Queensland children as young as 10 could be fitted with ankle monitors when applying for bail in a further expansion of the LNP government’s tough on crime agenda.
Youth Justice Minister Laura Gerber will introduce the laws in parliament on Wednesday following a trial that focused on serious youth offenders aged between 15 and 17 in certain parts of the state.
“First-time offenders can be fitted with an electronic monitoring device if the court thinks it’s appropriate for community safety,” she said.
Youth Justice Minister Laura Gerber.Credit: Jamila Filippone
Gerber said the new laws would apply to children as young as 10 on bail, with courts given the discretion to apply the monitors after considering a suitability assessment from police.
She said there were currently 32 youths wearing the monitors on bail. The report assessing the success of the trial will also be tabled in parliament on Wednesday, which Gerber said showed the monitors were a significant deterrent to reoffending.
Premier David Crisafulli said the laws would help police track repeat offenders.
“No rollout of GPS trackers means every person behaves, but it’s another option,” he said.
Gerber said the number of serious repeat youth offenders had dropped in the state by 16 per cent in the state.
Between December 13, 2024, and September 30 this year, there were 378 serious repeat youth offenders, a drop from 451 for the same period 12 months before.
Youth detention centres were at 70 per cent capacity following the opening of the Wacol Remand Centre in Brisbane’s south-west in March.
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