Government announces Townsville boot camp

Published Sunday, 24 March, 2013 at 09:15 AM

JOINT STATEMENT

Premier
The Honourable Campbell Newman

Attorney-General and Minister for Justice
The Honourable Jarrod Bleijie

Premier Campbell Newman has announced Townsville will have a youth boot camp by September as part of the Newman Government’s overhaul of youth justice.

In Townsville for the announcement, Mr Newman said the community had expressed concerns about the rate of youth crime in the region and the Government had listened.

“The camp in Townsville will be modelled on our Cairns boot camp, which gives judges and magistrates the ability to sentence offenders to a Boot Camp Order,” Mr Newman said.

“This program is designed to teach these young people about discipline, rehabilitation and respect for themselves and those around them.

“When we came to Government, we promised a fresh approach to youth justice and these boot camps are a key part of that reform.

“We want these young people to be held accountable for their crimes and to be given an opportunity to turn their lives around under the guidance of mentors and their families.

“We have always maintained the most important aspect of these camps is to ensure the offenders’ families are involved in the rehabilitation process.

Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie, who was in Townsville to meet with residents recently, said it was anticipated the boot camp would be up and running by September.

“In the next few weeks, my department will commence an expression of interest process to give potential service providers an opportunity to tender for the camp,” Mr Bleijie said.

“Data indicates that over the last 5 years there has been an increase in the number of young people being sentenced to detention orders in Townsville.

“That is why we have chosen to run a camp in Townsville.

“We will also be releasing an information paper and survey to give Queenslanders an opportunity to have a say on youth justice policy and help shape a blueprint for the future of youth justice.

“The paper and survey will be available at www.justice.qld.gov.au.

“The Newman Government is committed to changing this culture of youth crime and to achieve this young people must be held accountable for their actions.”

[ENDS] 24 March 2013

Media Contact: Matt Johnston 0432 535 893