LNP calls for youth justice law changes as Palm Island teachers, nurses are terrorised

Burdekin MP Dale Last claims a terrifying ordeal Palm Island teachers recently faced is proof the State Government needs to be tougher on youth crime.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has been questioned over youth justice in response to security concerns on Palm Island.

BURDEKIN MP Dale Last has claimed a terrifying ordeal teachers on Palm Island recently faced is proof the State Government needs to be tougher on youth crime.

On Monday The Bulletin revealed mass security upgrades were being undertaken to protect teachers and nurses on Palm Island after a spate of crime.

Mr Last highlighted one particularly disturbing incident in Question Time on Tuesday.

“I table a report of teachers having to lock themselves in a storeroom and call police to escape rampaging youth thugs,” Mr Last said.

“And Education Queensland being forced to post security guards outside a school and teachers homes for their safety.”

The incident occurred in late June.

Security guards have been stationed at Bwgcolman Community School between 6am and 6pm as a response.

Teachers’ accommodation is also patrolled by security.

Mr Last asked, without notice, whether or not Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk would support the LNP’s policy to reintroduce breach of bail as an offence for juveniles.

In 2015, the Palaszczuk Government removed breach of bail offences for youth after it had been introduced under the LNP’s Campbell Newman.

“A lot of these juvenile offenders are currently out on bail, under the previous LNP government those offenders who breached their bail conditions were automatically returned to prison,” Mr Last told the Bulletin.

“The Labor Government has done away with that offence and these kids are free to just continue on their merry way committing burglary offence while on bail until they appear in court.”

The Premier said she would “look at the issues” but laughed off any suggestion to adopt the LNP’s policy.

“Can I say from the outset it will be a very rare day that I adopted any LNP policy,” she said.

“I am yet to see an LNP policy that is well thought out.

“I’m more than happy to ask the education minister to look into that and get back to the house.”

Mr Last was critical of Ms Palaszczuk’s response, stating youth crime on Palm Island wasn’t a laughing matter.

Originally published as LNP calls for youth justice law changes as Palm Island teachers, nurses are terrorised