Queenslanders protest youth crime on the streets.
Hundreds of Victims Demand Action Against Youth Crime Wave
Hundreds of victims of youth crime protested at Queensland Parliament on Aug. 23 to demand action from the government against the ongoing juvenile crime wave.
So concerned are the state’s citizens that a recent Freshwater Strategy Poll found it was the third-biggest issue to voters after cost of living and housing.
Recent youth justice services data shows that the state has the highest rate of youth detention, higher than any other state or territory in Australia.
These recent statistics show that youth crime is getting worse, with the number of young people aged 10-17 years under community supervision orders or in detention centres increasing by nearly four percent in the year 2021-22.
The state’s youth detention facilities are so stretched that the state government is attempting to allow police watchhouses to be used to temporarily house youths engaging in criminal activity.
This move requires the Queensland government to suspend the Human Rights Act, a situation that has drawn the ire of the Black Peoples Union.
Two new youth detention centres are expected to be opened in 2026 to deal with the influx of young criminals.
The Epoch Times reached out to the Queensland Minister of Youth Justice Dianne Farmer for comment on the rally, but her office is yet to make a statement.
Government and Police Join Forces in Response to the Crisis
The protest coincided with the announcement of the establishment of the Queensland Government’s Taskforce Guardian, a dedicated initiative aimed at combating youth crime.
The initiative, which includes a collaboration between the Queensland Police Service (QPS) and youth justice workers, reflects the government’s commitment to addressing the issue, the Palaszczuk government said.
The task force pairs dedicated Queensland Police detectives with expert youth justice workers in a collaboration that facilitates a more comprehensive approach to addressing the multifaceted challenges posed by youth crime.
On the Taskforce’s creation, Queensland Police Minister Mark Ryan said it would build on the successful results of the “State Flying Squad and Youth Co-responder models.”
Other Initiatives to Combat Youth Crime
The state government has several initiatives in place to help address the issue of youth crime. It recently announced the investment of $56 million in new Police Citizens Youth Club facilities and early intervention initiatives for at-risk youth.
The latest round of the Skilling Queenslanders for Work program, an $80 million initiative aimed at helping unemployed and underemployed into jobs, is focused on helping young people at risk of offending into hospitality, construction and o
" Conservative News Daily does not always share or support the views and opinions expressed here; they are just those of the writer."
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
Now loading...