Queensland voters have sent a clear signal to their elected officials that they need to get smart on crime and abandon policies that discriminate against the state’s most vulnerable.
The LNP’s proposal for youth curfews in the State’s north were repudiated by electors with the party not winning the seats in Townsville and Cairns they needed to form government.
“Annastacia Palaszczuk now has a mandate to reject the tough-on-crime policy announcements that marred the election campaign, and to get on with the job of protecting kids,” Amnesty International Australia Indigenous Rights Lead, Nolan Hunter, said.
“This is a great opportunity for Queensland to embrace long term solutions: diversion programs and Indigenous-led solutions to keep kids out of the justice system and address the root cause of overrepresentation in Australia’s prisons.
This is a great opportunity for Queensland to embrace long term solutions: diversion programs and Indigenous-led solutions to keep kids out of the justice system and address the root cause of overrepresentation in Australia’s prisons.
Amnesty International Australia Indigenous Rights Lead, Nolan Hunter.
“All the evidence shows that diversion, and getting kids out of watchhouses and bail houses is what’s effective on youth crime.
“Voters have shown that they’re ready for a considered and systematic approach to tackling crime, so that should give the new QLD government all the motivation they need to raise the age of criminal responsibility in line with international standards.”
Prior to the Queensland Election Amnesty International Australia issued a ‘Human Rights Agenda for the next Queensland Government’ which included an eight-point plan to improve youth justice.
