MEMBER for Barwon, Roy Butler, has called on the NSW Government to carry out a review of youth services and introduce a trial of court-ordered attendance in residential programs across four Local Government Areas in Barwon, emphasising that it is time to act on youth crime.

This follows six years of requests for a youth service review into “ghost services” that exist in Barwon. These are services that are funded but not delivered effectively, creating gaps in service coverage in small communities, despite the $300 million that goes into funding these services.

NSW Premier Chris Minns will meet with Mr Butler, mayors and general managers from Coonamble, Walgett, Brewarrina, and Bourke.

The focus of the meeting will be discussing the need to review existing youth services in these communities and to give magistrates the capacity to refer young offenders to a compulsory residential program instead of incarceration.

“For years, I have been calling for a review of youth services in Barwon to identify exactly where the gaps are in youth service delivery,” Mr Butler said.

“Many services exist, but youth crime is not being addressed effectively in many of my communities.

“I thank the Premier for his interest in this complex and distressing situation. A combined effort from State and Local Governments and the community is the key to success.

“A willingness to think outside the box and be honest in assessing current efforts, expenditure, and outcomes is the only way to achieve results that actually drive change.

“Residential programs will only succeed if they are home-grown in the community and offenders can return to their communities under the watchful eye of engaged youth service providers.

“The infrastructure is in place in these communities to support residential programs, and the local communities, councils and First Nations groups are supportive and eager to operate them,” he said.

“What is lacking is the effective delivery of youth services to support young offenders once they leave a residential program.

“We need the NSW Government to support a trial review into youth services in Coonamble, Walgett, Brewarrina, and Bourke, with a view to expanding.

“With strict supervision, regulatory oversight, community, Police and Local Government involvement, we can start addressing the very complex issue of anti-social behaviour and youth offending,” Mr Butler said.

Roy Butler question to the Premier: Hansard Butler.