Queensland Premier David Crisafulli says the state is preparing to roll out the “most significant reforms to bail” in its history, as new government figures show almost two in three serious youth offenders are committing crimes while on bail.
According to the government, 38 per cent of serious youth offenders are committing crimes listed under the Adult Crime, Adult Time (ACAT) legislation. Despite this, the number of serious repeat youth offenders has fallen by 29 per cent, a shift the government says reflects early progress but not enough to curb ongoing reoffending.
Under the proposed reforms, breaching bail by committing an ACAT‑listed offence would become a new criminal offence, Youth Justice Minister Laura Gerber confirmed. Crisafulli said the government is also considering whether the legislation should apply to adult offenders, signalling a broader expansion of the ACAT framework. “We are doing the work as to who that applies for and for what period that minimum mandatory will be there,” he said.
The reforms come at a tense moment for Queensland’s justice system.
Youth justice workers are set to strike tomorrow, with unions warning that tougher bail laws could trigger a surge in prisoner numbers. A recent audit report found Queensland’s prison population has grown 54 per cent over the past decade.
Even before the bail crackdown, Queensland Corrective Services had forecast an increase of 1,500 to 5,200 additional prisoners by June 2035 raising concerns about overcrowding, staffing pressures and long‑term sustainability.
As the government prepares to unveil its next phase of ACAT, the debate over youth crime, detention capacity and community safety is intensifying across the state.
+ There are no comments
Add yours