“Every LNP member on the Gold Coast failed to support Labor’s crackdown on youth crime”

Gold Coast LNP MPs have been accused of going missing in action by voting on party lines and not supporting Labor’s crackdown on youth crime.

GOLD Coast LNP MPs have been accused of missing in action by voting on party lines and not supporting Labor’s crackdown on youth crime.

The new laws passed by State Parliament during this week’s sittings mean a child “must” be kept — instead of “may” be kept — in custody if there is an unacceptable risk to the safety or welfare of a person, or if there is unacceptable risk to community safety.

The Police Union had lobbied for the tougher legislation and officers believe the amendments plug a loophole which ends the “revolving door” where dangerous youth offenders end up back on the street.

Police on patrol in Surfers Paradise — their union supports Labor’s law reforms. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

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Labor strategists are stunned that the LNP, particularly its Coast MPs who have been campaigning about a youth crime wave on the city’s southern end, did not support the reforms.

Outside the Parliament, Gaven MP Meaghan Scanlon told The Bulletin: “Every LNP member on the Gold Coast failed to support Labor’s crackdown on youth crime.

“The LNP are either too distracted by brawling with the party or too interested in political games to support our sensible measures to keep our community safe.”

Youth Justice Minister Di Farmer earlier this week said the laws were “squarely aimed at repeat and young prolific offenders”.

Southern Gold Coast crime — an Audi which was stolen and crashed by youths at Palm Beach.

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Police Union South Eastern official Sergeant Andy Williams has likened teen criminals to “locusts on a field”, breaking into homes and stealing cars in one suburb before moving to the next.

After amendments were passed, Ms Scanlon told The Bulletin: “This is about always putting community safety first — that’s what I expect, and that’s what the people of the Gold Coast want as well.

“These laws are a significant change and are directly targeted at repeat youth offenders.

“If a young person is deemed an unacceptable risk to our community, they will be refused bail.

“We have already seen a number of actions as a result of the Palaszczuk Government’s ‘Hard line on youth crime’ five-point action plan announced in March to target repeat youth offenders, including a targeted Gold Coast Police strike team targeting youth offenders.”