KAP’s pledge to make North’s crime crisis cries heard in Parliament

KAP MP Shane Knuth, Leader Robbie Katter and Deputy Leader, Nick Dametto

20 February 2023

With the Queensland Parliament sitting tomorrow for the first time in three months, Katter’s Australian Party (KAP) MPs are promising to set the bar high for action on the youth crime scrouge destroying lives and lifestyle across the state.

Speaking from Parliament House on Monday, KAP Leader and Traeger MP Robbie Katter said although he had hoped the Premier would recall Parliament early in response to the crisis, now was the time to utilise public frustration and momentum to force much-needed changes through the Parliament.

“Tough times call for tough measures and I am confident that whatever the Government introduces this week, it is sure to fall well short of community expectations,” he said.

“The government has been doing a lot of meaningless political posturing and that is clear from their ten point plan that acts only as a shiny distraction but does nothing to actually fix the problem.

“Increased maximum penalties will be null and void when we can’t even get minimum sentences applied to youth offenders, we need a hell of a lot better than that.”

KAP Deputy Leader and Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto said the KAP had anticipated Labor’s legislation and was planning amendments that provided practical and long-term solutions to youth crime.

Mr Dametto said that it wouldn’t be a surprise if Labor shut down KAP’s amendments and declined the opportunity to engage in an open debate this week.

“If Labor lacks the integrity to hear amendments to this legislation, the KAP will draft their own Private Members Bill that can be properly scrutinised and assessed as it progresses through the correct parliament channels and committee review process,” he said.

The foundations of KAP’s youth justice amendments and possible Private Members Bill include:

  1. Removal of detention as a last resort.
  2. Mandatory minimum sentencing for particular offences:
    • Section 408A(1)&(1A) Unlawful use or Possession of Motor Vehicles, Aircraft or Vessels
    • Section 419 – Burglary
    • Section 421 – Entering or being in premises and committing indictable offence.
  1. Presumption to be tried as an adult for particular offences; and
  2. Relocation sentencing.

 

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