Law and Order

I want my family to feel safe and secure, and I'm sure every member of the public does.

I think many families are concerned about the safety of our streets and neighbourhoods. Part of this concern is from the release of dangerous offenders into the community.

I support maximum sentences for serious offences. Violent and highly dangerous criminals who are high risk to the community must be kept off the streets.

I'll call for an investigation into a system of restorative justice (What is restorative justice? Click here to find out), where appropriate being bought into Queensland. This system not only helps the offender but also the victim.  

I would also like to see a ban on takeaway bottle shops selling liquor between midnight and 7am and additionally a breaking of the link between alcohol advertising and sport, which encourages a culture of excessive drinking. These measures would have an effect on bring down the number of alcohol fueled incidents within the community.

In regards to policing, older and more experienced police is vitally important to the service and the protecting of our communities, and I wish to retain as many as possible of these valued policeman and woman by allowing them more flexible and part-time opportunities. I would likewise support retired members of the force being used in more flexible ways such working within crime prevention programs, or education and youth programs or in need of emergency during busy periods.

40km/h Around Kindergartens

There has been a lot of talk about installing 40km/h zones around kindergartens recently (see one story here). I currently take my oldest daughter to kindergarten and would never want anything bad to happen to her. However, I would like people to remember two things:

1. Children who attend kindergartens are always accompanied by an Adult, and normally need to get through a pool gate style fence to enter the kindy. The adult caring for the child should be responsible for the children in their care.
   
2. Drivers need to learn to drive to the conditions. Just because the sign says 60, doesn't mean you have to drive at 60. This is the limit. Often when I drive through school zones my speed is less than 40 due the amount of people and cars moving around. Drivers need to understand and learn to drive to the conditions. 

I believe any money spent on placing 40 signs would be wasteful and the result would be ineffective. I would rather see that money being spent on educating the children within the kindies, educating drivers and parents, and other measures that may help such as Zebra crossings.