Focus Should Be On Crime Prevention

Media Release.

Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk says the ability to publicly name young offenders is already provided for under current laws.

“The Attorney-General and the Newman Government should focus on preventing crime instead of re-announcing plans to name young offenders they first revealed in July this year,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“Once again we have a diversion in the wake of the release this week of the Queensland Police Service annual report showing an overall rise in crime across the state under the Newman Government in 2012-13."

“The exact breakdown of the 2% rise in offences will be detailed when the QPS’s annual statistical review is released next month."

“We already know from questions the Opposition asked at the Budget Estimates hearings that car thefts have soared from 9,701 in 2010-11 to 12,707 in 2012-13.”

Ms Palaszczuk said Labor believed young offenders should face the consequences of their actions and their punishment should fit their crimes. But the existing Youth Justice Act allowed publication of a child offender’s name if a judge considered it appropriate.

“The provision is used in cases involving serious offences such as rape or murder and is correctly left in the hands of judges who know all the circumstances of offenders, their offence, and their victims."

“Mr Bleijie should explain what consultations he has had with the judiciary including the Chief Justice on this issue.”

Ms Palaszczuk said Mr Bleijie — who had already bungled the introduction of youth boot camps — had provided no evidence to show widening the existing naming provision would deter young offenders.

“Mr Bleijie was asked on radio this morning for evidence but did not provide any,” she said.

“In fact there is a range of research raising doubts about the benefits of so-called naming and shaming."

“There are questions about whether it increases the potential for vigilante action against convicted offenders, whether it interferes in the rehabilitation process by stigmatising young people, or if naming actually becomes a ‘badge of honour’."

“Mr Bleijie needs to present hard evidence to support his plans, but so far has not.”

Ms Palaszczuk said instead of re-announcing decisions the Newman Government would be better off reinstating programs it has cut such as Skilling Queenslanders for Work that delivered a range of training schemes including those tailored to teenagers.

“Giving young people real jobs or training is a better way to prevent them falling into bad habits,” she said.

“The Attorney-General should also reinstate the Youth Justice Conferencing program he abolished which had a 98% satisfaction rating among those who participated in it, including victims of crime.”

Ms Palaszczuk said Mr Bleijie as the state’s chief law officer had been caught out bungling again by deliberately misquoting her in relation to youth crime.

“On radio today Mr Bleijie has accused me of dismissing graffiti offences as ‘just a bit of paint’,” she said.

“The Hansard record clearly shows that I was quoting comments made by a youth organisation."

“For the chief law officer of our state to make such a fundamental bungle is appalling and shows how ill-equipped he is for the job."

“If he wants to retain any credibility he should immediately withdraw his statements and apologise for misleading Queenslanders.”