Unity leader Terry James backs Katter bush relocation sentencing proposal ahead of March election

After years of shifting responsibility for crime and community safety to the state government, council candidates are now proposing solutions to fix law and order problems.

Cairns Unity Team has prioritised solutions to crime in its election campaign. Picture: Brendan Radke

Cairns mayor and Unity Team leader Terry James has backed the Katter’s Australia Party idea to relocate youth offenders to bush prisons as he swears more action on community safety if re-elected.

Law and order problems have proven to be one of the top issues for voters ahead of the March council elections, despite wide acknowledgment local government is a minority influence in solving the problem.

The KAP proposal has been backed by other councils in Townsville and Mareeba.

Unity Team leader Terry James has backed the KAP bush sentencing proposal. Picture: Brendan Radke

Mr James said he endorsed the plan’s key principles, which include mandatory, fixed-term sentences for recidivist youth offenders in remote incarceration and rehabilitation facilities.

“I support the principles but we don’t endorse any party,” Mr James said.

Candidates in almost every Cairns division in their election campaigns have said they will prioritise more local government solutions to youth crime.

Bush sentencing, championed by the KAP, has been backed by other councils in North Queensland including Townsville and Mareeba. Picture: Supplied

Mr James said the time had come for council to step up its response, and promised an expansion of the CCTV coverage and security patrols in the LGA if he and his team were elected.

“We will add more CCTV cameras to a network that has more than 500 cameras now … we will just keep adding more,” Mr James said.

“We will add lighting to areas.

“We have also instigated recently … security guards for suburbs in public areas.

“We partner with the police … to move on these anti-social people in the suburbs.”

Mr James said his team would be unapologetically holding the state government to account on crime issues.

“We will be demanding zero tolerance on crime, particularly repeat offenders.”

Mr James insisted his policy approach was appropriate despite rising Cairns CBD crime rates since the council’s community safety program began.

He said his team had not set a goal for crime rate reduction.

“What we’re seeing … with the new measures, is more reporting. You’ll see the (crime rates) go up when there’s more reporting,” he said.

Unity’s Division 5 candidate Nathan Lee Long said residential development were key to the CBD’s revitalisation. Picture: Brendan Radke

The revitalisation of Cairns CBD is another top priority for Cairns voters ahead of the election.

Peak bodies, including Cairns Chamber, and local business owners, have said crime and anti-social behaviour in the CBD were prohibitive to the viability of trading.

Unity’s Division 5 candidate Nathan Lee Long said more residential development was key to reversing the suburb’s fortunes.

“What we need to do is increase the residential population in the CBD to increase permanent activity,” he said.

“Once you’ve got more people, that deters … the anti-social behaviour.

“The council has an incentive program to encourage development in the CBD, and we’ll be looking to enforce and promote that.”

Originally published as Unity leader Terry James backs Katter bush relocation sentencing proposal ahead of March election