Liberal Leader Zak Kirkup joined Liberal candidate for the Kimberley Geoff Haerewa in Broome yesterday to announce an $8.2 million Kimberley Juvenile Justice Strategy.
The election commitment includes meeting the existing funding already committed to community driven plans including night patrols and safety houses, with an additional $2 million to extend the trial of an on-country juvenile justice and diversion facility from one year to three years.
“The Labor Government has failed to deliver the Kimberley Juvenile Justice Strategy in four years, even though this was a commitment in 2017,” Mr Kirkup said.
“Instead we have funding without a plan. The Kimberley region and its residents deserve better than this and we are committed to ensuring that action is taken.”
Liberal candidate for the Kimberley Geoff Haerewa said that residents across towns and communities throughout the region were tired of the constant wanton burglaries, motor vehicle thefts, assaults and petty crime.
“We have a lost a generation of youth in our region with too many of our kids who are caught up in antisocial behaviour, crime and unemployment,” Mr Haerewa said.
“There needs to be consequences for young people when they engage in criminal behaviour and we also need to ensure there are pathways for kids to escape the cycle of anti-social behaviour before they become hardened to a life of crime.
“There needs to be Kimberley-based solutions to enable culturally appropriate, local outcomes for young offenders to remain close to their support networks.”
The Liberal Party commits to:
Delivering a Kimberley Juvenile Justice Strategy within the first 100 days of Government that will explore and address:
- The Justice Reinvestment Model
- The current suite of services being offered by non-government and government agencies
- Transparent and routine status reporting
- Pathways for young offenders that provide a graduated approach to justice
- Locally based input and solutions to penalties and rehabilitation
- Emergency accommodation where kids are at risk and on the streets
- The role of sports and other programs for youth diversion
- The role of schools and job training to ensure young people have hope for success
- The role of the Courts, Police and other office bearers to intervene before young people are sentenced
The $8.2 million commitment to a Kimberley Juvenile Justice Strategy will include:
- Funding for night patrols in communities which seek these services
- Place-based grants to fund safe place activities
- A three-year trial for an on-country juvenile justice and diversion facility;
- Located at an appropriate on-country location in the Kimberley such as a pastoral station.
- Delivered by a locally based non-profit organisation with the appropriate credentials
- Involving participation by TAFE, Department of Education and Department of Justice
- Incorporate work training and skills development
- Be an option for the Courts as an alternative to incarceration in Banksia Hill Juvenile Detention Centre
- Be an option for at-risk youth who are not sentenced.