Dametto: Stronger Youth Crime Laws Must Be Matched with Remote Detention

KAP MPs in State Parliament – Shane Knuth MP, Robbie Katter MP and Nick Dametto MP.

1 April 2025

Katter’s Australian Party (KAP) Deputy Leader and Hinchinbrook MP, Nick Dametto, has confirmed that the KAP will support the latest tranche of Adult Crime, Adult Time measures introduced today by Premier David Crisafulli.

Welcoming the new laws, Mr. Dametto said the legislation included all the essential offences proposed in the KAP’s version of the Adult Crime, Adult Time policy, which was adopted and partially implemented by the LNP during the 2024 election campaign.

“We’re pleased to see the LNP finally deliver a comprehensive but also an appropriate list of adult crimes in this latest draft legislation,” Mr. Dametto said.

“We are already seeing the first youth offenders being sentenced under the new laws, but it will take time for them to become entrenched in legal precedent.

“However, adult crime, adult time on its own won’t solve all the government’s issues with youth crime. The next pressing matter that needs to be addressed is detention capacity.

”The new Wacol Youth Remand Centre, which recently opened, adds an extra 76 beds, but for these laws to have the intended impact, the government must quickly build on its current youth detention facilities.

“The government’s best chance of doing this will come through the delivery of their proposed ‘Circuit Breaker Sentencing Program’.[1] Rather than limiting the proposed facilities to a combined 60-bed capacity, the government should aim to build more of these remote facilities and ensure that they are the primary location for detention before other traditional detention centres are considered.

“We don’t want a situation where we have tough laws but nowhere to house offenders, leading to them being released earlier than they should be. The government must be proactive in planning for the increased demand on detention facilities.”

Mr. Dametto said that the KAP will continue to hold the government to accountable on youth crime, and will also advocate for other critical youth crime measures, such as mandatory minimum sentencing and the Castle Law, both of which are needed to reassure the community that they can be safe again in their own homes.

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[1] https://online.lnp.org.au/news/court-sentenced-intensive-youth-rehabilitation