Townsville Bureau
Queenslanders are sick and tired of newspaper and social media headlines from the Government about being tough on crime, while our homes continue to be invaded, State Member for Traeger Robbie Katter said.
The Parliamentary Committee Inquiry into KAP’s Castle Law Bill received over 700 submissions, the overwhelming majority of which were supportive.
“The government has done little more than tinker around the edges of our Crime Crisis here in Queensland,” Mr Katter said.
“It was only in February that the LNP and their backbenchers were all over social media holding ankle bracelets, touting them as the panacea for fixing crime – and how’s that gone for them?
“We see criminals trying to invade homes wearing them!
“These are simply not an effective deterrent.
Mr Katter reflected that recent history has shown that when Brisbane governments of either major party persuasion run out of soft touch ideas, they turn to KAP policy.
“When Labor lost control of the crime crisis, they turned to KAP’s Relocation Sentencing policy but failed to properly implement it. Now the LNP are following the same path, adopting KAP’s Adult Crime, Adult Time laws and attempting to move towards relocation sentencing as well.”
“Headlines and press releases haven’t fixed the crime crisis, so the LNP need to adopt KAP’s Castle Law.
“KAP’s Castle Law and properly implemented Remote Relocation Sentencing and Mandatory Minimum Sentencing send real messages to would-be criminals.
“They just are not scared of going back to jail – in fact they want to go back!
“The Cleveland Bay Youth Detention centre needs its name changed to the North Queensland Boarding School for Crime, as that’s all the kids are doing there – learning how to be a better criminal, and how to get back inside to see their mates and be fed and housed again.
“The Committee really need to think long and hard before deciding whether to support the pleas of more than 113,000 Queenslanders who signed our petition, and the 77% of Queenslanders who reported they are concerned about crime, or if they are going to support the criminals.
“LNP have so far proven no better than Labor at turning the tide of crime in the state.
“KAP have put up solutions time and time again, and Castle Law is ready for the taking now,” Mr Katter said.
