Residents Against Crimes

NEW LAWS PROTECTING

 THE COMMUNITY

New laws passed to target rock throwers

Any person who throws a rock at a vehicle on a Queensland road can now be sent to jail, under new laws passed in the State Parliament last month.

Member for Barron River Steve Wettenhall said Queensland authorities now have access to the most comprehensive range of rock throwing laws in the country.

“Throwing rocks at vehicles is dangerous and deadly behaviour, that puts the lives of innocent Queenslanders at risk,” Mr Wettenhall said.

“People driving on Queensland roads should not have to fear rocks being thrown at their vehicle.

“Under the laws passed tonight, people who engage in this reckless behaviour can be sent to jail, whether someone was hurt as a result of their actions or not.”

Mr Wettenhall said the new laws create a specific offence under the Summary Offences Act 2005, to target rock throwing, laser pointing and other specified conduct which endangers or is likely to endanger the safe use of vehicles.

“In Queensland we already have tough laws targeting offenders who throw rocks at vehicles, with the intention of injuring or killing someone," Mr Wettenhall said. 

“These people can be charged with a range of offences including manslaughter, murder, willful damage, or endangering the safe use of a vehicle with intent.

“But the new laws passed by the Parliament tonight will allow police to charge offenders even if they can not prove intent, and no one is injured.

“These laws send a strong message – throwing rocks at vehicles is never a joke. It is a serious offence which can now result in up to two years in jail.”

The Crime and Misconduct and Summary Offences Amendment Bill 2009 also provided for amendments to the Crime and Misconduct Act 2001, to ensure the CMC can continue to crack down on serious and organised crime.

“The amendments passed have rectified the effects of a recent Supreme Court decision in the case of Scott v Witness C (2009) QSC 35, which limited the major crime investigation and intelligence activities of the CMC and its outcomes in specific matters referred to it by the Crime Reference Committee.

“The amendment ensures that major crime referrals, used by the CMC to investigate and punish serious criminal activity, including networked criminal paedophilia, terrorism and criminal activity by established criminal networks or outlaw bikie gangs and their associates, can continue to be used.

“The passing of these laws, together with the new rock throwing laws, demonstrates the Bligh Government’s commitment to safeguarding the community against the full spectrum of criminal activity.

“We are ensuring our law enforcement officers have the power to investigate and prosecute both the most serious criminal activities and also the smaller, yet potentially deadly activities of people who act with complete disregard for others.”

Tough new laws to tackle youth crime

Sweeping reforms to tackle youth crime have been introduced into State Parliament last week by Community Services Minister Karen Struthers.

Minister Struthers said the tough new laws would help make life safer and more secure for all Queenslanders.

Some of the changes to the Juvenile Justice Act include:

• giving Courts specific powers to impose curfews on dangerous young offenders

• giving Courts wider powers to name dangerous young offenders convicted of serious offences; and

• giving police stronger powers to arrest dangerous young offenders who breach bail and supervision orders.

“We’ve listened to the community and have taken their concerns on board. There were tough issues at stake that called for tough measures. That’s what these reforms are all about,” Ms Struthers said.

Minister Struthers said one of the more significant reforms related to jail terms for serious young offenders.

“We will increase the minimum detention period for young people sentenced to life imprisonment for multiple murders from 15 years to 20 years,” she said.

“We’re also giving the courts the power to place curfews on young offenders in a bid to stop them from re-offending.

“This is about giving them the best possible chance of rehabilitation – to help them break the cycle of crime,” she said.

The Minister said courts would also have to consider setting a date for the transfer of offenders from youth detention to adult prison if their sentence carries through to adulthood.

“As well, we will ban the publication of any information that could identify a child victim of crime,” she said.

“This Bill supports victims of crime, meets community expectations of the justice system and addresses the underlying causes of criminal behaviour by young people. It ticks all the right boxes in terms of youth justice,” Ms Struthers said.

Minister Struthers said the Bligh Government would continue its efforts to tackle the cause of youth crime through initiatives such as youth conferencing and education and training programs.