CAPALABA MP Russell Field says a tougher new approach to bail is overdue, arguing Queensland cannot continue with a system that allows serious repeat youth offenders back into the community.
Mr Field joined Premier David Crisafulli, Attorney-General Deb Frecklington, Police Minister Dan Purdie and Youth Justice Minister Laura Gerber in Birkdale yesterday morning to announce consultation on what the government says will be Queensland’s biggest bail law overhaul.
The proposed changes would create a new breach-of-bail offence for young people who commit an Adult Crime, Adult Time offence while on bail, carrying a mandatory minimum period of detention.
Mr Field said the issue was deeply personal for him and his family.
“It’s always a tough day for us when we start talking about youth crime and bail laws,” he said.
“After our accident, we thought we were hard done by with the sentencing that the juvenile got.
“We were very vocal at that time about something seriously wrong with the system when you can go and kill three people and only get six years’ jail.”
Mr Field said he had named 16 people killed by juveniles in his maiden speech to Parliament, with about 10 or 11 of those offenders on bail at the time.
“Some of those were breaching bail as well — bailed multiple times,” he said.
“Some of these kids have stolen cars multiple times. No conviction, multiple times, again no consequences.
“Something has to change.”
The Capalaba MP said he was proud the government was pursuing mandatory minimum penalties for serious offenders who breach bail.
“It’s about time that a government has got the stamina to stand up and do it,” he said.
“I’m looking forward to getting these laws passed, putting them into the committee, getting them over the line before the Christmas break, and hopefully we’ll save a couple of lives.”
Premier David Crisafulli said the proposed changes would be the largest bail reform in Queensland’s history and would deliver the strongest laws in the nation.
“If you breach bail, you will go to jail,” he said.
“This isn’t about someone having bad luck; it’s about bad behaviour.
“Everything we do has to be about fewer victims of crime.”
Mr Crisafulli said the government was consulting on who the new offence should apply to and the length of mandatory minimum periods, but confirmed bail law changes would be introduced this calendar year.
He said the measures were intended to target deliberate, serious and repeated offending rather than a person who made a one-off mistake.
“The idea of attaching a new offence — a breach-of-bail offence — that has that minimum mandatory period means you don’t have the situation where someone can make one bad mistake in their life and all of a sudden they end up in jail,” he said.
“If you breach your bail conditions and then commit an Adult Crime, Adult Time offence, you’re starting to get into the realms of it’s not about bad luck — that’s bad decision-making.”
Ms Gerber said the proposal was the next stage of the government’s Adult Crime, Adult Time laws, with legislation to be introduced to Parliament and then referred to a committee for further public consultation.
“Our bail laws will be the strongest in the country,” she said.
“We cannot continue to see the revolving door of Labor’s weak bail laws continue in this state.”
She said the government had increased youth detention capacity by 25 per cent through the Wacol Remand Centre, with a further 60 places expected under Circuit Breaker Sentencing and 112 beds at a new youth detention centre next year.
Mr Purdie said frontline police were frustrated by repeatedly arresting serious offenders who were then granted bail.
“Bail is a privilege, not a right,” he said.
“Our police are still frustrated with the revolving door of justice, chasing the same offenders — often young, serious repeat offenders, violent offenders — night after night.”
Attorney-General Deb Frecklington said the government was also actively considering how any reforms could apply in the adult system.
She said victims of crime had made clear that more action was needed.
“Victims of crime are going to be at the centre,” Ms Frecklington said.
The government says it will continue to invest in early intervention and rehabilitation programs alongside tougher bail laws.
