Youth crime Qld: Castle law flagged at Cairns rally

A push to introduce changes to protect homeowners using self-defence, dubbed Castle Law, has reignited at an anti-crime rally.

Member for Barron River Bree James speaks to the crowd at the Rally For Justice. Picture: Brendan Radke

Laws allowing residents to use self-defence during a home invasion without criminal consequence won’t be considered by the state government despite an MP telling an anti-crime rally “everything is on the table”.

A push to introduce changes to protect homeowners using self-defence, dubbed Castle Law, reignited at an anti-crime rally in Cairns on Sunday as ministers arrived in the city for their first community cabinet meeting.

Some 40,000 Queenslanders last year signed a Katter’s Australian Party petition calling for Castle Law that argued laws failed to protect victims from prosecution while defending themselves or others during a home invasion – however the former state government refused to debate the proposal.

About 1000 Cairns residents fed up with shocking incidents of crime in their community gathered on the Esplanade to share stories and demand accountability from governments and the justice system.

Member for Barron River Bree James told the crowd the government would not stop tinkering with its Making Queensland Safer Laws.

“Everything is on the table … there is more to come, there will be a second tranche,” she said.

Protesters at the Rally For Justice. Picture: Brendan Radke

“If you have specific things you think should change, email us and you let us know.”

It prompted the crowd to yell “Castle Law” and one person asked Ms James: “Will you vote for Castle Law?”

In response, she said: “Everything is on the table.

“Castle Law won’t help a grandma in a house by herself.”

A state government spokeswoman later said it was not considering Castle Law.

“We’re committed to delivering the plan we took to the election, including strengthening the Youth Justice Act and adding additional offences for Adult Crime, Adult Time,” she said.

Katter’s Australian Party MP Nick Dametto said the minor party would bring its Castle Law proposal back before parliament.

“The easiest way for this to become policy is for the government to pick it up and run with it,” he said.

“If the state government doesn’t adopt it as a policy and put it forward … the KAP will be forced to put it back before the house.

“There’s no silver bullet to crime but it you start piecing the building blocks together you start to galvanise the community.”

“Let’s hope Bree James wasn’t just using that as a political throwaway line just to quieten the crowd and everything really is on the table so we can debate it.”

Katter’s Australian Party founder and Member for Kennedy Bob Katter. Picture: Brendan Radke

Originally published as Youth crime Qld: Castle law flagged at Cairns rally