KAP’s anti-crime policies the only way forward

Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto says the major parties will have to adopt relocation sentencing should the KAP hold the balance of power after this year’s State election.

HICHINBROOK MP Nick Dametto has warned the major parties to “sit up and listen” to Katter’s Australian Party’s tough, anti-crime policies with the prospect of a hung parliament likely after the upcoming State Election.

Mr Dametto said any talk by either Labor or the LNP about what they would do on the issue of youth crime if elected were “playing around the edges”, given recent policy announcements showed both major parties are behind on community expectations.

“Polling suggests there’s a strong chance the major parties are going to need the KAP to form government, like it or not,” he said.

“Labor and the LNP better get used to the idea of having to adopt the KAP’s relocation sentencing policy for juvenile offenders if either of them wish to govern into the future.”

Relocation sentencing will give magistrates a third option to punish serial juvenile offenders by sending them to an approved remote property at Lake Julius, west of Mt Isa.

“Offenders will find themselves on a one-way bus for 6 to 12 month stints of hard labour living in donga-style accommodation. This will be much cheaper than building another Cleveland Bay Detention Centre,” Mr Dametto said.

“The site’s remoteness will become a part of the security, so there’s no need to spend millions of dollars on fencing when you’re set up hundreds of kilometres away from anywhere. Young criminals would also be issued GPS bracelets to track down would-be escapees.”

Under the KAP’s plan, offenders would work on the land to learn life skills, not only reforming their ways, but become productive members of society.

“This policy will help break the cycle of youth crime before offenders become career criminals, while keeping our community safe,” Mr Dametto said.

“It’s time to change the way we deal with the hard nuts. Labor’s current Youth Justice system has failed our communities.”

Mr Dametto sponsored a parliamentary paper petition and e-petition started started by Take Back Townsville co-ordinator and Katter’s Australian Party’s candidate for Thuringowa Julianne Wood, which called on the House to “make significant legislative changes to introduce tougher penalties for offenders, including juveniles, so that law-abiding citizens can live in peace”.

The petitions attracted a combined total of more than 10,000 signatures before it closed on April 27.