Media Release: Moylan to introduce Private Members’ Bill for youth crime reform

Thursday, 13 February 2025

Member for Northern Tablelands Brendan Moylan gave notice in Parliament today of the introduction of the ‘Regional Youth Crime Reform Bill.’

Mr Moylan intends to read the Bill either next week or in the March NSW Parliament sittings.

The Bill seeks to make three straightforward, yet significant changes, to address the ongoing youth crime problems in regional NSW.

The three proposed changes include:

1. Reversal of doli incapax.
2. To remove the loophole in section 22c of the Bail Act so courts, including the Supreme Court, are not permitted to grant bail to serious juvenile repeat offenders.
3. To require courts to place greater weight on the impact on the victim when sentencing an offender.

In the last two years, there has been an increase in serious crime, particularly violent break-ins, across the Northern Tablelands.

The purpose of this Bill is to protect the community.

Last year, $13.4 million was pledged by the NSW Government to Moree to implement programs to prevent youth crime and another $2 million was promised last Friday.

This week, $4 million was allocated to Bourke and Kempsey for the same problem.

Mr Moylan acknowledges the importance of diversionary programs but believes serious repeat offenders should be held accountable.

“We must hold offenders accountable for the harm they cause innocent victims and the broader community,” he said.

“While diversionary programs are important, the community needs the laws to change so they are protected, and offenders are dealt with properly and not released without proper consequences.

“Continually throwing money at this problem won’t change it.

“We can’t keep doing the same thing and hoping for a different outcome.

“We need serious legislative change and this bill is the start of the process, I was hoping the Government would introduce their own Bill, they haven’t done anything so I will.”