budget.
She said Labor was investing in programs like Transition 2 Success which on the Coast had led to 480 youths graduate from the vocational and therapeutic course.
“Sixty-seven per cent of participants did not offend or reoffend in 12 months,” she said.
Youth help teams including police and youth justice workers were patrolling the streets.
“We are also committed to giving our frontline services the resources they need, which is why we committed to 2025 additional police personnel by 2025,” Ms Scanlon said.
“Let us be clear — for all of the LNP’s tough-on-crime rhetoric, there would be 1000 fewer police officers across Queensland if they were elected in the 2020 election.”
The new laws will see introduction of breach of bail for young offenders for the first time this century and more than $100m extra invested in diversion and rehabilitation.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has promised “the full force of the law” will be used to target repeat offenders after her government “listened to the community”.
Opposition leader David Crisafulli said the job of tackling the youth crime epidemic was “far from over” and the LNP was committed to repairing Labor’s broken crime laws.
“By removing Labor’s Detention as a Last Resort policy, judges would be unshackled to hand down sentences appropriate for the case,” he said.
“The LNP would also fund, resource and reform early intervention to help turn young offenders’ lives around.”
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