Youth Justice

Safe, Supported Communities is a key component of my vision for Wagga Wagga.

We need police resources, sensible law reform and programs to steer young people away from crime.

More needs to be done to identify the causes of youth crime and to keep young people out of trouble, while reducing the impact on victims of crime.

We also need better diversionary programs, which offer opportunities to avoid incarceration and often better outcomes for people who commit crimes. 

I congratulate the NSW Government for their inquiry into ‘Community Safety in Regional and Rural Communities’ adopted in 2024. The parliamentary inquiry is set to examine various aspects of crime in the regions, including causes, impacts on individuals and communities, and potential solutions. It aims to outline targeted strategies to improve safety and security for residents. I hope some meaningful outcomes will emerge from this inquiry.

Further work is needed to support youth justice. I will continue to advocate for adequate police resources across our region. 

One of the best outcomes we can hope for is to prevent crime before it happens, creating safer communities and providing futures for young people that do not mean courts and prison.