Queensland’s youth criminals will be given adult sentences under a new plan from the state’s Liberal National Party, but Premier Steven Miles has dismissed the idea.
Opposition leader David Crisafulli told an LNP convention on Sunday that children who are found guilty of committing serious offences will be treated as adults during sentencing, if the LNP win the next state election.
“If you murder someone, that’s an adult crime; adult time. If you wound someone; adult crime, adult time,” Mr Crisafulli said.
The new “adult crime, adult time” policy will apply to all youth offenders who commit offences ranging from murder and manslaughter to serious assault, grievous bodily harm, breaking and entering, stealing cars, and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.
Mr Crisafulli said the policy would act as a strong deterrent to combat the state’s youth crime crisis, pointing out the Sunshine state had more victims of crime in 2023 than either Victoria or New South Wales despite their lower population.
“We must send a strong and clear message, and we are doing that today. The generation of repeat untouchables must end,” he said.
However Queensland Premier Steven Miles hit out at the proposed laws, branding the policy “another four-word slogan”.
“After all this, waiting all this anticipation, all David Crisafulli came up with is another four-word slogan,” the Premier said. “All we ever see from him, is slogans, no substance.”
Premier Miles said that unlike the LNP, Queensland Labor has a “comprehensive” approach to crime.
“We have a comprehensive community safety plan that doesn’t just go to sentencing and detention, but also early intervention and prevention programs,” he said.
“We want to intervene early and prevent crimes before they occur, and that’s why we have a comprehensive community safety program.”
The “adult crime, adult time” policy – which could see children as young as 10 given life sentences – has also been attacked as “cruel” by the Queensland Council of Social Services.
“This is a dreadfully cruel step in the wrong direction,” QCSS chief executive Aimee McVeigh told the Guardian, adding that the policy would lead to more youth offenders reoffending.
“We know this doesn’t work. We know that the younger you are that you have contact with the justice system, the more likely you are to go on to re-offend,” she said.