Queensland’s new legislation built around the government’s “adult crime, adult time” mantra is set to introduce a fresh offence for breaching bail and impose mandatory minimum jail sentences for young offenders convicted of serious crimes.
The LNP government swept into power promising a hardline youth‑crime agenda, including treating children found guilty of serious offences as adults. But frontline advocates warn the system is already buckling. Katherine Hayes, chief executive of the Youth Advocacy Centre, said Queensland’s detention network is operating beyond capacity.
“The detention centres are overflowing with kids at the moment, so there are kids already in adult watch houses for up to two weeks,” she said. “The system’s already at capacity, and I can’t see that there’s any room to accommodate more kids.”
Hayes noted Queensland already has the toughest youth bail laws in Australia and questioned why the government is expanding them further.
Government officials argue the new offence will not target first‑time offenders. “To receive this penalty, a criminal would need to offend, be given bail, and then commit another adult crime, adult time offence,” one spokesperson said.
But advocates say the reality is far more complex. With detention centres overflowing, children are increasingly being held in adult facilities a practice widely criticised by legal and human‑rights groups. Hayes warned that adding more mandatory jail terms will only deepen the crisis.
As Queensland pushes ahead with its crackdown, critics say the state risks entrenching a cycle of overcrowding, harsher sentencing and worsening outcomes for vulnerable young people.
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