By Jess Baker
A petition launched by Southern Downs MP James Lister to combat “recidivist crime” in Warwick and Goondiwindi has attracted more than 2600 signatures ahead of its closing date on Friday 4 June.
Mr Lister launched the parliamentary petition in March 2021, asking that penalties for people breaching bail be reintroduced.
“Our police and the law-abiding people of our great Queensland communities are sick and tired of repeat offenders being let straight back onto the streets on bail time after time,” he said.
“It’s disgraceful that night after night the same offenders commit the same break-ins, care thefts, property damage, assaults and hooning.
“The rights of good citizens who abide by and uphold the law are more important than the rights of offenders.”
In the petition, Mr Lister wrote that the occurrence of break-and-enters, car thefts, vandalisms, assaults, dangerous driving and other crimes had grown “due to the repeal of the offence of breach of bail” during the first term of the Palaszczuk government.
He requested that the House of Parliament legislate to return the offence of breach of bail to Queensland law and to enforce “sufficient mandatory penalties” to ensure repeat offenders are “effectively deterred.”
Mr Lister said magistrates should be compelled to incarcerate people who have breached their right to bail.
“The community is entitled to have protection from offenders both young and old,” Mr Lister said.
Warwick Police Acting Inspector Jamie Deacon could not comment on the petition, but said it was “not uncommon” for Warwick offenders to reoffend whilst on bail.
“I can’t really comment on government policy or legislation. That’s not up to us,” he said.
“All I’m saying is that the Queensland Police would support any legislation change that would ensure offenders are kept in custody where police have objected to their bail.”
Inspector Deacon said reoffenders in the Darling Downs district were most likely to commit secondary property-related crimes, break-and-enters, or car thefts.
Those interested in signing the parliamentary petition can do so in person at Mr Lister’s offices in Warwick and Stanthorpe, or online at the Queensland Parliament web page.
