One particular issue which I know frustrates many of you, through the correspondence my office receives on a daily basis, is that of youth crime.
Youth crime is out of control in many parts of our state and more needs to be done to combat it.
The Federal Liberal National team is doing what it can to support our state LNP colleagues in reversing the shocking crime statistics.
This week in parliament we are seeking to crack down on youth crime by making it illegal to post social media material that glamorises violence and criminal activity.
While it will take real action from the State Government to significantly reduce youth crime overall, we believe the Federal Government has a role to play here.
It is incumbent on the Government to show some leadership and play its part in cracking down on this behaviour which glamorises violence and keeps the cycle of crime going.
That is why the Federal Liberal National Team is putting forward a Bill that will introduce a new Commonwealth offence to deal with the increasing use of social media to promote or publicise criminal activity.
It will make it an offence to post material depicting violence, drug offences or property offences for the purpose of increasing a person’s notoriety – or that of the persons shown in the material.
Under the proposed law, those found guilty could face up to two years’ imprisonment.
It will allow for those convicted of the new offence to be banned from using social media for up to two years.
Additionally, it will provide the eSafety Commissioner with the power to order the removal of such videos from social media and other digital platforms.
This will allow the Commissioner to deal with these new offences in a similar way that the office responds to reports of cyber-bullying and cyber-abuse.
Posting videos which glorify crime online is completely unacceptable and further compounds the issues the community has to deal with every day.
We need to do all we can to keep our community safe and deter young criminals from doing the wrong thing.
