Clarence Nationals MP, Richie Williamson, is backing a community-led petition calling on the NSW Labor Government to urgently reform youth sentencing laws, following growing concern across Casino and the wider community about repeat juvenile offenders.
The ePetition, organised by Casino resident Judith Karam, urges the NSW Government to review and strengthen current legislation to prevent violent and repeat youth offenders from returning to the community without adequate consequences.
The group is aiming to secure 20,000 signatures – the threshold required to trigger a debate in the NSW Parliament.
Mr Williamson said Labor's recent decision to vote down stronger youth crime laws had only intensified community frustration.
"People in Casino and across the wider Clarence electorate are genuinely frightened and deeply frustrated. They feel the system is failing them, and they want their concerns heard," Mr Williamson said.
"Last week the Minns Labor Government rejected tougher, evidence-based youth crime laws that would have better protected regional communities. Instead, they chose a watered-down approach based on the Victorian model – a model that has seen conviction rates collapse and repeat offenders returned to the streets.
"Our police are doing everything they can, but the community expects the courts to back them. When the same offenders are released time and time again, it causes fear and undermines confidence in the justice system."
Mr Williamson said regional communities like Casino were feeling the effects of decisions made in Sydney that fail to reflect the realities of youth crime in the regions.
"Regional police and victims already face huge hurdles. Labor's city-centric approach just builds those hurdles higher," he said.
"Families in the Clarence electorate and other regional communities across the state are dealing with terrifying break-ins, stolen cars and residents who no longer feel safe in their own homes. The Government's weak laws fail to match the seriousness of what our communities are living through."
Mrs Karam said local residents feel increasingly unsafe as repeat offenders continue to exploit loopholes in current legislation.
"The community is beyond frustrated. We keep seeing the same young offenders returned to our streets without even basic consequences," Mrs Karam said.
"Our police are doing their job, but they're being let down by the courts. People deserve to feel safe in their own homes and towns, and right now many don't."
Mrs Karam said her motivation for starting the petition came from witnessing the toll that violent and brazen youth crime is taking on residents and frontline police.
"The system is out of touch with reality. Sentencing should reflect community expectations and the need for safety. We're simply asking for laws that protect victims, support police, and hold offenders accountable," she said.
The ePetition also highlights recent reforms in Queensland, where repeat and violent juvenile offenders can now be sentenced as adults in certain cases – an approach the NSW Nationals sought to adopt before it was voted down by Labor.
Mr Williamson said he will ensure the petition and the voices behind it are heard in the NSW Parliament.
"I commend Judith and the Casino community for standing up and demanding change," he said.
"I will present this ePetition in NSW Legislative Assembly so the Government is left in no doubt about how strongly our community feels about this issue. The Nationals will also reintroduce our tougher, evidence-based youth crime bill early next year."
Residents have until May 13 next year to add their name to the petition.
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY – Signing ePetition – Adult Crime Adult Time
