Pahlke demands tough court action on graffiti
ROSEWOOD councillor David Pahlke has demanded harsher penalties for outlaw youths after more bad behaviour in the town.
Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie agreed with Cr Palhke's stance and vowed to fight youth crime.
In the latest incident in Rosewood on Wednesday night, Cr Pahlke said, young people defaced the skate bowl in the town's main street with graffiti.
Last month, a 14-year-old Ipswich boy was charged after brandishing a plastic gun in Rosewood. He was charged with two counts of attempted robbery while armed and one count each of attempted robbery and common assault and was dealt with under the Youth Justice Act.
Cr Pahlke said these incidents were part of a series of incidents in Rosewood including vandalism and people being harassed on trains.
"My community is demanding stronger action from the courts," he said. "These kids probably see Rosewood as a soft target because we are a good community and at the end of the rail line. So they come out here and think they're anonymous and sometimes the local kids join in because they look up to these youths that are coming out from Ipswich.
My community is saying to me, 'we've had enough'. So magistrates, toughen up.
"My community is saying to me, 'we've had enough'. So magistrates, toughen up."
Mr Bleijie said the previous government's "slap on the wrist approach" was not effective and had created a generation of "arrogant repeat offenders".
"To combat this, the government needs a fresh approach to the way the state deals with Youth Justice," he said.
He said boot camp trials in Cairns and the Gold Coast could herald a statewide rollout, but sentencing would be re-evaluated.
"The boot camps will deal with the underlying causes of crime, but we will also ensure repeat offenders face tough, but sensible sentencing options," he said.
"Other initiatives include naming and shaming laws and changes that will make breach of bail and offence for young offenders.
"Young offenders need to be held accountable and take responsibility for their actions."
