Editorial: Government, courts must be on the same page

Whatever is being done about crime is not enough, as it does not appear be working yet. At the very least, Queenslanders deserve to know what is going on, writes the editor.

It could have been any of us – and perhaps that is why the tragic death of Vyleen White has so jolted every Queenslander.

The grandmother from Redbank Plains was simply going about her business on Saturday afternoon – ducking down to the local shops to pick up a few things – when her life was cut short, allegedly in a brutal and abrupt fashion during an alleged carjacking – something so shockingly unthinkable and yet also so relatable that it has justifiably rocked the state.

Five boys have been charged in relation to the incident – one with murder, stealing and unlawful use of a motor vehicle, and four with unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

The courts and the police would not reveal whether any of the teens had already been out on bail, but it has since been revealed the murder accused had been.

The public is right to demand justice – echoing the achingly sad wishes of Ms White’s grieving family – and it is our legislators and those tasked with enforcing the laws who now also come under intense scrutiny.

For too long now, Queenslanders have been deeply concerned – if not downright terrified – about rising youth crime. But nothing seems to change. In fact, it has got worse – and many now feel the government and the courts have let us down.

Magistrates have consistently gone soft on punishing offenders, releasing them back on to the streets or doling out paltry jail time that does not befit the crime. This leaves Queenslanders wondering if the full force of the law has been applied – and that leads many to think perhaps the perpetrators are the ones being protected rather than the victims.

Of course, this is an overly simplistic analysis of what is a very complex issue. But it is true the laws of the land have been out of step with community expectations.

This was proved last year by the government’s startling backflip, reintroducing breach of bail for young offenders – a move that angered many in the Labor Party, especially because breach of bail had been dumped as an offence in 2015 following the defeat of LNP premier Campbell Newman.

But while former premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and her now-successor Steven Miles have stuck to the script about the state now having the toughest youth crime laws in the nation, many living the reality in our suburbs and towns are still wondering if even tougher laws are needed.

Increasingly, people fear being in their own homes and cars – and now shopping centres – because juvenile offending has been allowed to fester to such an extent that it seems no one in the corridors of power knows how to stop it.

What is clear is that whatever is being done is not enough, as it does not appear be working yet.

At the very least, Queenslanders deserve to know what is going on.

The court proceedings involving four of the five boys charged in relation to Ms White’s death have been closed to the public, despite applications from The Courier-Mail and other outlets in favour of open justice. In one case, Acting Magistrate Robert Turra ruled against it as the presence of media would somehow be “prejudicial to the interest of the child” and could “precipitate public speculation”.

When the media is denied access, the public is denied knowledge of the court process – and this does nothing to dispel fears of personal safety or instil confidence in our legal system.

It was good to hear Premier Miles yesterday send a clear message to magistrates that he strongly supports this view, and that they should err on the side of open justice as the default.

BILL RELIEF FOR BATTLERS WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Practical, effective measures to combat our current cost-of-living crisis have been few and far between at both state and federal level.

Subsidies and tax relief often seems like just a drop in the ocean compared to the runaway price of groceries, while any measure that actually puts real cash in the hands of battling families can lead to higher inflation and the threat of further interest rate rises.

However, the new industry standard put in place by the Australian Communications and Media Authority that will require telcos to help customers who are struggling to pay their bills may actually do some good.

Under the code, announced by Communications Minister Michelle Rowland yesterday, telecommunications providers must proactively identify customers with financial difficulties – and prioritise keeping them connected.

ACMA will monitor compliance.

It’s a sensible move, as the last thing that anyone who is struggling to pay the bills needs is to have their phone cut off.

Without that connection, so many other avenues are shut down. So, at first blush, this appears a practical solution that may actually do some good.

Responsibility for election comment is taken by Chris Jones, corner of Mayne Rd & Campbell St, Bowen Hills, Qld 4006. Printed and published by NEWSQUEENSLAND (ACN 009 661 778). Contact details here

Originally published as Editorial: Government, courts must be on the same page