Youth Crime Crisis

Former union organiser for the Together Union, Matt Smith, now Labor candidate for Leichhardt, is reported in The Cairns Post 26.4.25 as having said he is focused on crime prevention rather than supporting the Making Queensland Safer Laws. He will do this “by working with the community through programs like the basketball clinics I run up the Cape.”

Crime Rally Cairns Esplanade March 2025

Independent candidate for Leichhardt, Norman Miller said, “We are in a youth crime crisis in Cairns and the Labor candidate offers basketball clinics in the Cape which have had dubious results?

“We have a situation in Manunda where a woman and her partner were allegedly ripped out of bed at knifepoint and the woman raped by several youths. This has put fear into the rest of the community, and they have spent a lot of money in this cost-of-living crisis to upgrade their home security. They also sleep with knives, machetes etc. if they sleep at all. One woman reported she can only sleep during the day.

“We need tougher deterrence, better prevention and rehabilitation programs and not keep bailing youth and adults again and again so that serious crimes, even murder, are committed while people are on bail.

“I would also like to see better and earlier programs to identify if youth suffer from Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) so they can get early treatment. This is because there has been some linkage between FASD, and crime and I also support further research into that.

“I support the adult crime adult time legislation in Qld and recommend that this be considered nationally. However, at the same time, crime prevention measures and diversion programs need to have increased funding and be approached innovatively.

“I believe we need to upgrade services to support the safety and wellbeing for people who are victim survivors of domestic and family violence and programs for men who perpetrate abuse in their relationships.

“There needs to be an increase in funding to Crime Stoppers as it provides a safe, anonymous and independent way to report crime.

“While crime is a state issue, I will ensure that federal government resources are available for initiatives to make life safer physically and emotionally for our Leichhardt residents.”