Queensland citizens draws to the attention of the House the calamitous proportions of youth crime across Queensland which in 2022 saw rates of youth dominated offences including break-ins, robberies, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, assault, and vandalism skyrocket. 

This includes more than double the number of cars being stolen in Mount Isa, more than double the number of homes being broken into in Cairns and double the number of assaults being reported in Townsville, when compared to 2020.

The Government's youth crime prevention measures are manifestly inadequate and are failing. Shockingly in 2021, 76% of young offenders across Queensland were charged with another offence within a year, 95% of detainees released from the Cleveland Youth Detention Centre in Townsville reoffended within a year and 100% of juvenile offenders on strict bail orders in Toowoomba reoffended within a year.

Your petitioners, therefore, request the House to:

1. Establish harsher and longer sentences under the Youth Justice Act, including mandatory minimum sentencing for unlawful use of motor vehicle, burglary or break-in offences, cumulative sentences for recidivist offenders, and for those charged with rape, murder or grievous bodily harm to be tried as adults.

2. Trial the KAP's Relocation Sentencing policy as an alternative to traditional juvenile detention, which would see recidivist youth offenders ordered by courts to serve long-term sentences in highly-rehabilitative environments in remote locations.

3. Investigate the need for greater legal protections for people who find they must defend themselves, their family or their property from criminals (including juveniles).