Cairns boot camp to be moved

Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Jarrod Bleijie has ordered his department to look for another location for the Cairns boot camp.

Mr Bleijie said the current site at Kuranda was no longer appropriate, following an incident at the weekend.

“What occurred at Kuranda was absolutely unacceptable,” Mr Bleijie said.

“I am keenly aware of the misgivings of the local community. I share their concerns and I’ve made it clear that this cannot happen again.”

The current camp’s operator, Safe Pathways, will be issued with a Show Cause notice.

It will have seven business days to give reasons why its agreement to provide the service should not be terminated.

Mr Bleijie said the area’s youth crime rate meant it was vital a boot camp remained in the Cairns region.

“I am considering all options,” Mr Bleijie said.

“Our boot camps aren’t band camps. While they are designed to encourage young people away from a life of crime, we won’t tolerate anti-social behaviour.

“Youth crime is a serious issue that is of huge concern to myself and local residents, and I ask the Cairns community to work with us to address it at all levels.

“Making the tough decisions is never easy, but we are committed to fixing the former Labor Government's slap on the wrist approach, which bred a generation of arrogant repeat offenders.”

[ENDS] 23 April 2013
Media Contact: Ashley McDermid 0412 731 355