A Tim Nicholls-led Government will invest an additional $8 million as part of the LNP’s comprehensive plan to reduce re-offending rates among juveniles and adults who are released from jail.
LNP Leader Tim Nicholls said the LNP would prevent crime with targeted programs for juveniles and adults that delivered real outcomes.
He said the extra funding would be distributed as grants to non-government organisations under two key themes: Enforcing the Importance of Bail and Prisoner Re-entry and Re-integration.
“The LNP will invest $5 million in prisoner re-entry programs with a specific focus on reducing re-offending rates and to stop the revolving door of justice seen under Annastacia Palaszczuk,” Mr Nicholls said.
“We will also provide certainty to the Youth Advocacy Centre and for the important programs they offer by extending their funding for a further three years.
“The Youth Advocacy Centre provides bail support initiatives for young people across the state to help them find safe and appropriate accommodation and to prevent them spending time behind bars pending their court matters.
“This funding will also enforce the importance of bail, particularly for young offenders awaiting court, as part of our plan to provide safe and liveable communities.”
LNP Shadow Corrective Services Minister Tim Mander said the LNP’s plan to reduce re-offending would not only reduce crime but help alleviate the pressure on our overcrowded prison system.
He said the state’s prisons were at least 15 per cent over capacity under Labor who had no real plan to reduce the numbers except to build suburban bail houses for young offenders next to families.
“Crime rates have continually increased under Labor, our prisons are overflowing and our youth detention centres have been embroiled in controversy with continual riots and centre lockdowns,” Mr Mander said.
“We understand the impacts and cost of crime on Queensland families, either indirectly or by having their lives directly put at risk.
“The safety of staff in both adult prisons and youth detention centres has been severely compromised because of the continual mismanagement of both systems by the Palaszczuk Labor Government.
“The LNP has a comprehensive plan to provide safe and liveable communities in Queensland.”
