Leader of Clive Palmer's United Australia Party, Greg Dowling, has put reducing North Queensland's crime rate at the top of the agenda once voted in at the October 31 State Election.
The Townsville businessman and former rugby league great has vowed to put more police on the beat, beef up surveillance and offer better training for troubled youth, as a crucial part of his party's new deal for Queensland.
"It's time to get serious. We should be sending repeat offenders to working farms instead of giving them eight chances in court and then slapping them on the wrists," Mr Dowling said.
"If elected I will also engage with organisations that re-educate young people with criminal convictions.
"It is important that young offenders don't fall through the cracks. They need to learn lifelong skills for a better life.
"Proper skills and training is the key to meaningful jobs and livelihoods for themselves and their families. This will help break the cycle of generational crime,'' Mr Dowling said.
"Clive Palmer's United Australia Party will deliver an extra 100 police for North Queensland, and invest millions installing an additional 300 specialised CCTV cameras in the most vulnerable areas of our region,'' he said.
"Crime in North Queensland continues to increase and the major parties are showing no leadership and have no plans to tackle the issues,'' he said.
Mr Dowling said his new deal for Queensland would deliver more jobs and brighter future.
"If kids are working and are off the streets, there's less chance of them breaking the law,'' Mr Dowling said.
