The Independent Member for Noosa, Sandy Bolton MP’s advocacy continued following the tabling of the Interim Report into Youth Justice Reform with 60 recommendations to create greater safety in our communities.
In a Matters of Public Interest speech in Parliament, Ms Bolton called on behalf of Queenslanders for both government and the opposition to articulate what they will commit to from those recommendations, leaving aside campaign slogans and media grabs.
“As requested previously, during campaigns all need to state what they will deliver for our communities and do so clearly, concisely and without the broad motherhood statements that mean nothing. That includes committing to the recommendations in the draft interim report. As Chair of the Youth Justice Reform Select Committee, I made a commitment to victims, their families and communities impacted that the inquiry was not a tick-box exercise, and would lead to tangible action,” Ms Bolton said.
Within twenty-four hours, the government responded to the interim report recommendations, committing to all either in full or in principle.
“This has been appreciated, and I thank the government for the urgency taken not only in responding, but also in the tabling of legislative changes through a Queensland Community Safety Bill which has been referred to the Community Safety and Legal Affairs Committee, in which I have been transferred to,” she said.
Even though Sandy has questions in relation to the government’s response to some recommendations they supported ‘in principle’, she sees that these can be clarified, and that the coming weeks provide opportunity for all to have their say on the government’s response and proposed amendments.
Submissions to the consultation are open until 10am on 16 May at www.bit.ly/Communitysafetybill2024
Included in the announcements was that the principle in relation to ‘detention as a last resort’ would be redrafted to make clear that community safety is paramount, with a new clause to read “a child should be detained in custody, where necessary, including to ensure community safety, where other non-custodial measures of prevention and intervention would not be sufficient, and for no longer than necessary to meet the purpose of detention.”
“Throughout this whole process of some eight months, I have committed to act objectively and with integrity, provide Queenslanders with transparency, and that the Youth Justice Reform Select Committee would deliver outcomes. Even though we could not get to that bipartisan agreement sought by Queenslanders, actions have emanated, and I want to thank again all who contributed.”
Sandy furthered, “As I have asked previously, the politicking needs to stop. Misinformation has again been spread by a political candidate in the Noosa Electorate including that it was government who blocked an adoption of the interim report which is incorrect. I raised this, as well the overall impacts to our democracy ratings when politicians and political parties misinform voters, in a speech in Parliament, and in which I will speak further on if needed in the coming months,” Ms Bolton said.
Further information including a link to the Interim Report for youth justice reform and Sandy’s Foreword is available on Noosa 360 (www.SandyBolton.com/Noosa360) which also includes updates on many State Government matters. To receive information straight to your email inbox, please consider subscribing to their monthly newsletter via www.SandyBolton.com/Newsletters. This also ensures you receive any Noosa related surveys or polls.
