Crime-hit city businesses embrace youth justice laws
A city reeling from crime backs controversial youth justice laws, saying juvenile offences have contributed to business closures and tarnished its reputation.
Controversial youth justice laws have been welcomed at a crime-ravaged city amid claims juvenile offences have contributed to business closures, tarnishing a regionâs reputation.
An insight into a north Queensland cityâs ongoing battle with youth crime was provided on Tuesday, with one business allegedly ram-raided twice in a week.
Proposed âadult crime, adult timeâ laws are being scrutinised by a state parliamentary committee, sparking outrage among human rights advocates.
Experts have warned against introducing harsher sentences for serious youth offences, saying it violates human rights and wonât make the community safer.
However, Townsville appears to have embraced the move after enduring ongoing break-ins and car thefts that have left some local businesses reeling.
A glimpse into the âirreparable damageâ caused by juvenile offenders was provided on Tuesday when public submissions were heard by the parliamentary committee in the city, described as âground zero for the youth crime crisisâ.
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âCrime has become a significant and ongoing challenge for local businesses,â Townsville Chamber of Commerce CEO Heidi Turner told the hearing.
âThere is no doubt crime has directly contributed to business closures in our region.â
Turner said Townsville businesses were burdened with escalating security and repair costs because of ongoing break-ins and car theft, with retaining employees a challenge.
âJust this week, a local business was ram-raided twice. As they were beginning to recover from the first attack, it happened again,â she said.
âIn some areas of Townsville, antisocial behaviour has made it almost impossible to lease commercial properties.â
Turner hoped youth justice laws would bring âmeaningful and lasting changeâ.
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âCrime⌠is causing irreparable damage to the fabric of our community, tarnishing our regionâs reputation and deterring skilled workers from relocating to Townsville,â she said.
The Liberal National Party campaigned hard on youth crime before winning the October 26 election, ending Laborâs nine-year reign.
The LNP swept through north Queensland on its path to victory, claiming key seats Thuringowa, Mundingburra and Townsville from Labor.
Premier David Crisafulli on Tuesday indicated community sentiment rather than expert opinion was the driving force behind the laws after criticism from human rights advocates.
The laws remove detention as a last resort and dramatically increase penalties for serious youth crimes, with children now facing a life sentence for five offences.
âWe are forging ahead knowingly violating the UN Convention against torture against children â in any other context that is called child abuse,â Queenslandâs Human Rights Commissioner Scott McDougall told the public hearing on Monday.
The premier said the laws would be passed by Christmas regardless, ensuring he fulfilled a key election promise.
âWe are a different government and we are taking a different approach that puts victims first across the spectrum,â Crisafulli said.
âWe are doing exactly what we said we would before the election.
âThere will be some short term pressures (on detention centres) but we believe long term we can deliver a system that provides fewer victims but also better outcomes.â
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