Angus Beaumont dad appeals to Palaszczuk to discuss youth crime reform

The father of slain Queensland teen Angus Beaumont wants a meeting with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, saying he feels let down by youth crime reforms.

Parents of youth crime victim, Angus Beaumont. Picture: Supplied

The grieving father of a slain teen has appealed to Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to meet him to discuss what he believes are failures in youth crime reform.

Ben Beaumont, father of Angus Beaumont, has appealed to the Premier to discuss “failures’’ in youth justice measures and how they are affecting families of victims.

Angus was just 15 years old when he died after being stabbed during a confrontation with two teens, both aged 14.

Both teens were repeat violent offenders with lengthy criminal histories, one out on bail and the other on parole at the time of the murder, and both went on to commit further offences while on bail for Angus’s murder. They were found guilty in June last year.

The parents of youth crime victim Angus Beaumont Ben Beaumont and Michelle Liddle. Picture: Steve Pohlner

In November last year Mr Beaumont and his wife Michelle Liddle attended parliament to hear Ms Palaszczuk, Attorney-General Shannon Fentiman and Youth Justice Minister Leanne Linard as they were questioned on Queensland’s youth crime laws.

In December, Ms Palaszczuk announced major reforms to youth justice in the wake of the violent, alleged murder of north Brisbane mother Emma Lovell by two 17-year-olds.

A spokesperson from the Premier’s Office invited Mr Beaumont to reach out to them for a sit-down meeting with Ms Palaszczuk.

Mr Beaumont said that for families of victims of youth crime, those reforms did not go far enough.

“It’s like pulling the wool over someone’s eyes to be honest,” Mr Beaumont said.

“What she has proposed won’t make any changes with the legislation.”

Angus Beaumont, 15, was a victim of youth crime. Picture: Steve Pohlner

As part of the reforms, Ms Palaszczuk promised $9.89 million for new sentencing programs and directed courts to take into account previous criminal and bail history when sentencing.

“All the new implements that she’s trying to put through parliament is just a waste of taxpayers’ money,’’ Mr Beaumont said.

“I’m assuming the police aren’t very impressed with it because all it does is create more paperwork for them and let them (offenders) back on the street.”

“I want to talk to (the premier). I’d like to meet with her so she can tell me how her new laws are going to change and how they will help families not to go through what we went through.

“I want to know how it’s actually going to affect these criminal juveniles because I don’t think it’s working.”

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced the establishment of a new Youth Crime Taskforce during a press conference after a wave of youth crime. Picture Dan Peled

Excluding the Northern Territory, Queensland has proportionately more children in detention than any other state or territory.

Last week Wilston man David George Connolly was allegedly stabbed to death by a 17-year-old as he walked home.

“The government keeps saying the numbers of youth crime are the lowest it’s been,” Mr Beaumont said.

“We did our own survey over a four-day period and we got over 2000 responses from people who have been a victim of youth crime.

“We asked them if they feel safe in their house and 98 per cent said no.

“The other 2 per cent said ‘I feel safe because I have a weapon’ or ‘I feel safe because I have a big dog’.

“If one of these violent criminals, who are on bail repeatedly with no consequences for their actions, kick your door in … why should we have to fight in our own house and potentially be harmed and killed because of the government laws allowing these violent offenders to be out?

“People ask me ‘what is the solution? I’m not an expert.

“We’re just one family that has been let down by the system who wants change, because at the moment what has been happening is not working.”

Mr Beaumont has started a GoFundMe to help promote awareness of youth crime and to highlight the need for further reform.

Originally published as Angus Beaumont dad appeals to Palaszczuk to discuss youth crime reform