Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk believes social media companies can do more to prevent youth crime after Queensland passed “Australia’s toughest laws” to curb crime.
The state government has been under pressure to defend its response to a collision in Maryborough this week that killed three people, allegedly caused by a stolen Mercedes driven by a 13-year-old boy.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the Queensland laws passed earlier this year were “the toughest in Australia” and were voted on by both sides of the political spectrum.Credit: Matt Denyon
“Almost everyone in that community knew one of the victims,” Ms Palaszczuk told Nine today Friday’s show.
“It’s very disheartening and I don’t think there is a single Queenslander who has not been affected in some way by this tragedy.”
Queensland parliament passed a slew of laws targeting young people in March, including tougher jail terms for car thieves and new penalties for those who brag about crimes on social media.
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The changes also make it a crime for children to breach bail conditions, allow GPS trackers to be used on children as young as 15 and allow courts to declare certain teens serious repeat offenders.
“I can’t stop every incident of youth crime, but we can do everything we can,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
The Prime Minister added that posting criminal acts on social media encourages imitation and that platforms such as Facebook could do more to “suppress” postings.
