Labor’s Intensive On Country Program Off the Mark

Hinchinbrook MP and KAP Deputy Leader Nick Dametto.

24 July 2024

The State Labor Government yesterday announced that they have awarded the first contract for their new Intensive On Country Program. The successful tender was awarded to a Mount Isa based organisation that is expected to commence within weeks.

The ‘Intensive’ On Country Program which bares the same name plate as the previous failed On Country Program has been allocated $24 million to deliver in a number of unspecified locations across the state and will be aimed at ‘young people who have had engagement with the youth justice system’.

Hinchinbrook MP and Katter’s Australian Party (KAP) Deputy Leader Nick Dametto said it was undeniable that the State Government was scrambling to award a contract in an attempt to save face before the October election after making a policy announcement early this year.

“This announcement has been done with very little fanfare, which is odd to say the least. Youth Crime is the number one issue in North Queensland.” Mr Dametto said.

“We (KAP) have been calling for our Relocation Sentencing Policy to be implemented for over seven years, our idea to send youth offenders bush was intended to be a way to harshly deter offending and reform offenders, but I’d bet my bottom dollar not one of these kids have even heard of the Government’s limp wristed program.

“Information about the Government’s latest solution has been lite on, at the very least we should know what sort of offenders will be sent to this program, how long will they be there for, where will they come from and what difference is this expected to make to the people of Townsville, Cairns and Mount Isa who are currently living under siege?

“In the last month alone there have been 156 unlawful use of motor vehicle offences laid in Townsville and throughout July there has been an average of twenty outstanding stolen vehicles on any given day. It’s fair to say, Townsville residents want to know how the Intensive On Country Program will reduce crime in their city.

“When the Intensive On Country Program was announced earlier this year, I was optimistic that we may have finally gotten through to Labor Government and that there was a slight chance that they were taking a step in the right direction, but I was bitterly disappointed.

“We now learn that this program won’t be a sentencing option for the courts, won’t be a fixed term of incarceration tied to mandatory sentencing, and will be left up to a third-party organisation to run, conveniently letting the Department of Youth Justice off the hook if this program fails as well.

“In my opinion, the State Labor Government has completely ballsed this up, either by incompetence or self-sabotage. Either way they have cocked up their last opportunity to demonstrate that they can be tough on crime before all Queenslanders go to the polls in October.”

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