Strengthening Community Safety Bill 2023

Supported the bill as a comprehensive approach to youth crime that balances early intervention with stronger consequences for serious repeat offenders.

“I am really proud to be part of a government that is prepared to take those hard decisions and take a comprehensive approach to what is a very difficult area.”— 2023-03-16View Hansard

Supported the bill as strengthening laws to deal with repeat youth offenders while acknowledging community efforts to support young people.

“I commend the bill to the House.”— 2023-03-15View Hansard

As Minister for Police, moved the second reading and defended the bill as building on Queensland's existing youth justice laws to ensure serious repeat offenders face swift and serious consequences, backed by $332 million in additional investment.

“Queensland has some of the strongest, toughest and most comprehensive youth justice laws in the nation. This bill builds on those laws to ensure serious repeat youth offenders are held accountable for their actions and that there are swift and serious consequences for criminal offending.”— 2023-03-14View Hansard

Criticised the bill as showing the government's lack of engagement with regional communities on youth crime. Argued programs need to be properly targeted and that there is no one-size-fits-all solution.

“Bills such as this one simply show the government's complete lack of engagement with regional communities on this issue.”— 2023-03-16View Hansard

Supported the bill on behalf of her community but argued the government has not done enough, criticising the youth crime crisis and calling for more meaningful consequences for recidivist offenders.

“This government is not keeping Queenslanders safe; it is keeping them broke. It is keeping a frightened community locked in their own homes while young criminals roam free.”— 2023-03-15View Hansard

Announced the LNP will not oppose the bill but argued it falls well short of what is required, criticising the government for years of inaction on youth crime and accusing the Premier of misleading the public with the 10-point plan.

“The LNP will not be opposing this bill; however, it is abundantly clear that it falls well short of what is required to address juvenile crime in this state.”— 2023-03-14View Hansard

Supported the bill's investments in early intervention, prevention, stronger action against offenders and supporting victims. Criticised the LNP's approach to crime discussions.

“I call on the LNP to bring a more genuinely constructive approach to the discussions of crime.”— 2023-03-16View Hansard

Supported the bill as necessary legislation the community has asked for, thanking the Premier, youth justice minister and police minister for their work.

“This is not a bill that anyone should relish; it is a bill that is necessary.”— 2023-03-15View Hansard

As Attorney-General, spoke in support of the bill's strengthened bail laws and tougher penalties for aggravated vehicle offences, emphasising the government's commitment to both consequences and tackling root causes of youth crime.

“The amendments in the bill, along with our $332 million investment into youth justice programs and police initiatives, send a clear message to all Queenslanders that this government is committed to not only strengthening our laws by ensuring there are consequences for young offenders but also tackling the complex causes of youth crime.”— 2023-03-14View Hansard

Did not oppose the bill but argued it fell well short of what was required, criticising the government for being forced into action by media and polls. Called for breach of bail and removal of detention as a last resort.

“We will not be opposing this bill and we appreciate the fact that the media and the polls finally forced this government into doing something, but it falls well short of what is required to address juvenile crime in this state.”— 2023-03-16View Hansard

Supported the bill but argued it is only a small step in the right direction, criticising the government for being soft on crime and calling for much stronger measures to protect communities.

“That is the feeling of my community. That is what is happening on a daily basis because this government is soft on crime. This is one small step, but we need to go so much further to protect our communities.”— 2023-03-15View Hansard

Spoke in support of the bill and thanked the Economics and Governance Committee for its examination and recommendation that the bill be passed.

“I rise to speak in support of the Strengthening Community Safety Bill.”— 2023-03-14View Hansard

Supported the bill, particularly the provisions for victims of crime to contribute to future reform through an inquiry process.

“For victims to be able to contribute to an inquiry and to use their experiences to inform future reform is something I know they will absolutely care about.”— 2023-03-16View Hansard

Supported the bill as part of a responsible approach to tackling both the causes and consequences of youth crime, with funding for early intervention programs.

“This is what a responsible government does, a government that not only listens to and cares about the victims of crime but also understands and wants to address the complexities of youth crime.”— 2023-03-15View Hansard

Stated the LNP will support the bill but argued it clearly fails to measure up, criticising the government for adopting the LNP's breach of bail policy after previously voting against it.

“The LNP will support this bill. At least this time it includes the LNP's breach of bail amendment—exactly the same as the amendment that we moved.”— 2023-03-14View Hansard

Did not oppose the bill but argued the government's approach was insufficient. Highlighted successful early intervention programs as gold standard models that should be expanded.

“Examples like this are gold standard early intervention, and that is the only way we are going to genuinely solve this issue.”— 2023-03-16View Hansard

Supported the bill's provisions but criticised the government for previously watering down youth justice laws and argued the bill should go further in holding young offenders to account.

“When we talk about a cohort of young juvenile repeat offenders, these criminals—and they are criminals—are committing adult offences.”— 2023-03-15View Hansard

Spoke of constituents traumatised by youth crime and supported the bill's measures including the breach of bail offence and multiagency collaborative panels.

“Recently I spoke to a woman from my electorate in Regents Park who, over a year later, still clearly feels the trauma of her house being forcibly entered while she slept.”— 2023-03-14View Hansard

Did not oppose the bill but criticised the government for sending mixed messages, being soft on crime one day and tough the next. Called for breach of bail provisions.

“Laws need to mean something, and that is why provisions like breach of bail—hopefully to be used sparingly—need to be in place, so that offenders know that the laws are real.”— 2023-03-16View Hansard

Supported the bill, commending the Minister for Police for his efforts and highlighting the bill's delivery on community expectations.

“This bill will deliver on community expectations and help keep Queenslanders safe.”— 2023-03-15View Hansard

Criticised the bill for promising increased maximum sentences that cannot be applied to youth offenders under existing Youth Justice Act provisions, accusing the government of misleading Queenslanders about the bill's content.

“No-one should feel unsafe in their community. Locals deserve to be able to go about their lives without the fear of being robbed, assaulted or even murdered.”— 2023-03-14View Hansard

Did not oppose the bill but expressed frustration at repeatedly debating similar legislation since 2016, arguing the government should have got it right the first time.

“I do not want to come back in this place again and debate laws that should have been done right in the first place.”— 2023-03-16View Hansard

Supported the bill's changes but expressed scepticism they would be effective, calling the bill a potential toothless tiger, and blamed Labor for removing breach of bail as an offence in 2015.

“We will support these changes but we suspect that, yet again, they will be a toothless tiger in this fight against youth crime.”— 2023-03-15View Hansard

Supported the government's youth justice strategy, drawing on her experience to argue for rehabilitation alongside consequences.

“I support our government's youth justice strategy.”— 2023-03-14View Hansard

Opposed the bill, arguing it would criminalise young people and place already suffering communities at even more disadvantage. Called for investment in education, housing, and community support instead of punitive measures.

“We have a proposal before us that will criminalise young people and place already suffering communities at even more disadvantage. The Greens will not be supporting this bill.”— 2023-03-16View Hansard

Supported the bill's provisions to break the cycle of offending by serious repeat offenders and invest in early intervention, offering a message of hope to young Central Queenslanders.

“To the young Central Queenslanders in detention or living a life of crime, I say please let us help you.”— 2023-03-15View Hansard

Supported the bill's breach of bail and other measures which the LNP had long called for, but argued the bill has not addressed the major problems in the Youth Justice Act.

“We support all the other measures. We have been calling for breach of bail as a criminal offence for a long time, so we support that; and there is no way in the world we are not going to vote for any similar legislation.”— 2023-03-14View Hansard

Expressed that communities deserved much more than what the bill offers, noting the lack of capacity to rehabilitate due to prison overcrowding. Called for evidence-based solutions rather than hoping.

“Communities across Queensland deserve much more than what this bill offers.”— 2023-03-16View Hansard

Supported the bill but criticised the government's initial failure to deliver on announced penalties, noting that prescribed penalties turned out to be different from what the Premier had publicly promised.

“It transpires that prior to the Premier going off overseas the announcement that she made as No. 1 on the media release about what prescribed penalties would be was actually not true.”— 2023-03-15View Hansard

Spoke in support of the bill as putting community safety first, emphasising its focus on ensuring tougher action on youth crime and its causes.

“This bill is about putting community safety first. The main objective of the bill is to give effect to the announced legislative reforms and to strengthen youth justice laws by ensuring there is tougher action on youth crime and its causes.”— 2023-03-14View Hansard

Supported the bill as the government listening to community concerns about youth crime and investing in grassroots diversion initiatives alongside stronger penalties.

“Our top priority is ensuring communities feel safe.”— 2023-03-15View Hansard

Argued the bill falls short of what is needed, criticising the government for not consulting relevant parties and for watering down the Youth Justice Act eight years ago, leading to escalating youth crime.

“Sadly, this bill falls short of what is needed, and we on this side of the House will continue in our endeavours to repair youth crime laws in Queensland.”— 2023-03-14View Hansard

Confirmed LNP support for the bill's breach of bail provisions while criticising the government for previously weakening youth justice laws and not going far enough to protect communities.

“The LNP supports the provisions in this bill to make breach of bail an offence. It is good policy. That is why we have been relentless in pushing the government to do it.”— 2023-03-15View Hansard

As a committee member, spoke about the bill's history and criticised the government for reinstating detention as a last resort and putting 17-year-olds into the youth justice system, arguing those decisions led to the current crisis.

“Before I get specifically to the bill, I want to go back through the history which I think the government more recently is trying to rewrite.”— 2023-03-14View Hansard

Supported the bill as ensuring community safety remains paramount, speaking from the perspective of representing a North Queensland electorate directly affected by youth crime.

“This bill is about making sure community safety continues to be paramount.”— 2023-03-15View Hansard

Spoke passionately about the impact of the crime epidemic on Toowoomba, calling on the government to listen after years of speeches about crime in the community.

“Over the past couple of years in this House I have given a lot of angry speeches about crime. I have given a lot of speeches calling on the government to listen.”— 2023-03-14View Hansard

Acknowledged the bill as a step in the right direction but argued it does not go far enough, advocating for relocation sentencing and mandatory sentencing, and criticising both major parties for failing to address root causes of youth crime in Mount Isa.

“I rise to make a contribution on the Strengthening Community Safety Bill 2023. I do this as the elected state member for the most crime-riddled community in Queensland.”— 2023-03-15View Hansard

Spoke in support of the bill, calling for a line in the sand for serious violent offenders who need to be held to account, drawing on his experience representing the Townsville community.

“We need to draw a line in the sand for those serious violent offenders who need to be held to account. That is what people in my community have said to me.”— 2023-03-14View Hansard

Supported the bill as a former long-term police officer, highlighting community fear of crime and calling for the LNP to deliver the laws and resources needed when in government.

“One thing worse than crime is the fear of crime. We all have people in our community who have boarded up their homes and are living in fear.”— 2023-03-15View Hansard

Criticised the government for thinking that throwing more money at youth crime would solve the problem, arguing the member for Thuringowa had failed his community as Townsville remained a crime hotspot.

“The problem we have with this government—and the member for Thuringowa symbolises it all—is that they think that all they have to do is throw more money and more money at the problem.”— 2023-03-14View Hansard

Supported the bill, highlighting his commitment to advocating for solutions to youth crime in Townsville including a $10 million evaluation program to measure program outcomes.

“I promised during the last election campaign that I would advocate with our government for more solutions to address youth crime.”— 2023-03-15View Hansard

Spoke in support of the bill, emphasising the importance of community safety and recognising the work of the committee.

“I rise to speak in support of the bill.”— 2023-03-14View Hansard

Did not oppose the bill but expressed doubt it would deliver on the government's promises, citing Labor's track record of multiple previous strategies and plans that had not resolved youth crime.

“I do not oppose the bill, but let us hope that this delivers what the government is promising it will.”— 2023-03-15View Hansard

Drew on 23 years of teaching experience to argue that young people respond to firm boundaries and clear consequences, supporting the bill's balanced approach of rehabilitation alongside accountability.

“I have learned that young people, specifically teenagers, respond positively to clearly defined and firm psychological boundaries, respond best when they understand the consequences of their actions.”— 2023-03-14View Hansard

Supported the bill and the total community safety package, arguing Queenslanders want both tough laws and investment in diversion programs.

“Even when those with the most hardline views hear about this community safety package, they understand we need to feel safe and they want that, but they also want us to invest more in these programs.”— 2023-03-15View Hansard

Described the bill as 'too little, too late' and a 'propaganda bill', announcing the KAP would introduce strong amendments including removal of detention as a last resort, mandatory minimum sentencing, and relocation sentencing.

“Sadly, this bill falls under the category of too little, too late. The government has completely ignored pleas from Queenslanders to fix youth crime over the past eight years and are scrambling to force through a bill that will do little to address the current crisis.”— 2023-03-14View Hansard

Supported the intent of the bill but expressed doubt it would resolve youth crime, citing low police morale and the government's failure to adequately resource police.

“This government has stated that this legislation will resolve the issue. I am not so sure about that.”— 2023-03-15View Hansard

Rose in support of the bill, commending the police minister and committee for their work on the legislation.

“I rise in support of the Strengthening Community Safety Bill 2023.”— 2023-03-14View Hansard

Supported the bill as a Cairns member, emphasising the government's commitment to community safety and expressing confidence in achieving better results.

“This government is committed to ensuring our communities are kept safe.”— 2023-03-15View Hansard

Acknowledged youth justice as a difficult and divisive issue, highlighting the escalation of youth crime since 2015 and the substantial costs to communities.

“Many aspects of youth justice and youth crime are some of the most difficult and divisive issues we need to address—and that has been acknowledged in contributions in this House today—particularly when we focus on the youth involved, the families and the communities where we have seen youth crime escalate since 2015.”— 2023-03-14View Hansard

Supported the bill but criticised the government for promising 14-year penalties publicly while the bill only provides seven-year maximums, and called for the government to fix the youth crime crisis that occurred under its watch.

“In December the Queensland Labor government publicly promised that violent juvenile car thieves will face 14 years jail. Now in the bill before us we see that the maximum penalties are half of what they promised.”— 2023-03-15View Hansard

Questioned what the government had to show after eight years and over a billion dollars spent, noting the number of serious repeat offenders had increased from 10 to 17 per cent under Labor.

“We have had eight years of this government, which is now in its third term. We are now at the point where we have to ask what we have to show for it.”— 2023-03-14View Hansard

Supported the bill, rejecting fear-based politics and highlighting the government's investment in programs like Skilling Queenslanders for Work that help divert young people from crime.

“There is nothing to be gained by any Queenslander playing a game that is politics of fear.”— 2023-03-15View Hansard

Supported the bill but accused the Premier of misleading the public about the penalties and criticised the government for previously watering down juvenile justice laws.

“The Premier has misled the public because the penalties announced are not the penalties that are in the bill.”— 2023-03-15View Hansard

Supported the bill, acknowledging community concerns about crime and highlighting that Queensland already has among the toughest youth justice laws in the country.

“Under the Palaszczuk government Queensland has among the toughest youth justice laws in the country.”— 2023-03-15View Hansard

Acknowledged the bill as a step in the right direction but argued it does not go far enough, calling for mandatory sentencing and expressing concern that youth offenders will continue to be released to reoffend.

“Queenslanders deserve better. They deserve the security of better options being available when it comes to sentencing; that mandatory sentencing is brought in to ensure youth offenders are put behind bars.”— 2023-03-15View Hansard

Supported the bill as targeting serious repeat youth offenders, tackling the causes of crime and investing in community safety.

“This government has listened to the community and consulted with the experts.”— 2023-03-15View Hansard

Supported the bill, particularly for the community of Goondiwindi affected by youth crime, while acknowledging both the need for consequences and community-led programs for Indigenous young people.

“This is a bill which is really important to my communities, particularly the community of Goondiwindi which has had a really torrid time with youth crime.”— 2023-03-15View Hansard

Supported the bill as the Education Minister, highlighting Indigenous education and culture programs that are successfully engaging at-risk young people in schools.

“There are young offenders there dancing their hearts out and engaging in education. They are the programs that we will be supporting.”— 2023-03-15View Hansard

Opposed the bill, calling its title a misnomer and arguing that every expert and community service provider in youth justice has said tougher sentencing does not reduce crime, and that the bill will make communities less safe by funnelling more young people into an already failing system.

“I will begin my contribution on the so-called Strengthening Community Safety Bill 2023 by calling that title precisely what it is: a misnomer at best and more like a bald-faced lie.”— 2023-03-15View Hansard

Supported the bill but criticised the government for being slow to act, quoting the Premier's own past statements about tough sentencing and arguing the revolving door of justice is failing communities.

“The people of Queensland are very concerned about us with this revolving door of justice and the fact that everybody keeps getting let back out.”— 2023-03-15View Hansard

Supported the bill, highlighting the successful Kutta Mulla Gorinna special assistance school in Mackay that is breaking the cycle of crime by re-engaging disengaged young people in education.

“Some of these children are the first in their families to finish school and the first to go to work in many generations.”— 2023-03-15View Hansard

Supported the bill but argued Labor watered down youth justice laws because being soft on crime is in its DNA, citing a litany of government failures on youth crime over multiple years.

“It was the Palaszczuk Labor government that watered down the youth justice laws because being soft on crime is in Labor's DNA.”— 2023-03-15View Hansard

Supported the bill as Premier, emphasising the balance between tough laws for serious repeat offenders and investment in early intervention programs, thanking the committee for its thoughtful consideration.

“I remain very concerned about instances of serious offending by young people.”— 2023-03-15View Hansard

Supported the bill but called it an insipid response to the youth crime crisis, arguing the government's previous weakening of youth justice laws created the crisis.

“Here we are debating the Palaszczuk Labor government's latest insipid response to Queensland's youth crime crisis.”— 2023-03-15View Hansard

Supported the bill, arguing Queenslanders expect governments to step up on youth crime and this is what the Palaszczuk government is doing.

“Queenslanders expect governments to step up and handle these tough issues, which is what the Palaszczuk Labor government is doing.”— 2023-03-15View Hansard

Supported the need for stronger consequences for youth crime, criticising the catch-and-release system and suggesting mandatory sentences may be needed if courts are not sentencing adequately.

“There need to be consequences. It is not that hard to provide meaningful consequences.”— 2023-03-15View Hansard