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AAP
AAP
Politics
Marty Silk

Far north Queensland mayors to front youth crime probe

Two far north Queensland mayors, an Indigenous think tank and a barrister are among those set to share their opinions on the government's controversial youth justice bill.

A state parliamentary committee is probing the legislation, which will make breaching bail a crime for children and increase jail time for certain offences, which was introduced to parliament last week.

The Palaszczuk government admits its measures will limit children's rights, the first time Labor has overridden the Human Rights Act it passed in 2019.

After the legal community, human rights watchdogs and social service providers panned the proposed laws in Brisbane, the committee will hear evidence from witnesses in Queensland's far north on Wednesday.

Mareeba Mayor Angela Toppin will appear after calling the bill "a solid starting point at addressing community concerns".

She has urged the government to look at diverting offenders to remote state-owned properties and giving them training in work skills.

Cairns Mayor Bob Manning, who called for alcohol restrictions to reduce youth crime with two other northern mayors earlier this week, is set to appear after expressing support for the bill's objectives.

The Cape York Institute will oppose the measures due to the lack of consultation or support for solutions put forward by Indigenous communities, particularly as the majority of repeat offenders are First Nations children.

Aaron McLeod, who runs the Crime and Justice Action Group, will speak against the proposal which he said prioritised offenders as victims and would grow the corporate health and services industries at the cost of community safety.

He's called for a new parent accountability commission, more public service accountability and a youth rehabilitation academy instead.

Far north barrister Timothy Grau KC, a former policy adviser for the NSW, Queensland and federal governments, will also appear to oppose the bill.

He believes "ignoring or not prioritising the known causes and solutions" to youth crime such as poverty, abuse and social disadvantage would fail to achieve results.

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