Source : Perth Now news
Tighter bail laws are being introduced in Queensland to crack down on youth crime, after the state government said it was getting “fed up” with repeat offenders being released on bail only to then reoffend.
Repeat offenders who commit serious crimes while on bail will be charged under a brand new offence, under the next phase of the Adult Crime, Adult Time plans.
The new offence will have a minimum mandatory sentence for these repeat offenders, and will come into effect by the end of 2026, the Crisafulli Government said.
Premier David Crisafulli said Breach Bail, Go to Jail for Adult Crime, Adult Time, would continue making Queensland safer, and build on the progress already turning the tide on youth crime.
“Breach Bail Go to Jail is the next phase of Adult Crime, Adult Time, which is holding youth offenders accountable for the first time in a long time,” he said.
“We’re heading in the right direction and we’ve heard from Queenslanders who are telling us to keep going, and we will with reforms to Labor’s weak bail laws.
“If a Court gives a youth criminal bail and they reoffend with a serious crime, that youth criminal will get a minimum mandatory sentence behind bars, under these reforms. “
The new laws mean if you breach bail you will go to jail, the Premier said.
“We promised to make Queensland safer and while we know the monumental task this is, we know our Adult Crime, Adult Time plan is working and we’re going to continue rolling out stronger laws to restore safety,” he said.
Meanwhile, Minister for Youth Justice and Victim Support Laura Gerber said the changes are much needed, and have been “a decade in the making”.
“Labor’s weak laws and fewer police created a Youth Crime Crisis which left Queenslanders in fear and youth offenders walking free,” she said.
“Labor cultivated a generation of untouchables and left Queenslanders victim to skyrocketing crime.
“We are turning the tide and Adult Crime, Adult Time is making a difference, with victim numbers down 7.2 per cent in the first year, trending down for the first time in a decade.
“Overwhelming Queenslanders are telling us our stronger laws are working and they want us to keep going, we are continuing to drive this forward.
“Bail is a privilege, not a right and if repeat offenders are breaching it, they should and will go to jail under this next phase of Adult Crime, Adult Time.
“In contrast Labor voted against Adult Crime, Adult Time and have already announced they want to wind it back and raise the age of criminal responsibility so youth criminals can’t be held accountable for their heinous crimes.”
