Call for ‘Making Queensland Safe’ laws to be amended

By PETER ROWE

A leading advocate for the safety of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children says the new Queensland government’s ‘Making Queensland Safe’ laws will not make anyone safer and has called for them to be amended.

SNAICC, National Voice for our Children, chief execurtive Catherine Liddle believes the Bill in its current form does not address youth crime rates or result in safer communities.

“Evidence indicates that the younger you lock a child up, the more likely they are to reoffend,” Ms Liddle sad.

“These laws will do the opposite to what they claim, risking an increase in crime by exposing children to the juvenile justice system at a younger age.”

Children who are first sentenced to the youth justice system between the ages of 10 and 12 are more likely to reoffend than those sentenced at an older age. For example, the six-year reoffending rate for those first sentenced at age 10–12 is 86 per cent, compared to 33 per cent for those first sentenced at 19–20.

“Everyone wants to live in safety, including children, but this Bill fails to meet that standard,” she added.

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli leads the debate in Parliament last month. (AAP)

“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are already over-represented in the juvenile justice system in Queensland – this legislation will only make that worse.

“We know that over 90 percent of children who leave detention in Queensland will return to the system within the year.

“What makes the difference is early intervention, diversion and rehabilitation programs that are proven to interrupt the cycle of reoffending.

Ms Liddle said the Queensland Government had talked about interventions but were not putting in place the support and diversion programs.

“The concept of ‘adult time for adult crime’ is grossly unjust,” she said.

“The Queensland Government wants to treat children as responsible adults when it comes to crime, but not when it comes to enjoying basic human rights.”

SNAICC has made a submission to the Queensland Government advocating the Bill not be passed in its current form but be amended to protect children’s rights and embed policy and reform that addresses the drivers of youth offending.