TRANSCRIPT
North Queensland residents who have experienced youth crime have had an opportunity to share their experiences.
This person says the criminals who stole her vehicle didn't make any attempts to hide themselves.
"I was tracking and watching it (car) doing burnouts and doughnuts and all of these types of things throughout Townsville. And then the following morning, so just after 24 hours after they had stolen the car originally, they drove past our house, beeping the horn and revving the engine, basically taunting us."
Another victim described their first experience with youth crime.
"The first time I'd call it like an armed home invasion, where we woke up, well I woke up to a 12, a 13 and a 14 year old boy holding batons and knives at my wife, screaming for the car keys. So it was a fairly chaotic scene when I got up."
A number of public hearings have been held in Townsville to discuss the state government's proposed "Making Queensland Safer" bill and hear from youth crime victims.
The bill is intended to see children who have been found guilty of crimes, such as murder, serious assault or even break-ins, receive the same penalties as adults.
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli has defended his government's proposed new laws for youth criminals.
"Every Queenslander acknowledges that at the moment there is a youth crime crisis and we've got to do something about it. And we are fulfilling what we promised people and that is putting victims first, victims front and centre in all we do. In early intervention, rehabilitation purpose and consequences for actions."
Last week, the Liberal/National Party presented the legislation to the Queensland parliament, prioritising it during parliament's first sitting week.
Stakeholders in Brisbane are unhappy about it.
Ruby Wharton is the Community Development Officer for the independent organisation Sisters Inside.
"We have to have more intervention on the ground. That means we have to have more resources to enact that intervention on the ground. Looking at punitive punishment like this kind of legislation will only lock us in to a society where we only have those options."
The United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child has also strongly criticised the legislation.
The UN body labelled the decision a violation of international law and a "flagrant disregard of children's rights."
Ann Skelton currently serves as chairperson of the UN Committee.
"It is extraordinary to read that the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Minister for Integrity, while supporting the bill, admits that several of the provisions are a violation of international law, including several articles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child."
But Attorney-General Deb Frecklington says the state government will push forward with the legislation, overriding the Queensland Human Rights Act.
The Justice, Integrity and Community Safety Committee is set to table its report on Friday before the legislation is fast-tracked and debated in the state parliament next week.
