The Queensland Greens say the LNP’s youth justice proposals, including today’s announcement about sentencing reforms, will make community safety worse, not better, by landing more children in youth prisons that have proven to be criminogenic.
Michael Berkman:
“This is another politically-motivated thought bubble from the LNP that’s all about reacting once crime occurs, not preventing it in the first place.
“Locking more kids up might be good for a headline, but it also makes serious crime worse by limiting rehabilitation and increasing reoffending.
“If harsher penalties worked, Queensland would be the safest place in the country, because we already lock up more kids than any other state.
“Communities deserve a plan to prevent crime, not just show up after it happens - like fully funding state schools, expanding free meal programs, making renting cheaper and more secure, increasing access to free mental health sessions, and redirecting youth prison funding towards more community-led programs and activities for kids.”