‘Stop these kids from bashing our kids’: Gold Coast teen attack caught on camera sparks outrage as parents urge Premier to deliver on election promise

Video shared online of violent attacks on Gold Coast teens have sparked outrage, with parents urging Premier David Crisafulli to deliver on his election promise of tougher action on youth crime.

Shocking footage circulating online of teenage girls being brutally attacked at a Gold Coast train station has ignited fresh calls for tougher penalties on youth crime – with frustrated parents accusing the justice system of failing victims.

The harrowing video shows a young girl being repeatedly punched and kicked in the head and dragged by her hair to the ground by two teenage girls, while a male bystander films the attack.

A police spokesperson said they are investigating the assault which took place at Varsity Lakes on March 23.

“Around 1.30pm, a 14-year-old girl was walking from a bus-stop to a nearby train platform when she was approached by three girls and a boy who demanded she give them her phone,” the spokeswoman said.

“When she failed to hand over the phone, she was assaulted by two of the girls.

“The group then fled on foot.”

It was one of two violent incidents allegedly linked to the same group.

In another disturbing clip, the same assailant viciously attacks another young girl at a bus stop.

A concerned parent, who posted the videos to social media, said: “David Crisafulli MP, we need your help to stop a repeat offender.

“This girl … and her friend … are repeatedly bashing young girls on the Gold Coast in an attempt to steal their personal belongings (for example, my daughter’s phone prior to bashing her)”.

David Crisafulli promised to ‘crack down’ on youth crime as part of his election campaign. Picture: Richard Walker

“She demanded my daughter to hand over her phone. When my daughter refused, she initiated the attack,” he said in comments on Facebook.

“I’m sure all families on the Gold Coast, after seeing this, will be concerned about their children.

“All you need to do is enforce what the government has promised us and stop these kids from bashing our kids.”

The video, which has been shared more than 500 times and drawn more than 400 comments, has sparked concern for the safety of young people using public transport, with some commenters calling for increased security measures and harsher penalties for repeat offenders.

“These so called children do the crime, it’s about time they do the time,” one person wrote.

Video shared online of violent attacks on Gold Coast teens have sparked outrage, with parents urging Premier David Crisafulli to deliver on his election promise of tougher action on youth crime. Picture: Facebook.

Video shared online of violent attacks on Gold Coast teens have sparked outrage, with parents urging Premier David Crisafulli to deliver on his election promise of tougher action on youth crime. Picture: Facebook.

“How many more innocent kids need to be hurt?”, wrote another.

“There needs to be some kind of justice for this behaviour regardless of age,” another person said.

The Crisafulli government introduced legislation aimed at imposing mandatory life sentences for young offenders found guilty of murder and a minimum 15 year-sentence for manslaughter as part of his “adult crime, adult time” pledge late last year.

The Premier’s landmark Making Queensland Safer Bill 2024 also introduced double maximum sentences for assaults, break and enters and dangerous and unlawful operation of cars.

Video shared online of violent attacks on Gold Coast teens have sparked outrage, with parents urging Premier David Crisafulli to deliver on his election promise of tougher action on youth crime. Picture: Facebook.

Video shared online of violent attacks on Gold Coast teens have sparked outrage, with parents urging Premier David Crisafulli to deliver on his election promise of tougher action on youth crime. Picture: Facebook.

He promised the “harsher penalties” on young offenders would lead to a reduction in victims of crime across the state.

Asked about the videos circulating online, a spokesperson for Mr Crisafulli said the Government was “committed to ensuring safer communities” across Queensland.

“If someone’s safety is at risk, we urge people to call the police,” the spokesperson said.

“We know there is a generation of young people who have grown bold under Labor’s weak laws, but we are cracking down with new laws to deliver consequences for actions.

“We are taking action to turn the tide on youth crime, halting Labor’s legacy of the Youth Crime Crisis through Adult Crime, Adult Time, recruiting more police, and building services to break the cycle for young offenders.”

On Sunday, the government announced the next round of Adult Crime, Adult Time offences would be introduced to parliament this week.

It said rape, attempted murder, aggravated attempted robbery, torture and arson would be among more than a dozen new offences introduced.

“We are sending a clear message to youth offenders that this Government is delivering consequences for actions and we have a laser-like focus when it comes to crime,” Minister for Youth Justice Laura Gerber said.

Social justice advocacy groups have argued the laws won’t fix the youth crime spike and will disproportionately impact young people with a history of trauma, social disadvantage, poverty, and unsupported mental health needs.

Police investigations into the Varsity Lakes incident are continuing.

Queensland Rail are supporting the investigation process, including providing CCTV.

Originally published as ‘Stop these kids from bashing our kids’: Gold Coast teen attack caught on camera sparks outrage as parents urge Premier to deliver on election promise