David Littleproud then falls back to the debunked idea that this is just about a ‘lack of respect’ and not systemic issues within our justice system, how our governments deal with intervention programs, a lack of committed on-going funding, and not listening to experts, including First Nations experts with lived experience, on what works for their communities and children.

Littleproud:

Respect. There’s no consequence or deterrent. In society, you need to have a deterrent and a consequence for doing the wrong thing. No-one fears, I have the same problem in my areas. They come back better criminals. They don’t fear detention and don’t see it as anything to be worried about. You need to change up that deterrent and consequence. It’s not about a boot camp. It’s about rebuilding people as human beings and young people who do have a worth. They’ve never been given it because of the home structure around them and we have to rebuild that and sometimes that’s about doing something different than sending them in behind barbed wire. Sending them out and showing these young people that they are worthy. The one out West of Longreach, a 94% success rate. Great young human beings that came out of that and they’re contributing right across Queensland now because someone made an investment of doing something different. Showing them they did have value and that’s something that I think is money well spent. It might be a bit more expensive but it’s money well spent.