Libs and Nats vow to enact stronger laws and tougher penalties for young offenders

PORT Macquarie MP Rob Dwyer has thrown his voice behind the push to introduce tougher penalties for serious offences committed by youth.

Mr Dwyer, a member of the Liberal Party, is calling for reforms that would see sentences that “reflect community expectations” in line with the catchcry: “Adult Crime, Adult Time laws”.

“The face of crime has changed and serious youth criminals should face consequences that reflect community expectations,” Mr Dwyer said.

Should it be elected in 2027, a Liberal and Nationals Government is vowing to enact laws to this effect within the first 100 days of its government.

In a media release, Mr Dwyer said that the Liberals and Nationals would tackle crime from all sides, intervene early, deter offending, and throw the weight of the law at those who committed crimes.

“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,” Mr Dwyer said.

Mr Dwyer and his colleagues believe that Labor has lost control of crime across NSW, with young people increasingly at the centre and being recruited to carry out gangland hits, commit violent crimes and break into people’s homes.

“The NSW Liberals and Nationals 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,” Mr Dwyer’s release said.

“[U]nder our plan victims would be put first and serious youth offenders will face real consequences for their crimes,” he said.

“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 believed in tough love, which meant doing everything possible to support young people and put them on the right track, but if they committed a serious adult crime, there would 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,” Ms Sloane said.

“That will end under the NSW Liberals and Nationals Adult Crime, Adult Time laws.”

Shadow Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Anthony Roberts said police officers were sick of arresting the same serious youth criminals just to see them back on the streets.

“Our police do a great job keeping our communities safe, we need to back them with laws to ensure that serious youth offenders face proper consequences for violent crimes,” Mr Roberts said.