The Australian state of Queensland is set to become even tougher on youth crime, with Premier David Crisafulli pledging to introduce a new offence carrying mandatory sentences for young people who repeatedly commit serious crimes while out on bail. The move, which mirrors the UK's own approach to 'tough love' on juvenile offending, has sparked fierce debate in Queensland and raises questions about the effectiveness of punitive measures.
Mr Crisafulli's plan, dubbed "Breach bail, go to jail," is part of a broader strategy to combat youth crime, with the Premier framing it as the next phase of his government's "adult crime, adult time" policy. The move has been welcomed by some critics of Queensland's existing bail laws, which they claim are too lenient and allow young offenders to reoffend.
However, experts warn that the new law could exacerbate an already pressing issue in Queensland - the state's youth incarceration rate is higher than anywhere else in Australia. According to the Youth Advocacy Centre, the current model, introduced under the previous government, has led to a presumption against bail and the criminalisation of breach of bail. This has resulted in more young people being locked up than ever before.
Debbie Kilroy, CEO of Sisters Inside, an organisation advocating for women and girls in the criminal justice system, has accused the LNP government of launching a "war on children". She argues that the proposed changes are driven by media headlines rather than evidence-based practices, and will only serve to worsen the already severe problems facing Queensland's youth justice system.
The opposition has also expressed strong concerns about the proposal. Shadow Youth Justice Minister Di Farmer questioned how the government plans to accommodate the additional young people who would be incarcerated under the new laws, given that detention centres are already at capacity and experiencing staff shortages.