Sandy’s advocacy has continued following the tabling of the Interim Report into youth justice reform with 60 recommendations to create greater safety in our communities. As included in our April 2024 Noosa 360 update, this report can be viewed in full at https://documents.parliament.qld.gov.au/tp/2024/5724T612-1B7E.pdf

In a Matters of Public Interest (MPI) speech in Parliament, Sandy called on behalf of Queenslanders for both government and the opposition to articulate what they will commit to from those recommendations, leaving aside campaign slogans and media grabs.

As she has requested previously, during campaigns all need to state what they will deliver for our communities and do so clearly, concisely and without the broad motherhood statements that mean nothing. That includes committing to the recommendations in the draft interim report. As Chair of the Youth Justice Reform Select Committee, Sandy made a commitment to victims, their families and communities impacted that the inquiry was not a tick-box exercise and would lead to tangible action.

Within 24 hours, the government responded by committing to all recommendations either in full or in principle. This has been appreciated, and Sandy thanks the government for the urgency taken not only in responding, but also in the tabling of legislative changes through a Queensland Community Safety Bill which has been referred to the Community Safety and Legal Affairs Committee, in which Sandy has been transferred to.

Even though there are questions in relation to the government’s response to some recommendations they supported ‘in principle’, Sandy sees that these can be clarified, and that the coming weeks provide opportunity for all to have their say on the government’s response and proposed amendments.

Submissions are open until 16 May and can be lodged here.

Included in the announcements was that the principle in relation to ‘detention as a last resort’ would be redrafted to make clear that community safety is paramount, with a new clause to read:

“a child should be detained in custody, where necessary, including to ensure community safety, where other non-custodial measures of prevention and intervention would not be sufficient, and for no longer than necessary to meet the purpose of detention.”

In a recent statement, Sandy has relayed the following:

“Throughout this whole process of some 8 months, I have committed to act objectively and with integrity, provide Queenslanders with transparency, and that the Youth Justice Reform Select Committee would deliver outcomes. Even though we could not get to that bipartisan agreement sought by Queenslanders, actions have emanated, and I want to thank again all who contributed.”

 “As I have asked previously, the politicking needs to stop. Misinformation has again been spread by a political candidate in the Noosa Electorate including that it was government who blocked an adoption of the interim report which is incorrect. I raised this, as well the overall impacts to our democracy ratings when politicians and political parties misinform voters, in a speech in Parliament, and in which I will speak further on if needed in the coming months,”

Sandy’s Chair’s Foreword that could not be included in the Interim Report due to it not being officially adopted, has now been tabled as it provides context to so much that was learnt over the course of the Youth Justice Reform Select Committee’s inquiry.  Please read this at https://documents.parliament.qld.gov.au/tp/2024/5724T736-BBBD.pdf

Further information

To view a copy of Sandy’s full MPI speech referenced above, please visit https://documents.parliament.qld.gov.au/events/han/2024/2024_04_30_DAILY.pdf#page=53.

To view the Queensland Government’s full response to the Interim Report, head to https://documents.parliament.qld.gov.au/tp/2024/5724T725-B9B9.pdf

For our previous Noosa 360 updates on Crime/ Youth Recidivism, please visit www.sandybolton.com/?s=Crime

Updates on many local matters are available on Noosa 360 at www.sandybolton.com/noosa360. To receive information straight to your email inbox, please subscribe to our monthly newsletter via www.sandybolton.com/newsletters. This also ensures you receive any future Noosa related surveys or polls.