The Queensland government has tabled legislation to reform the state's breach of bail laws in the wake of a youth crime crisis and families pleading for action.
Michelle Liddle and Ben Beaumont's son Angus Beaumont was 15 when he was stabbed to death.
Two teens were last year jailed for murder.
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His parents joined a rally with other victim rights advocates outside state parliament to voice their frustration over the ongoing youth crime wave.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk on Monday announced a spectacular government backflip where she vowed to reintroduce breach of bail penalties for young offenders after years of criticising the policy.
On Tuesday, police minister Mark Ryan tabled the new laws to parliament and Palaszczuk apologised to the victims of crime after changing the Youth Justice Act in 2015.
Palaszczuk scrapped the breach of bail laws in the Youth Justice Act made by former premier Campbell Newman.
"We apologise to victims of crime, and that is why we are taking the course of actions we are taking today," Palaszczuk said.
The new legislation includes:
- Making breaching bail a criminal offence for juveniles.
- Increasing the maximum sentence for stealing a car from seven to 10 years or 14 years if the offence is at night and includes violence.
- Increasing penalties for those who boast about crimes online.
- Requiring courts to take into account previous bail and criminal history.
- Funding more high visibility police patrols.
- Allocating $100 million for young offender intervention programs.
"We have listened, Mr Speaker, and the bill we introduce today has one central aim – to ensure Queenslanders and their communities are safer," Palaszczuk said.
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In the new announcement, $15 million will be set aside to help seniors to strengthen their home security.
No details have been revealed yet on who qualifies for the assistance.
The laws are expected to be passed in the next three weeks.
But Liddle and Beaumont weren't optimistic about the reversal.
"We're waiting to see just how this plays out, in regards to the laws, what that working legislation will look like," Liddle said earlier.
"It is a bit of relief the ball is starting to roll. We hope we will head in the right direction."
Beaumont said there had been "a lot of talk but no action" in the past and he wasn't expecting that to change.
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"Lots of promises, lots of broken promises, and ignorance towards victims and the public," he said.
Both called for further legislation, with Liddle saying rather than elevating maximum sentences, the government should commit to mandatory minimum sentencing.
Beaumont said he believed the breach-of-bail laws would have no impact if not coupled with the removal of the "detention as a last resort law".
"It is a bit of a knock-on effect, Liddle said.
The changes come just days after a fiery meeting in Toowoomba, where victims vented their fury at the government over a growing problem.
An online 9News opinion poll has revealed 96 per cent of people (out of more than 10,000 votes) don't believe the government is doing enough to tackle youth crime.
Meanwhile 92 per cent of voters said the issue will influence the way they vote at the next election.
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