In an effort to tackle youth crime in the state, Queensland Senator Pauline Hanson has suggested curfews, bush camps and fines imposed on parents.
“We’ve got escalating problems because kids think they have their rights. They shouldn’t, there is a responsibility that goes with that,” Ms Hanson told Nine News on Thursday.
In 2017-18, there were 4,017 children and young people with a proven offence in Queensland, according to a Queensland Government Youth Justice Strategy report.
The report found that too many children and young people are repeat offenders, with 10 per cent of young offenders accounting for 44 per cent of youth crime.
“I’m talking about kids around 12, 11, 10. If they’re found out on the streets, they should be picked up by the police, taken to the police station,” Ms Hanson told Nine News.
The One Nation leader highlighted the need for curfews and suggested fines imposed on parents if broken.
Ms Hanson also suggested young offenders be placed in isolated communities such as bush camps in replacement of bail houses.
“Working on properties where they won’t be able to walk to the corner shop, they won’t have contact with their parents, they will be disciplined, that’s the work that needs to be done,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Premier for Queensland, Annastacia Palaszczuk, said youth crime is a “complex issue”.
Annastacia Palaszczuk. Source: AAP
The Premier announced a Department of Youth Justice in May this year, following criticisms of children held in watch houses intended for adult offenders.
According to the Youth Justice Strategy report, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are 31 times more likely to be held in custody compared to their non-Indigenous peers.
The report stresses the fact that repeat offenders are often those who have experienced trauma and maltreatment, particularly cases of severe neglect or abuse.
They may experience developmental issues and reduced resilience, immaturity and impulsivity.
The Queensland Government has set a target of reducing re-offending by children and young people aged 10-15 by 5 per cent by 2021-22.
