- Crisafulli Government is delivering two new Gold Standard Early Intervention programs for the Mackay region, to help restore safety where you live.
- Programs will provide cultural mentoring, educational and vocational training, and community engagement for at-risk youth.
- The Crisafulli Government is investing $115 million to deliver Gold Standard Early Intervention, to turn the tide on Labor's Youth Crime Crisis and make Queensland safer.
- The Crisafulli Government is delivering safety where you live and a fresh start for Queensland.
The Crisafulli Government is delivering on its election commitment to restore safety where you live, with two new early intervention programs in the Mackay region.
It is one of the ways the Crisafulli Government is delivering a fresh start for Queensland after crime skyrocketed during the former Labor Government's decade of decline.
Family and Children's Emerging Support Services will provide cultural mentoring, mental health and housing support, as well as life skills education including in literacy, hygiene and budgeting to Mackay at-risk youth.
Mudth-Niyleta Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation in Sarina will support disengaged, homeless or at-risk youth aged 8-17 to re-engage with education, employment and the community.
The two programs will be delivered with Kickstarter funding as part of the Crisafulli Government's Gold Standard Early Intervention, helping make Mackay safer by intervening early with youth, before they become entrenched in a life of crime.
Labor's weak laws, fewer police, and failure to invest in early intervention created a generation of serious repeat youth offenders and the Queensland Youth Crime Crisis.
The Crisafulli Government is restoring safety where you live with stronger laws, more police, and the biggest investment in rehabilitation and early intervention in Queensland history.
Premier David Crisafulli said the Crisafulli Government was delivering the fresh start Queenslanders voted for, exactly as promised.
"We are restoring safety where you live with early intervention to break the cycle of youth offending before it starts," Premier Crisafulli said.
"While we are seeing crime down and victim numbers down, there is much more to be done to make Queensland safer, and we remain committed to delivering the fresh start we promised."
Minister for Youth Justice and Victim Support Laura Gerber said the investment into early intervention was essential to tackling youth crime and restoring community safety.
"For 10 years Labor sat on their hands while youth crime spiralled out of control," Minister Gerber said.
"Unlike the former Labor Government, we are taking real action to break the cycle of crime in this State, and our Kickstarter program is a targeted investment in turning young lives around and making Queensland safer."
Member for Whitsunday Amanda Camm said the benefits of the additional early intervention programs would be felt across the region.
"By intervening early, we are preventing the next generation from becoming repeat youth offenders.
"We are giving the support they need to become productive, engaged members of the community," Minister Camm said.
Member for Mackay Nigel Dalton welcomed the new programs to help turn the tide on youth crime.
"By offering young people an alternative to a life of crime, we can restore safety where Queenslanders work and live," Mr Dalton said.
Member for Mirani Glen Kelly said the Crisafulli Government was investing in community-led initiatives to tackle youth crime before it began.
"Early intervention programs are crucial to turn the tide on youth offending and reducing the number of victims," Mr Kelly said.
