Criminologist blasts major Queensland political parties for failing to act on youth crime

Annastacia Palaszczuk insists legislation to tackle youth crime is now being drafted ready for when MPs sit again, after a respected criminologist slammed the major political parties over the issue.

Annastacia Palaszczuk has defended the Government’s response to youth crime in Queensland, insisting “strong” legislation was now being drafted and would be ready when MPs sit again on February 21.

The Premier today commented on the latest brutal attack in Brisbane allegedly at the hands of a youth offender, after a 17-year-old was charged with the murder of a man who was stabbed to death in Wilston yesterday. Ms Palaszczuk said of the attack: “It’s unbelievable these things are happening”.

Ms Palaszczuk said community safety was “absolutely paramount”, saying “we need to see more police patrols out there”.

“We announced a whole range of sweeping changes and that legislation is being drafted,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

The Opposition has repeatedly urged the state government to recall parliament to introduce new laws but Ms Palaszczuk insisted the legislation would be ready on February 21.

“They are going to be strong but also the consultation is happening now and they will be ready to be introduced on day one,” she said. “And if you (the Opposition) want to fast-track them, the best thing the Opposition can do is agree with us.”“We announced a whole range of sweeping changes and that legislation is being drafted,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

The Opposition has repeatedly urged the state government to recall parliament to introduce new laws but Ms Palaszczuk insisted the legislation would be ready on February 21.

“They are going to be strong but also the consultation is happening now and they will be ready to be introduced on day one,” she said. “And if you (the Opposition) want to fast-track them, the best thing the Opposition can do is agree with us.”

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk on Monday. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

The Premier’s comments come after a respected criminologist slammed the two major Queensland political parties for being in a youth crime “death spiral”, saying “anything” would be better than the current measures in place.

Griffith University criminologist Professor Ross Homel said the issue of youth crime was “volatile” and emotional for victims and the community, but it had turned political and the true solution to the problem had been lost.

“It’s like a death struggle on the precipice of a cliff between two people who are determined to slug it out on who can be tougher,” Prof Homel said of Labor and the LNP.

Emma Lovell, pictured with husband Lee Lovell and their children, was stabbed to death during a home invasion.

Queensland was hit with a wave of youth crime in 2022, including the death of Emma Lovell who was stabbed in a home invasion at her North Lakes home on Boxing Day.

Wynnum man Michael Warburton, 59, was also killed when struck by a stolen car allegedly driven by youths while driving his moped in September.

More recently, The Courier-Mail revealed how a juvenile offender with more than 80 offences had never had a conviction recorded against them.

The State Government recently announced some changes to tighten up laws surrounding youth offenders, but Prof Homel said the government was missing the point.

“What distresses me is the policy we are currently doing is known to be ineffective.

“The net effect of all this law toughening is making people less safe.”

Michael Warburton’s wife Anita (centre) and his children Jessica and Riley. Mr Warburton was hit and killed by a stolen car allegedly driven by teens. Picture: Josh Woning

The professor, who has spent 20 years extensively researching the field of crime prevention, said early intervention was the key.

Prof Homel said prevention methods could start as young as four years old, and locking kids up wasn’t the answer for most.

“Never too early, never too late (to intervene).

“The current Labor government is not investing enough into that area of community-based primary intervention.”

“Eighty-eight per cent of all children in detention are on remand … what better way to corrupt kids who are even more damaged?”

Prof Homel said it would take a bipartisan approach from both parties to find the real solution to the issue.

A spokeswoman from the Department of Youth Justice said they had invested into programs

with a “clear evidence base”.

Criminologist Professor Ross Homel is calling for a bipartisan approach to fixing Queensland’s youth crime crisis. Picture: 7 News

“The department funds non-government organisations to provide early intervention and prevention services to support children and young people to be safe at home or engaged or re-engaged in school so they are less likely to come into contact with the youth justice system,” the spokeswoman said.

“The government is delivering on initiatives and legislative amendments to strengthen how young offenders are dealt with in the court system.

“However, we know there is always more work to be done to reduce youth offending and are committed to ongoing research, evaluation, and analysis of innovative and evidence-based programs to address this highly complex problem.”

Originally published as Criminologist blasts major Queensland political parties for failing to act on youth crime