A Queensland LNP pledge to enforce a nighttime lock-up curfew for young people in Townsville has been labeled a “dog pound for kids” by Katter’s Australian Party local member.
Opposition leader, Deb Frecklington said the initiative would solve the city’s juvenile crime program.
The plan would see the trial of an 8pm curfew for children 14 and under, and a 10pm curfew for 15 to 17-year-olds.
She said Police would be given powers to remove unsupervised youths from the street after curfew times and place them into supervised facilities until they were collected by a parent or approved adult.
“This is about making sure that parents become responsible for their children,” Ms Frecklington said.
“If you are on the streets doing the wrong thing, then you will be taken off the streets so the community is kept safe.”
She said parents would also be fined $250 each time a young person was found out and about after curfew.
Katter’s Australian Party MP, Nick Dametto said the opposition leader’s suggestion would turn police officers into “pound officers”.
“Picking kids up off the street and taking them to a designated location until their parents pick them up where they’ll give them a fine sounds like we’re setting up a dog pound for kids,” Mr Dametto said.
“The idea of getting kids off the street, fully support that — but there needs to be more context around this.
“What about young Sarah who’s finished working across the road at a cafe walking home at 11 o’clock at night — what is her excuse?
“Are you going to set up a police special ops team just to look after stray kids? This seems a little bit ludicrous.”
Ms Frecklington said she made no apologies for being “tough on crime” and highlighted a recent incident where a cafe has been held up by an 11-year-old armed with a knife.
“An 11-year-old — what is he doing on the streets at that time at night? He’s got to be back at home, safely tucked into bed,” Ms Frecklington said.
“It is a terrible indictment when every time I come to Townsville, I have to meet with another community member who has had their house broken into, their car flogged – it’s just got to stop.”
