Katter’s Australian Party candidate for Cook, Duane Amos (left), pictured with party leader Robbie Katter, says while the government’s intensive on-Country program has some merit, too many questions about its delivery remain unanswered, including how Cape York and Torres Strait youth offenders will be managed. Photo: Lyndon Keane.
The Katter’s Australian Party candidate for Cook has flagged concerns the State Government’s new intensive on-Country trial for Indigenous youth offenders is “too little, too late” and fails to account for cultural considerations that would maximise the effectiveness of the program.
On 1 August, it was announced Mossman-based Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation would deliver the Far North Queensland youth intervention and rehabilitation program as part of the government’s $24 million trial.
The on-Country model will focus on providing intensive cultural and residential experiences, family supports, education and training opportunities, but KAP’s Duane Amos said he believed there needed to be more input from community leaders in how the rehabilitation of youth offenders was managed.
“My concern with having worked in the communities for so long and seeing the conflict that can be created when the cultural aspect isn’t considered, is that this program doesn’t seem to address it,” he said.
“From a Cape York perspective, it could involve closer community clan groups going through the program together, but mixing groups has the potential to create exclusion and conflict, so it will reduce the rate of success.”
Mr Amos said he would have preferred to see local agencies in remote communities take the lead with case co-ordination in the trial, rather than youth offenders be managed by centralised proponents in places like Mossman and Mount Isa.
“Anything that comes out of Brisbane and Canberra should just be the skeleton – the meat should be, and has to be, put on it by the community,” he said.
“If you don’t know the nuances for that particular community and youth from that community, you’re wasting money and not helping anyone.
“There’s organisations in these communities that already exist and need to be empowered to get some solutions.
“There needs to be a co-ordinated approach before we throw this much money at it.”
Member for Cook Cynthia Lui said the government was confident the trial would reduce youth crime across the state.
“Evidence tells us on-Country programs have success in breaking the cycle of offending,” she said.
“It is essential First Nations Queenslanders receive the rehabilitation support they need, in a culturally appropriate way; we are listening to the experts.
“The Elders tell us they can deliver better programs to help our young by connecting to Country, and deliver practical life skills, support and mentors to deal with mental and physical health, and substance abuse.”
Mr Amos described the program as a poor imitation of KAP’s Send ‘em Bush policy and said the government had failed to tick off the key criteria of being mandatory and remote, having a minimum sentence and providing vocational training as part of the rehabilitation process.
“That’s great you’re investing in it now, we’ve been telling you that for years, but there’s nothing that forces them (youth offenders) to go through the program and keeps them there,” he said.
“It’s too little, too late … and just another initiative that’s pork barrelled prior to an election.
“We’ve been at crisis point with youth crime for a long time – why roll the trial out now?”
