Queensland Premier David Crisafulli says there will be further changes to youth justice laws in the face of community outrage over a stabbing this week near Brisbane, Australia.
A 13-year-old boy was charged with attempted murder after he allegedly stabbed a supermarket worker at Yamanto Shopping Centre, in what police said was a random attack. The woman remains in a critical condition at the Princess Alexandra Hospital.
Police say a Coles worker allegedly stabbed by a 13-year-old boy still had the knife in her back as she was taken to hospital. Emergency services were called to Yamanto Central near Warwick Rd on Monday following reports a 63-year-old woman had suffered stab wounds.
According to the Police report, a 13-year-old boy approached a Coles staff member before he allegedly stabbed her with a knife. He then fled the scene before bystanders managed to detain him. The woman was found with a serious injury to her back when officers arrived at the scene.
The offence was not included in the LNP’s flagship “adult crime, adult time” policy, under which juveniles convicted of serious offences — including murder, manslaughter, and robbery — face the same penalties as adults.
“We implemented the changes that we took to the election and I said that would be the first step,” Mr Crisafulli said.
“There will be more changes to the Youth Justice Act, many more, and Queenslanders need to know that we are serious about making sure that we reverse 10 years of changes in the other direction.”
A five-person expert panel will recommend any further changes to the Youth Justice Act.
Former Queensland Law Society president Bill Potts questioned why attempted murder was left off the list of serious offences for “adult crime, adult time”.
“It’s odd that the government has declared that murder and grievous bodily harm are offences requiring a child to be treated as an adult,” he said.
“But attempted murder, which anyone would have thought was a very serious crime, seemingly that law does not apply.
“Attempted murder is an extremely serious crime. It is often very difficult to prove, simply because you have to show what the person’s actual intentions were at the time of committing the offence.”
The 13-year-old’s matter was briefly heard in the Ipswich Children’s Court. He did not appear or apply for bail, with the matter adjourned to February 25.