Townsville MPs speak on Crisafulli Government’s next revision of the Youth Justice Act

Townsville’s three LNP MPs say stronger laws for offences like rape and violent sexual crimes need to be considered by an expert legal panel.

Townsville MPs Janelle Poole, Natalie Marr, Adam Bailie and the Minister for Youth Justice Laura Gerber speak to the media in Townsville. Picture: Shae Beplate.

Townsville’s three LNP MPs say their youth crime reform is “just the start”, with stronger laws for other offences like rape and violent sexual crimes need to be considered by an expert legal panel.

The Crisafulli government has said the panel will make recommendations about delivering additional offences and provide advice on how to implement the amendments to the legislation.

As part of the current Making Queensland Safer laws which came into effect in December, a youth who commits crimes of car theft will have their crimes follow them into adulthood, while juvenile offenders of rape and violent sexual crimes will not have their criminal history carried over.

When asked if they believe the governments ‘Adult Crime, Adult Time’ laws should have harsher penalties for youths who commit violent rape crimes MPs Janelle Poole, Natalie Marr and Adam Baillie said the next phase of changes to the Youth Justice Act would be chosen from the establishment of an expert legal panel.

Premier David Crisafulli with Member for Townsville Adam Baillie, Member for Mundingburra Janelle Poole and Member for Thuringowa Natalie Marr at the Townsville Police Station. Picture: Evan Morgan

“Before the election we promised the Making Queensland Safer Laws would be delivered over multiple stages, with an expert legal panel to assess the next offences for the Making Queensland Safer Laws, particularly more complex charges,” Ms Marr said.

Mr Baillie said the government delivered the Adult Crime Adult Time by Christmas, but this was just the “first step” in their commitment to drive down youth crime.

“Unlike the previous government that turned its back on our city, we are committed to delivering the fresh start Townsville voted for, with the strong laws needed to arrest Labor’s Youth Crime Crisis,” the Member for Townsville said.

The expert panel’s job will be to review the Youth Justice Act and pinpoint additional inclusions for the Adult Time Adult Crime laws.

Panellists will be appointed by the Minister for Youth Justice and Victim Support Laura Gerber, who said unravelling a decade of “weak youth crime laws” was a process.

“When we announced Adult Crime, Adult Time we were clear further reform and further offences would be added in the second tranche of the Making Queensland Safer Laws, after a detailed legal assessment by the panel,” she said.

Expressions of interest have opened and will close on January 30, with experts in legal, law enforcement or victim support experience invite to nominate for the panel.

Originally published as Townsville MPs speak on Crisafulli Government’s next revision of the Youth Justice Act