The Queensland government is “actively considering” implementing stricter bail penalties for youth offenders following its recent by-election victory, a move criticized as “hysteria” by some advocates. The Liberal National Party (LNP) secured a significant win in the Hinchinbrook electorate late Saturday night, with a notable 17 percent swing capturing the seat from Katter’s Australian Party.
LNP candidate Wayde Chiesa campaigned on the slogan “breach bail, go to jail,” a policy that he claims was developed in consultation with local residents. If enacted, this policy would mandate jail time for youth offenders who violate bail conditions. Breach of bail is already an offense for juvenile offenders under legislation reintroduced by the former Labor government in 2023.
Community Support and Government Response
Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie emphasized that the Hinchinbrook by-election result indicates strong community support for the proposed laws. “I think it’s fair to say the government’s now actively considering ‘breach bail, go to jail,’ considering the historic result we had on the weekend and the strong support from that community for those laws,” Bleijie stated. He added that Chiesa would soon meet with senior cabinet ministers, including the state’s attorney-general and youth justice minister, to discuss the proposal further once the Electoral Commission formally declares the seat.
Criticism from Advocacy Groups
Debbie Kilroy, founder of the female prisoner advocacy service Sisters Inside, criticized the proposed policy, describing it as an attack on vulnerable children. “This is another attack by the LNP on the most vulnerable children in the community,” she said. Kilroy argued that if the government were truly committed to supporting children and addressing crime, it would focus on providing necessary support rather than punitive measures.
She highlighted that crime rates among young people are declining and warned that harsher penalties would disproportionately impact Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. “There are children now in prison for breaches of bail — it’s already happening, so, once again we have hysteria built up in our communities,” Kilroy noted. “We’ve got to move away from funding cops, courts and cages and fund the community.”
Political Reactions and Future Considerations
Opposition leader Steven Miles, whose Labor candidate received a historically low vote of just 8.3 percent in the by-election, was cautious in his response. When asked on Sunday whether he would support the policy, Miles stated, “We’ll have to see what the government proposes there before we determine our position on it.”
The announcement comes as the Queensland government navigates public and political pressures to address youth crime effectively. The debate over the proposed bail laws highlights ongoing tensions between punitive approaches and calls for more supportive measures to address the root causes of youth offending.
Implications and Next Steps
The move represents a potential shift in Queensland’s approach to juvenile justice, with significant implications for the state’s youth and communities. As discussions progress, stakeholders from various sectors will be closely monitoring the government’s actions and the potential impacts of any new legislation.
Meanwhile, advocacy groups continue to call for a focus on community support and prevention rather than increased incarceration. The outcome of these discussions could set a precedent for how youth crime is addressed in Queensland, influencing policy decisions in other regions facing similar challenges.
