MINNS GOVERNMENT FAILS REGIONAL COMMUNITIES ON YOUTH CRIME

The Minns Labor Government has let down families and frontline police across the Richmond and Clarence Valleys by voting down stronger youth crime laws that would have better protected regional communities, according to Nationals MP for Clarence, Richie Williamson.

Last Friday night, Labor rejected amendments put forward by the NSW Nationals to theChildren (Criminal Proceedings) and Young Offenders Legislation Amendment Bill 2025, opting instead for a weakened approach modelled on Victoria — now known as the ‘machete capital of Australia.’

Mr Williamson - who contributed to the debate in the NSW Legislative Assembly on Friday evening - said the decision ignores the escalating youth crime crisis impacting towns across regional communities, including the Clarence electorate.

“Our communities are dealing with terrifying break-ins, stolen cars, elderly residents being targeted and families who no longer feel safe in their own homes,” Mr Williamson said.

“When the law stops holding repeat young offenders to account, they stop fearing the law. And when you remove consequences, you remove any incentive for a young offender to turn things around.”

The NSW Nationals amendment would have brought NSW in line with the Queensland model, which has been in place since 1899 and is proven, effective and tested.

“In Queensland, youth conviction rates have remained stable over the past decade,” Mr Williamson said.

“In Victoria, conviction rates for 10–13-year-olds collapsed from 77% to just 7%. That means repeat offenders are back on the streets, and that is exactly what will happen under the Minns Government’s soft laws.”

Mr Williamson said the Government’s bill makes it even harder for police and courts in regional areas — where family histories, school records and psychological reports are often harder to obtain — to hold repeat youth offenders accountable.

“Regional police and victims already face huge hurdles. Labor’s city-centric bill just builds those hurdles higher,” he said.

Mr Williamson also criticised Labor’s move to slash the maximum community service hours from 100 to just 35.

“Community service is a proven tool in intervention and prevention. Cutting it by two-thirds is unjustified and ignores what actually works to break the cycle of offending,” he said.

He said the Minns Government has again shown it is more interested in protecting legal processes than protecting regional communities.

“This bill might satisfy lawyers in Sydney, but it fails families in the communities I represent who are living with the reality of escalating youth crime,” he said.

“This Government simply does not understand what is happening in the regions — or they don’t want to.”

Mr Williamson confirmed that the NSW Opposition will reintroduce its tougher, evidence-based bill early next year.

“The Nationals’ approach is not about harsher punishment — it’s about accountability, early intervention and protecting our communities,” Mr Williamson said.

“This is a serious problem affecting real people, and regional NSW cannot afford more delay and more excuses.”