Queensland Community Safety Bill 2024

As Minister for Police and Community Safety, introduced and championed the bill as a key part of the Miles government's $1.28 billion Community Safety Plan, highlighting measures to address youth crime, expand Jack's Law, and introduce new offences for ramming emergency vehicles.

“Every Queenslander deserves to be safe and to feel safe. This bill demonstrates the Miles Labor government's commitment to supporting victims, delivering for our front line, detaining offenders, intervening early and preventing crime before it happens.”— 2024-08-22View Hansard

As Shadow Minister for Police, supported the bill while heavily criticising the government for creating the youth crime crisis through earlier policy changes. Moved amendments to fully remove detention as a last resort and open the Childrens Court further, arguing the bill does not go far enough.

“In a small and belated way the Community Safety Bill answers the LNP's calls for more protection through tougher laws. Do the ministers who conducted their soft-on-crime experiment, ministers who hold the same portfolios today, now acknowledge that by introducing this bill they admit they were wrong to introduce their soft-on-crime regime?”— 2024-08-22View Hansard

As Committee Chair, outlined the bill's provisions and the committee's examination process, recommending the bill be passed after considering 250 submissions and holding public hearings.

“The primary objective of the bill is to implement law enforcement and crime prevention strategies and interventions over various statutes to enhance community safety.”— 2024-08-22View Hansard

Supported the bill and defended the government's evidence-based approach to youth justice, criticising the LNP for referring to young people as 'a generation of untouchables' and arguing sufficient protections are incorporated into the amendments.

“Our kids in Queensland are absolutely fantastic. The LNP consistently referring to them as 'a generation of untouchables' is quite disgusting.”— 2024-08-22View Hansard

As a committee member, raised concerns about insufficient consultation with firearms stakeholders and the rushed introduction process, while supporting the bill. Emphasised holding the government accountable to its assurances that firearm prohibition orders will not target law-abiding licence holders.

“We need to take the commissioner, the government and the departmental officials at their word on this because the issuance of a firearm prohibition order by the Commissioner or by a delegate can have effect for 60 days before it needs to be reviewed by a court, but the impact on a licence holder is that their licence is immediately revoked.”— 2024-08-22View Hansard

As a committee member, supported the bill while criticising the short two-week consultation period and highlighting local crime impacts. Supported LNP amendments on drive-by shootings and raised concerns about social media posting provisions.

“Given what my local residents see happening on our streets and in our local community, a lot of them simply say, 'This has to end.' These days, criminal individuals are so emboldened that we need laws to protect police and emergency vehicles from being ramraided.”— 2024-08-22View Hansard

As Minister for Education and Youth Justice, defended the government's investment in early intervention and prevention programs, noting an 18% reduction in serious repeat offenders and addressing amendments to youth justice principle 18 and the Family Responsibilities Commission.

“It is as a result of this continued evidence-based investment—investment based on expert advice and the advice of stakeholders—that we have seen a turnaround in youth crime from the 2023-24 year: an 18 per cent reduction in serious repeat offenders and a 6.7 per cent drop in reported youth offences.”— 2024-08-22View Hansard

Strongly criticised the government for creating the youth crime crisis through 2015-16 legislative changes while supporting the bill's measures. Argued the bill does not go far enough and advocated for LNP's 'Adult Crime, Adult Time' policy.

“It is the highest mandate of any state government to keep our community safe, but in my community people do not feel safer today than they did almost a decade ago, when this Labor government came to power.”— 2024-08-22View Hansard

Strongly supported the bill, emphasising that community safety must be paramount for judiciary sentencing and that serious offenders must face consequences. Highlighted his long advocacy for tougher youth crime laws including real breach of bail offences.

“For those serious, violent criminal offenders who are causing so much pain to our community, there must be consequences for actions. That is what this bill does.”— 2024-08-22View Hansard

As Minister for Fire and Disaster Recovery and Corrective Services, supported the expansion of Jack's Law to shopping centres and other venues, sharing community concerns about safety at local shopping centres.

“I am determined to make sure that people feel safe in this space in our community. It is not necessarily that a high level of crime is occurring there, but a perception has formed in the community—rightly or wrongly—that we have young people who are up to no good.”— 2024-08-22View Hansard

Criticised the inadequate two-week consultation period and the government's record on crime while supporting measures that protect victims. Cited significant crime increases in Gympie electorate under the government's term.

“I support any legislation which protects victims, reduces the number of victims, and provides consequences for actions for perpetrators of crime. This bill fails to achieve those goals. The government created the youth crime crisis.”— 2024-08-22View Hansard

As Minister for Resources and local Townsville member, supported the bill highlighting the new 14-year penalty for ramming emergency vehicles, expansion of Jack's Law, and the dedicated Townsville police helicopter as part of the community safety plan.

“This bill will make ramming emergency vehicles a standalone offence, with a maximum penalty of 14 years imprisonment. Anyone ramming an emergency vehicle and putting our emergency services personnel's lives on the line deserves to face the full consequences.”— 2024-08-22View Hansard

Raised concerns about insufficient consultation with law-abiding firearm owners and the inadequate two-week submission period. Supported LNP amendments to increase penalties for stealing firearms while noting the bill misses opportunities to crack down on illegal firearms.

“This bill misses an important opportunity to get tough on criminals with firearms. It refers to an increase in firearm theft but does nothing to address it. Instead, it unfairly concentrates on licensed shooters.”— 2024-08-22View Hansard

Supported the bill, particularly highlighting her advocacy for provisions allowing corrective services officers to serve domestic and family violence documents to prisoners, which will reduce burden on local police at Mount Ommaney station that services Wacol prison precinct.

“For my community the tangible effects are very real. It will mean we will have more police available in our community because they will not need to serve those documents in our prison precinct so regularly.”— 2024-08-22View Hansard

Supported the bill while criticising the rushed debate and noting the bill does nothing to create penalties or offences for illegal firearms. Supported LNP amendments to increase penalties for stealing firearms.

“Whilst the bill talks about illegal firearms, there is not one penalty for illegal firearms; nor is there one new offence for illegal firearms in the bill, and the bill does nothing to crack down on these illegal firearms.”— 2024-08-22View Hansard