From the Mayor's Desk - 26 April 2022

Working with the Minister for Youth Justice to combat juvenile crime in Goondiwindi

Youth Justice Minister visit to Goondiwindi

On Friday last week, I met with the Minister for Children and Youth Justice and Minister for Multicultural Affairs Leanne Linard MP during a very welcome visit to Goondiwindi. The Minister also met with Senior Sergeant Richard Mcintosh and his team at the Goondiwindi Police Station.

This visit was a key opportunity to advocate for the changes and additional resources our town needs to combat this spate of recidivist, juvenile crime. The Minister was very well informed about the current situation here in Goondiwindi, and was very empathetic to our concerns and about the impact recurring youth crime is having on our community.

Simply, residents are fed up. We want juvenile crime nipped in the bud. We don’t want it normalised, and it is not acceptable in our community.

First, to reiterate, we know the majority of crime occurring in our community in recent months involves a very small, core group of juvenile re-offenders. Statistically, and realistically, the Goondiwindi Region is still a very safe community, especially in comparison to many other places in Queensland and New South Wales - but that fact is cold comfort to residents who have been victims of crime.

On Friday, I advocated across several key issues concerning recent crime: firstly, I reinforced the need to ensure that the penalties handed out for juvenile crimes are actually real, demonstrable deterrents. (But, this is a matter for the courts).

Secondly, I reinforced to the Minster the challenges facing our community about offenders fleeing across the border after committing a crime. I also highlighted the importance of establishing one single jurisdiction in our border area to deal with associated crimes committed on either side of the QLD/NSW border simultaneously in the court (similar to the system currently in place in WA in border areas with SA and the NT). This would see all related offences dealt with in a single state, avoiding the back-and-forth over months or even years. I’m pleased to report that Minister Linard has undertaken to ensure that her agency works collaboratively with its equivalent in New South Wales to address the problems across the border.

Thirdly, I again reiterated the importance of working towards a 24-hour police station in Goondiwindi. It’s worth pointing out that since Council has been advocating progressively around this issue, additional police have been secured for the town. We’ve also had a greater police presence the last two weeks with Tactical Crime Squad in town.

Finally, I emphasised the need for sufficient resources to ensure early and sustained family intervention and support. I also pushed for more supervisory resources – this means that in the instances when the courts do release juvenile offenders into the community, there must be a greater degree of supervision and intervention. The Minister was sympathetic to this matter, and has undertaken to investigate the possible provision of such resources.

Evidently, many of these issues go beyond the scope of one individual Minister’s portfolio, and some are a matter for the courts. And clearly this core group of juvenile re-offenders require a different strategy than most, as it’s obvious to me that the ‘normal’ approach is simply not effective for this small handful.

ANZAC day reflection

This year, I was honoured to commemorate ANZAC Day and pay my respects to all those who served at the Dawn Service in Goondiwindi, the morning Cemetery Service in Yelarbon, and the Sundown Service in Talwood. My fellow Councillors also represented Council at memorial services across the region, including at the Inglewood Service, and I was honoured to attend a number of school services both in Goondiwindi and Inglewood.

I’d like to give sincere thanks, as ever, to all the community groups and individuals who continue to contribute and dedicate their time to these memorial services in our community. I’d like to particularly mention Mrs Karen Woods, who hosted an ANZAC Memorial Day at her ‘Military Museum’, a wonderful private collection of military memorabilia. As a community, it is so important that we continue to honour and reflect on the contribution and suffering of all those who have served in war, so that we never take peace for granted.

MAPR thanks

Finally, I’d really like to give a big shout-out to what is, perhaps, one of our most dedicated local community groups - and that’s the Macintyre Animal and Pet Rescue. The commitment of Carey Emmerton and the team means they’ve been able to rescue and rehome hundreds of local pets and wildlife, and celebrated their 10-year anniversary last year. I’m sure I speak on behalf of the whole region when I say that I am incredibly proud of the work they do. I would encourage anyone thinking about a new pet to first speak to Carey and the MAPR team, and consider adopting locally.