Member for Traeger Robbie Katter says the denigration of the $5.6 million On-Country youth trials as a "beachside holiday" and waste of money shows that the Palaszczuk Government still doesn't get it when it comes to repairing the north's chronic crime crisis.
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Following a question on notice from Mr Katter to Minister for Children and Youth Justice and Minister for Multicultural Affairs Leanne Linard, the Government admitted that none of the 82 participants had finished the six-week program since beginning in July 2020.
"While I appreciate rehabilitation work with disengaged youth takes time, the acute crime crisis only continues to worsen under the Palaszczuk Government despite years of community outcry and requests for support and change," Mr Katter said.
"Labor still doesn't get it; they can't even get the On-Country program up and running and it's still far from the real solution that's needed."
He said the program was a soft approach and the "poor cousin" to the significant policy that was needed to make meaningful change - Relocation Sentencing.
The KAP had made repeated calls to introduce Relocation Sentencing as a circuit-breaker to youth crime by immediately relocating offenders to a remote facility 800 kilometres west of Townsville.
The policy provided a third sentencing option other than juvenile detention and releasing offenders back out on the streets.
Along with operating on minimum costs, the Relocation Sentencing facility would work closely with Indigenous Elders and youth workers to help offenders develop key life skills such as trade and agricultural work and receive the best shot at a successful future.
Keys points of the KAP Relocation Sentencing Policy:
- Applies to young repeat offenders aged 10-17 who have been identified as 'at-risk' of recidivism and have a demonstrated history of escalating criminality
- Provides alternative sentencing (and/or bail arrangement) options to magistrates/judges when dealing with these offenders
- These alternative sentencing options include 'on-country' programs in a remote and approved location. Ankle bracelets would be used for added security but security would largely be maintained through distance and isolation
- An incentive system based on points and certificate awards would allow the offenders to feel a sense of achievement. This would include qualifications towards things such as a windmill technician, master butcher or stockman, but would not be limited to primary industries
- The ultimate goal of Relocation Sentencing is to provide these children with life skills, education and a sense of purpose not available to them on the streets or in juvenile detention facilities
- It would be available to both Indigenous and non-Indigenous children and programs would draw heavily on the involvement and teachings of First Australian Elders
- The KAP has identified a series of possible facility locations in North West Queensland such as Lake Julius (north of Mount Isa). It is envisioned multiple locations will be established across the state in strategic areas
- The program is designed to be the ultimate 'circuit-breaker' for repeat young offenders who are likely to re-offend if returned to the streets and are at-risk of further "criminalisation" if incarcerated at juvenile detention centres
Mr Katter warned that as the youth crime crisis deepened and took high precedence, the major parties should be watching over the issue with intense interest.
He challenged a State Government claim that the On-Country program would not be reviewed until next year, backing calls for quarterly reviews to ensure it was performing adequately.
In response to criticism that no participants had finished the program, Minister Linard said there was no standarised length because plans were tailored to each participant, and completion only occurred when all program supports ended and education, employment and personal wellbeing objectives were achieved.
But Mr Katter said this only served to highlight the ongoing inadequacies faced by rural and regional communities.
"These kids and families are not getting access to even a fraction of the support, resources and opportunities that high-risk young people in Brisbane would be receiving from the State Government," he said.
"Sadly, it's the same old story that the Brisbane-based parties funnel all the investment into the south-east and the north is left forgotten."
Mr Katter was first introduced to the concept of on-country programs more than seven years ago during a program pilot and said it could be the most effective way to engage troubled youth.
"It was extremely successful and that's why I've backed it, despite some disapproval from other community members who'd prefer more punitive measures," he said.
"I believe in this program as a solution to reversing the escalating crime that's plaguing our regions and that's why I'm incensed that the State Government isn't taking this seriously and making the right calls to make this work."
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