MP responds to online outcry regarding CBD bashing
Everyone has a right to feel safe in their home town
Comment by Cameron Outridge, Sunshine Valley Gazette editor
Business and townspeople took to Facebook last week following the assault of a 59-year-old teacher. Many voiced their concerns and shared personal anecdotes about safety in the CBD.
The Gazette’s view is that everyone should have the right to feel safe in their own town. They should especially have a right to feel safe in the CBD, a place of free trade and commerce. And they should have a right to feel safe walking across their town square or doing their banking. And many people don’t.
When we interview public-facing, mum-and-dad businesses in town, many hold legitimate safety fears. Some are traumatised. They hold concerns for their employees and customers and are reluctant to have their name in print for fear of online blowback or even of physical damage to their businesses.
Statistics do not tell you those things and this is why the safety issue in Nambour needs more consistent attention.
No-one is saying this is not a complex issue. But an immediate solution seems clear. Businesses on the frontline say more regular police patrols would alleviate the issue, just as they have in the past.
But we are told police recruiting is not keeping pace with the number of officers leaving the service, let alone keeping pace with population growth & complex social issues.
Our courageous officers are under tremendous pressure. At the end of the day, policing is a state government responsibility.
The state needs to encourage more recruits to join the service, so they can get more boots on the ground and do their jobs effectively.
Member for Nicklin Rob Skelton MP has responded to the local outcry on social media which followed a recent attack on a 59-year-old teacher in a Nambour CBD car park.
I would like to express my gratitude to those of you who have reached out to me regarding the recent concerns about community safety. In response, I have written this letter to provide more information on the measures being taken to ensure the safety of our community.
Combating violent crime and anti-social behaviour, which is a widespread issue not just across the whole of Australia, but also in the US and New Zealand, requires a collective effort from all members of our community. Please take the time to review the details below and contact me if you have any further concerns.
Violent crime of any sort is entirely unacceptable. The recent alleged assault suffered by a member of the community is disgusting and has no place in a civil society. I want to assure you that ensuring the safety of our community is my top priority. As a local resident and a parent with a young family, I truly understand how important this issue is to the community.
I am in regular contact with the Minister for Police, the Minister for Youth Justice, Sunshine Coast District Superintendent Craig Hawkins, and the Officer in Charge of the Nambour Police Station. The Police are doing an amazing job at tracking the offenders down and bringing them to justice. Unfortunately, there is a small group of recidivist offenders who are committing the majority of the offences.
Crime and anti-social behaviour are complex issues, but community safety must come first. All of the current activity to prevent and disrupt crime will continue but the community is demanding tougher penalties too.
As you may be aware, the Premier has recently announced a suite of increased penalties aimed squarely at keeping the community safe. Violent criminals should receive harsher punishments and the community must be protected.
Among the new measures are:
• Increasing the maximum penalty for stealing a car from 7 years to 10 years’ imprisonment
• A more severe penalty of 14 years if the offence is committed at night, where the offender uses violence or threatens violence, is armed or pretends to be armed, is in company or damages or threatens to damage any property
• Increased penalties for criminals who have boasted about these crimes on social media
• A $9.89 million fast-track sentencing so criminals are convicted faster, spending less time on remand and more time serving their sentences
• The construction of two new youth detention centres
• The appointment within QPS of Assistant Commissioner to the position of Youth Crime Taskforce Commander
• The increased penalties apply to adult as well as juvenile offenders.
Legislative changes will be introduced this year. This is one of the most comprehensive reforms ever seen in Queensland.
Tougher penalties and increased surveillance in the CBD will help disrupt the illegal activities of those who wish to do harm, identify recidivists, and protect the community. I recommend any business owners in Nicklin with CCTV to register with the Community Camera Alliance to help Police better identify offenders.
We will never stop looking for innovative new ways to target wrongdoers and support the community. Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all solution and it’s going to take a whole of community approach. The best thing anyone can do to assist, is to report any suspicious or illegal behaviour directly to Police as soon as possible. There are a range of contact numbers at the end of this letter to assist constituents to ensure authorities have the information they need to do their jobs effectively.
I will continue to lobby for improvements in the criminal justice system to improve community safety. I know how important this is to people in our community.