Queensland pledges $3 million to fight youth crime through Community Partnership Innovation Grants

One Australian state has made a $3 million commitment to fighting youth crime on the same day a teen girl allegedly attacked three police officers.

Queensland Leader of the Opposition David Crisafulli said youth crime in Queensland was raging out of control. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

The Queensland Labor government has announced a funding package estimated to be worth more than $3m to fight the scourge of youth offending.

In a statement, the government said the funding would be provided through 12 new community projects focused on tackling youth crime at the grassroots.

Queensland Youth Justice Minister Leanne Linard said the Community Partnership Innovation Grants are aimed at local solutions for the causes of youth crimes.

Queensland Youth Justice Minister Leanne Linard, announced the government would spend $3m tackling youth crime. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

“Local communities are often the first to see when a young person disconnects from family, stops attending school or shows anti-social behaviour,” she said.

“The Palaszczuk Government’s Community Partnership Innovation Grants enable grassroots organisations to stop offending before it starts, or reduce offending, to make a real difference to the lives of young people.”

Youth Off The Streets, a Logan-based organisation supporting First Nations, Pasifika, and African communities, will receive nearly $300,000 in the package.

Queensland Treasurer Cameron Dick said he was “proud” to belong to a government that doesn’t give up on young offenders.

“The Palaszczuk Government’s funding to Youth Off the Street will allow this great organisation to reconnect young and vulnerable people with our wonderful community,” he said.

“These young people are part of our community, they are sons, daughters, friends, brothers and sisters,” he said.

“They have experienced a hard time and they need help getting back into education, or securing a job.”

“I’m proud to be a part of a government that doesn’t give up on those going through a tough time but instead lifts them up while promoting an inclusive, harmonious, and united Queensland – a place where everyone feels welcomed and valued.”

Queensland Treasurer Cameron Dick said he was “proud” to belong to a government that doesn’t give up on young offenders. Picture: Dan Peled / NCA NewsWire

The announcement comes just days after the state’s Opposition Leader, David Crisafulli, told Sky News that Youth Offending had reached an “inferno stage” across the state.

“What we have is a generation of repeat, hardcore young offenders who know that their rights outweigh the rights of the victim,” Mr Crisafulli said.

The announcement by the Palaszczuk Government comes on the same day as a 15-year-old girl was charged with the alleged assault of three Queensland police officers during an incident in Broadbeach on Friday night.

In March, the government overrode the state’s own Human Rights Act to introduce legislation that, among other things, made breach of bail an offence for children.