MEMBER for Mount Isa Robbie Katter has urged for more thought to be put into the proposed boot camp projects to combat youth crime.
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Attorney General and Minister for Justice Jarrod Bleijie confirmed boot camps will be trialled in Cairns and the Gold Coast and if successful, would be rolled out across the Queensland.
Mr Katter said the concept has some merit if it includes teaching vocational activities and if there is an element of stability and discipline.
But he outlined it was not a magic bullet to automatically reform juvenile offenders and would only be a part of a long-term solution.
"Critical components of a successful program should include proper cognitive treatment addressing the deeper issues affecting the person, addressing specific attitudes supporting the offending and meaningful and substantial contact between the participants in the program and the treatment personnel," he said.
"Removing offenders from the environment they are stuck in can be a step in the right direction.
"But just having a few months away then returning to into the same home environment again is not likely to change whatever issues that individual is dealing that is driving this behaviour."
He insisted unless there is some follow up or attention given to the home environment the juvenile offenders reside in he would be sceptical of any positive end results could point to formal studies to back this up.
Mr Katter said there was unhealthy levels of youth offences on Mount Isa streets.
He admitted some offenders end up back on the street soon after the offence, despite the best efforts of police, courts and social workers.
"The community is keen for action and I have got that message loud and clear," he said.
"The issue needs to be dealt with properly and with long term goals in mind.
"Long term objectives should include addressing specific attitudes supporting the offending such as peer groups, family problems, drug and alcohol problems, anger and violence.
"This is a complex issue and I would be disappointed if the sum total of the government's efforts to deal with it is 'boot camps' without due attention to other peripheral services that focus on creating a stable home life."
