Families lying awake at the sound of a car in the driveway at 2am are why serious youth offenders should face adult consequences, says Nationals candidate for Lismore Dylan Butcher.
Mr Butcher has welcomed the NSW Nationals’ commitment to introduce Adult Crime, Adult Time laws within the first 100 days of government.
Under the plan, serious youth offenders would face adult penalties for crimes including aggravated break and enter, carjacking, and armed robbery.
“People in Lismore, Kyogle, Murwillumbah and Tenterfield deserve to feel safe in their homes and their businesses. Right now, too many of them don’t,” Mr Butcher said.
“Business owners are cleaning up after another break-in. Families are lying awake when they hear a car in the driveway at 2am.”
“Labor has lost control of crime across NSW.”
The laws would expand the list of Serious Children’s Indictable Offences that must be tried in the District Court.
They would include reckless grievous bodily harm in company, aggravated robbery and armed robbery in company, aggravated carjacking and carjacking, firing a gun at a house or motor vehicle, aggravated break and enter, and break and enter and commit serious indictable offence.
Dangerous driving causing death or grievous bodily harm, and destroying or damaging property by fire or explosives, would also be added.
“For too long, youth offenders who have committed serious crimes have faced consequences that don’t match community expectations,” Mr Butcher said.
“Our local police do an outstanding job, but they can only enforce the laws they’re given, and they’re sick of arresting the same young offenders only to see them straight back on the street.”
Mr Butcher said the plan was also about prevention.
The Nationals have committed to double the Community Safety Investment Fund to $10 million, which supports community organisations to tackle youth crime, strengthen families, and improve safety.
The party would also fund an expansion of the Alternative Suspension program, which aims to improve student behaviour and reduce repeat school suspensions.
A new program would provide intensive reintegration and rehabilitation after detention, modelled on Queensland’s Staying on Track program.
“Most young people are doing the right thing, and the ones heading down the wrong path deserve every chance to turn it around,” Mr Butcher said.
“But for the small number committing serious crimes again and again, the free passes have to stop.”
“If you commit a serious adult crime, you should face serious adult consequences. That’s not radical, it’s common sense.”
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