State Labor must come clean on extent of bail house failures
Federal Herbert MP Phillip Thompson is calling on the State Labor Government to release the figures on how many crimes have been committed by young offenders living in its bail houses.
The failed scheme, which cost taxpayers $31 million, has been scrapped after an independent review found it was not effective, meaning the two houses in Townsville will shut down.
Mr Thompson said the Townsville community deserved to know just how many people the failed program had impacted on.
“Today we have seen the State Labor Government announce it will scrap its failed bail house experiment,” he said.
“There are families right across Townsville who have been left devastated by Scott Stewart and Aaron Harper’s failure to act and failure to stand up for their community.
“So today I call on the State Labor Government to release the figures on how many crimes have been committed by its bail house fraternity.
“The State Government’s own report shows that 83% of those who stayed in the bail houses re-offended after they left. How many people in Townsville have been victim to these young criminals because the State Labor Government failed to act?”
“It’s time that they come clean on the full extent of their negligence.”
Mr Thompson said the local Labor MPs needed to be held accountable for allowing the scheme to operate for so long.
“State Labor MPs Scott Stewart and Aaron Harper need to explain to the people of Townsville why they ignored the will of the people and allowed these failures to continue,” he said.
“$31 million in taxpayer funding has gone down the drain through this failed Labor experiment. That’s $31 million that could have gone to improving local schools, healthcare, roads and infrastructure for the people of Townsville.”
“I also call on the State Labor MPs to finally stand up, represent their community and put a stop to the catch and release that is our juvenile justice system.”