Katter’s Australian Party says state government has ‘gone cold’ on Intensive On Country Program to stop youth crime

The KAP has threatened to change their approach to preferences in the upcoming state election over a program the state government insists is going ahead.

Robbie Katter, Katter's Australia Party (KAP) National Leader and State Member for Traeger. Picture: Shae Beplate.

The KAP has blasted the state government saying they have ‘gone cold’ on the outcome for calls for expressions of interest in the Intensive On Country program.

The state government announced in February that an Intensive On Country Program trial would be delivered by the Miles government, calling on expressions of interest from First Nations organisations.

The program would work with the interested organisations to run On Country camps, cultural activities, mentoring and case work support in an aim to reduce the cycle of reoffending.

Expressions closed in March 2024, with the KAP said on Wednesday that there has been no reference in the state budget to indicate funding and no announcement of the chosen organisations.

Deputy Leader Nick Dametto said the people of North Queensland were given a ‘glimmer of hope’ from the Labor government, promising to align with the KAP Relocation Sentencing Program, with the release of the expressions of interest process.

Hinchinbrook MP and KAP Deputy Leader Nick Dametto outside the Townsville court complex. Picture: Supplied

“We’ve seen not one line item, not $1 attached to the budget. The Youth Justice minister is in estimate hearings coming up on the first of August, she better be ready for the tough questions,” he said.

Party leader Robbie Katter said four months later there was nothing in the budget and no announcements, saying it was a ‘smokescreen to distract people’

“We were lead to believe that they were going to act and we cautiously shared some optimism with the people of North Queensland that finally they were going to give some meaningful change to policy and youth crime,” he said.

“We’ve had enough.

“Coming into an election and we’ve seen nothing from the LNP in that same space, but the Labor are the government at the moment and it’s forced us into a position now for the first time in our party’s history that we are now considering moving from a position of neutrality on our preferences going into this election, because bad government like that, that doesn’t address these burning issues in North Queensland, they deserve to be punished.”Mr Katter said the KAP were hoping for at least one line item in the budget for youth crime programs.

“What we were hoping to see was a departure from the $500 million talking about building another two Cleveland Bay detention centres, which we know aren’t working,” he said.

“Bunching 120 to 150 kids all in the one place, we were hoping they’d take the more affordable and sensible option of putting in remote centres where you have 30 kids maximum.”

On their next steps Mr Katter said the KAP will continue to stay on track and push their campaign right through to the next government.

KAP candidate for Townsville Margie Ryder said she is ‘embarrassed for the Labor government’.

“I’ve spent the last month or so talking to residents and victims of crime. I’ve been saying to them we’ve got a great policy, it’s under discussion, the Labor government is putting it forward,” she said.

Candidate for Mundingburra Michael Pugh called on the government to make their position clear and provide an update.

“There has been no updates given and this cannot continue to be used as a carrot dangled in front of youth crime victims and victims of crime in the lead up to the election,” he said.

In response Premier Steven Miles said on Wednesday that the expression of interest process had now closed.

“The EOIs that we have received are currently being assessed and we look forward to being able to announce the successful tenderer soon,” he said.

“There is funding allocated and we intend to ensure we have culturally appropriate On Country programs available as quickly as we can.”

Originally published as Katter’s Australian Party says state government has ‘gone cold’ on Intensive On Country Program to stop youth crime