Queensland Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington says the LNP will introduce a trial youth curfew in Cairns and Townsville if elected.
The new announcement is the latest in the LNP’s youth crime plan which includes a scrapping of youth bail houses and trialling community ‘payback farms.’
Speaking from Townsville on Wednesday, Ms Frecklington said Labor’s approach to youth crime was not working.
The curfew will be tiered by age and will allow police to take those breaking curfews to a refuge if they are not accompanied by an adult.
Under the plan parents would be fined $250 if their child is found on the streets and needs to be picked up.
Ms Frecklington said “common sense” would be applied by police and parents could face multiple fines.
In Queensland Indigenous young people are 17 times more likely than their non-Indigenous counterparts to be under supervision – the second highest rate in Australia.
Townsville Indigenous Elder Dr Gracelyn Smallwood says the announcement is typical of pre-election government messaging.
Amnesty International Australia’s Joel Mackay says the policy could potentially breach Australia’s commitment to the United Nations convention on rights of the child.
