Cairns youth detention facility requirement under LNP’s capacity consultation

The new state government has revealed its position on a youth detention facility for Cairns, while promising “proper” community consultation before building commences.

Southside Comets' Daniel Schmidt speaking with Police Minister Dan Purdie and Mulgrave MP Terry James. Picture: Arun Singh Mann

The new state government has revealed its position on the construction of a youth detention facility in Cairns, but not without confusion, while promising “proper” community consultation before building commences.

Police Minister Dan Purdie was at Edmonton’s Walker Rd sporting precinct on Wednesday – an ongoing target for youth criminals – speaking alongside Southside Comets Football Club’s Daniel Schmidt and Mulgrave MP Terry James, a week after passing the new Making Queensland Safer laws.

Mr James was asked about the status of the proposed 40-bed youth detention centre, for which funding was omitted in the last state budget.

“I’m not aware of the status with our government, but the status with the previous government was that they were looking at somewhere around Edmonton, so we will be revisiting that and we’ll do proper community consultation,” he said.

The Cleveland Youth Detention Centre is at capacity and is North Queensland’s only youth reprimand facility.

“They were very silent during that time, no one knew where it was going to go.

“We’ll work with the public to find a location. The community doesn’t want it right in the middle of Edmonton.”

Asked if this meant the LNP was committed to building a centre, Mr James questioned his Police Minister: “Are we committed to building a detention centre Dan?”

But Mr James noted: “We have to have something.”

When clarifying the government’s position, Mr Purdie said the decision to build a new centre would be Youth Justice Minister Laura Gerber’s call, but the government was “having meetings in relation to capacity”.

Premier David Crisafulli, Minister for Police Dan Purdie and Minister for Youth Justice Laura Gerber. Mr Purdie said the LNP was “having conversations” about youth detention capacity in Queensland, in the wake of their new laws. Picture: Richard Walker

“Wacol was due to come online this month but has been pushed back to April,” he said.

“Last I heard no land had been identified (for Cairns) but in relation to ongoing capacity, that planning work is well underway and if it requires another facility here in Far North Queensland in Cairns … that’s something the Minister for Youth Justice is looking very closely at.”

The Making Queensland Safer Bill explanatory notes read the “cost” of the legislation could include increased demand for corrective services and detention centres and the government would “monitor” those demands.

And with Townsville’s Cleveland Youth Detention Centre at capacity, Mr Purdie confirmed “it’s not uncommon for people in detention to be transported from North Queensland to South East Queensland already.”

With the government’s tag line of “adult crime, adult time” increasing the maximum sentence for serious offences, Mr Purdie said he was banking on the strategy of “sending a message” and early intervention programs, in a bid to reduce the number of offenders, and “hopefully” the number of incarcerations.

“At the moment, young offenders are seeing their older brothers breaking into houses, stealing car and streaming that live on (social media). These potential wannabe offenders are seeing them get caught, but the next night they’re seeing the same offenders … which sends a message that you can commit crime with impunity,” he said.

“Even though young offenders aren’t reading Hansard, the transcripts of parliament, they pretty quickly realise the balance of power being tipped in their favour and the laws had been watered down, and police were not longer able to arrest them for breach of bail … it didn’t take long for them to realise that.

“So we’re hoping, pretty quickly, that young offenders will learn (with the introduction of tougher penalties).”

In October, prior to the election, the Queensland Police Union revealed there were 191 full time equivalent positions allocated to the Cairns Police Station, but only 155 officers were on the roster.

Asked about recruitment and priority consideration for Cairns, given its youth crime capital status, Mr Purdie said the government “will be giving police the backup they have been calling for” without detailing a time frame or location allocations.

Originally published as Cairns youth detention facility requirement under LNP’s capacity consultation