Nationals Member for Northern Tablelands, Brendan Moylan, has slammed the Minns Labor Government’s soft stance on youth crime after another serious incident in Moree.
Police allege a group of teenagers broke into a motel and stabbed the 52-year-old owner, who was airlifted to Sydney’s Royal Prince Alfred hospital and is in a serious but stable condition after undergoing surgery yesterday.
A 13-year-old, who was already on bail, was arrested and charged with reckless wounding, face blackened/disguised with intent to commit indictable offence, and special break and enter commit serious indictable offence, and breach of bail.
But just a few hours later, the youth was granted bail by the court and is back in the community.
Mr Moylan said the NSW Labor Government’s continued ignorance on the youth crime crisis is disgraceful.
“The disgusting events over the weekend in my hometown of Moree are shocking,” Mr Moylan said.
“This is yet another horrible example of why the NSW Labor Government shouldn’t be opposing the opposition crime Bill which offers practical and effective solutions.
“They do not have feet on the ground and continue to downplay the youth crime crisis in regional NSW while our communities live in fear.
“Instead of playing politics with the rural crime crisis the government should agree to the sensible and real legislative reforms that we have offered them.”
“The government is mistaken if it thinks that continually throwing taxpayer money at this problem is a long-term solution – to address this problem, we need proper legislative reform.
“Putting a few NRL stars on the Dash-8 for a day trip does not deter youths from committing crime.”
NSW Attorney General Michael Daley announced in May a review into doli incapax* would be conducted by former Supreme Court Justice, the Honourable Geoffrey Bellew SC, and former NSW Police Deputy Commissioner, Mr Jeffrey Loy.
Nothing has changed since this announcement.
Mr Moylan said his community of Moree cannot wait that long.
“Like everyone in our community I am angry. I am angry at the alleged offenders, and I am fed up with the Labor Government for continually not listening,” he said.
*Doli incapax is a common law legal presumption that children between the ages of 10 and 14 do not sufficiently understand the difference between right and wrong and therefore cannot be held criminally responsible in NSW.
