A Liberal and Nationals Government will crack down on criminals and make communities safer by introducing new Adult Crime, Adult Time laws within the first 100 days of Government.
Labor has lost control of crime across NSW with young people increasingly at the centre – being recruited to carry out gangland hits, committing violent crimes and breaking into people’s homes.
The NSW Liberals have repeatedly put forward stronger laws, which include Anytime, Anywhere Knife Wanding laws and tougher penalties for those who recruit children to commit crimes, only to be met by opposition from the Minns Labor Government.
Under the reforms adult sentences would apply to additional serious crimes alongside offences already classified as a serious children indictable offence.
We will also double funding for the Community Safety Investment Fund to $10 million and fund expanded diversion, school suspension and post-detention rehabilitation programs to put young people back on the right track.
Member for Terrigal Adam Crouch said under the NSW Liberals plan, victims would be put first, and serious youth offenders will face real consequences for their crimes.
“The face of crime in our community has changed, and serious youth criminals should face consequences that reflect our community’s expectations,” Mr Crouch said.
“I have spoken to countless victims of crime from right across the region who want genuine action, they want to feel safe and they want repeat offenders to face the consequences.”
“This is a warning to serious youth offenders – if you’re going to commit violent crime in our streets, you will face the full force of the law.”
Mr Crouch said that unlike the Minns Government, the NSW Liberals are listening to the concerns of the community when it comes to crime.
“I’ve been speaking and listening to people all across our region and one of their main issues is the prolific outbreak of crime in suburbs like Terrigal, Empire Bay or North Avoca,”
“I’m saying to those victims of serious youth crime that we hear you, and that’s why we will tackle crime from all sides, intervening early, deterring offending and throwing the full force of the law at those who commit crimes to keep our community safe.
“Young people who commit serious crimes should face serious consequences, but we also want to be doing all we can to ensure young people don’t commit those crimes to begin with.”
Leader of the Opposition Kellie Sloane said she believes in tough love which means doing everything we can to support young people and put them on the right track. But if you commit a serious adult crime, there should be serious adult consequences.
“For too long youth offenders who have committed serious crimes in our state have faced consequences that don’t match community expectations, that will end under the NSW Liberals and Nationals Adult Crime, Adult Time laws,” Ms Sloane said.