LNP pledges millions in funding for Mackay community organisations

The LNP has pledged hundreds of millions of dollars so Qld community organisations can provide ‘gold standard’ support to at risk youth. But which organisations will take up the call?

LNP Mackay candidate Nigel Dalton joined Laura Gerber to talk about how Mackay NGOs can benefit from their new $100m fund for early intervention in youth crime. Photo: Fergus Gregg

A North Queensland LNP candidate has called out for organisations in his electorate to come forward with their ideas for early intervention for at risk youths.

Mackay LNP candidate Nigel Dalton joined youth justice shadow minister Laura Gerber in Mackay to call for Mackay non-government organisations (NGO) to share their ideas.

Mr Dalton pointed to organisations like the Youth Information Referral Service (YIRS) as an example of fundamental early intervention programs, but said unfortunately not many other organisations were ready to go.

“We want them to come to us and say we’ve got an idea,” Mr Dalton said.

Mr Dalton also pointed to the Greater Whitsunday Communities organisation as one that might be eligible for funding. Photo: Fergus Gregg

The LNPs commitment of $100m to early intervention comes in two parts, $50m will be allocated to existing organisations while the other $50m will be for “start-up” programs and “innovations”.

“They can look at different ideas and come up with suggestions,” Mr Dalton said.

“Come with those gold standard ideas which they’ve probably got in the back of their mind and put them on paper.”

Ms Gerber said Labor failed early intervention in Mackay and pointed to YIRS as a program in need of further support.

“They live grant to grant,” Ms Gerber said.

“They have to apply for funding every year … it’s only 150k they need to be able to provide education to 20 local kids.”

Dee Chapman at YIRS supported the LNP ‘Stay on Track’ program as a way of aiding the reintegration of incarcerated youth into the community and under an LNP government will be able to apply for fund directly from the Early Intervention fund.

Mackay Labor candidate Belinda Hassan highlighted already existing Labor programs and a reduction in youth offences in Mackay. Photo: Fergus Gregg

Labor candidate for Mackay Belinda Hassan said Labor’s strategies were working.

“We already have early intervention and crime prevention programs under way,” Ms Hassan said.

She said youth offences in the Mackay region had decreased in the last six months and police statistics released in July show a 6.7 per cent decrease in the rate of youth offences across Queensland when compared to the 2022/2023 financial year.

When asked if, given his background as a former Mackay police officer and police officer in Belfast, Mr Dalton believed harsher sentences reduced crimes Mr Dalton said growing up if he didn’t do his chores, there were consequences.

“At the moment there's no consequence for somebody who goes out and commits a crime,” Mr Dalton said.

“They need to have consequences for actions.”

Originally published as LNP pledges millions in funding for Mackay community organisations