This article discusses sexual assault.
Are we now numb to even the most heinous crime? Immune to the tragedy and trauma that envelops a community each time a murder or rape is committed?
Are evidenced-based trends on juvenile crime, or drug-fuelled crime, or gang-related crime even being considered in policies as politicians respond to crime levels with reckless law-and-order auctions?
Twenty years ago a murder was horrendous. It stopped us in our tracks and led to weighty debates about the defendants and victims, security, police, court and policymakers. Now, with a few notable exceptions where community outrage demands it, a murder passes almost without comment. That’s what’s happened in Brisbane in the past couple of weeks when two middle-aged men were slain in their own homes.
And are we so indifferent to violence in our communities in 2021 that we allow the alleged gang rape of two young girls by up to 10 men to pass without a skerrick of debate?
Missed it? You’re forgiven. In short, four men have so far been charged with dozens of offences, including multiple counts of rape. Police are still investigating the alleged crime that Queensland police commissioner Katarina Carroll has described as “absolutely sickening’’.
“All I can say — it was just horrific to think what has occurred with two young girls, with a number of men, an extraordinary amount of offences. There will be more people charged I am confident over the next few days,” she said.
Legal impediments restrict some commentary, but what about a similar discussion to that which enveloped the nation after the rape and murder of Jill Meagher? Good debate can change policy, change communities, change laws.
Is it because Brisbane has fewer media outlets than other states that an alleged gang rape does not become an issue of national debate? Or that Queensland news rarely travels interstate? Or that sufficient information prohibits discussion about how two 15-year-old girls could end up allegedly drugged and gang raped by more than a car load of young men in a public suburban park?
Or perhaps it’s because policymakers and police and politicians are at a loss to advocate what might truly work to stem some crime.
They’ve said as much in relation to a parallel rash of juvenile crime offences in the past week. Indeed Queensland’s politicians are asking for suggestions — and police are working on plans which they say they will hand to the government.
Meanwhile debate is muted by populist cries demanding night curfews and mandatory sentencing, the end of bail and a revamp of the courts that hand it out.
Most of it is being waged, without evidence, and on the back of an Australia Day tragedy where Kate Leadbetter, Matt Fields and their unborn son Miles died after a hit-and-run. A teen is facing murder charges.
In the north of the state, Townsville has become an epicentre for police frustration over juvenile crime. This week a police officer was injured after a stolen car — filled with children — allegedly drove at police and the public at high speed.
Frustrated police are blaming parents, saying children as young as eight are wandering the streets, all night, without supervision.
Once the architect of youth bail houses, the Labor government abandoned that policy last year and is fighting claims it is soft on crime. An opposition call for juvenile curfews was rebuffed before last year’s election.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says she wants answers as much as the next person. Some argue young offenders should be sent west to work on the land. Others want mandatory sentencing for some young criminals. Some demand that repeat juvenile offenders be named. Others say the age of criminal liability should be lifted.
The grip ice has on youth in some rural communities in the state is possibly the only issue not disputed.
But in the mish-mash of claims and counter-claims and political argy-bargy, there is little informed debate, and no big-picture plan to genuinely find a solution.
Forget politics. This is an issue at least as important as opening and closing borders. The accusations of two teen girls, who could be yours or my daughters, should be a sharp and very public reminder of that.
If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault or violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au.
Just what we need now – a moral panic from opionators in search of a purpose.
All reliable data shows ‘crime’ (not white collar which is just a misunderstanding amongst friends) is now lower overall than ever.
(This may be a function of so many previous activities – abortion, gambling, sex work, consenting homosexuality – are no longer subject to the whim$ of walloper$ and meretricious politicians on the make.)
Perhaps specific offences are more visible or glaring because of manufactured outrage by a certain type of media Moloch?
It couldn’t possibly be deliberate.
Could it?
Tell us – wouldn’t you be slightly miffed if it was your daughters?
You are obviously not a determinist!.
I find it interesting how often “imagine it were your daughter” is employed. Never “imagine it were you”.
The latter could be a particularly useful exercise for men, methinks.
To paraphrase Crown prosecutor Mervyn Griffith-Jones at the Lady Chatterly obscenity trial, “Is this something you would want for your wives & servants?”.
Yeah. Not right about crime DV Unlawful use Robbery and Break and enter are through the roof most of it not a misunderstanding between friends
Much like we’ve discovered during a pandemic, prevention is better than cure. We’ve stripped back all public health and education programs thanks to trickle down, governments don’t like a spending line on the budget when you can’t attribute it to an easily identifiable outcome. We know education, mental health, DV, etc programs work to reduce crime and increase social inclusion but it’s easier to let the crime happen then boost spending on gaols to show you’re tough, and a Laura Norder advocate
Education is the key word, when you’re dumbed down one doesn’t think about consequences.
Moral panic? Manufactured outrage? Pompous, off topic assertions in the face of 2 15 year old girls being drugged & raped by a carload of men.
Dont you dare start with anything suggesting those girls brought it on themselves.
Grace Tame, Australian of the year, and advocate for survivors of sexual assault, would presumably have a lot to say about these crimes, as well as the lack of outrage.
Poor writing meets poor editing. I’ve read it twice and still can’t find an insight.
The headline asks where is the outrage, as King reports outrage over it. After a rant about other states that even as a fellow cane toad I can’t nod along with, we get a vague argument to do something, while bemoaning lack of government action. We can only guess what King thinks they should be doing. Something ‘big picture’?
I don’t pay money to read the comments and post my own, though I gladly do so, when the people writing them are other subscribers. I pay for journalists to write good articles about things. This article is just a bigger comment section comment. Blog material.
Maybe King can transcend this sort of journalism where you use hundreds of words to say nothing, but we will never know if the editors don’t bother trying to present good daily editions. The question is, why didn’t this end up in a bin before it got sent to me?
I do not like having to take a dump on someone’s professional work, especially when I am a customer, and the amount of times I feel compelled to do so here is concerning.
Outraged? Why? I know outrage is the stock in trade of a lazy media that want emotion rather than thought. It also achieves nothing unless it leads to action – and the media owners don’t tend to like the kind of necessary action..
Yes there are outrageous individual crimes, but then there are also statistics of the overall level of crime – which translates as what is the chance of this happening to any individual.
IF we were serious about crime we would step outside the Dutton-esqe ‘they are bad people, put them in jail’ and address things that reduce the level of crime.
The major one of these is mental health. Jails have become a place to warehouse the mentally ill who are ‘troublesome’ as we don’t want to bother with treating them, The last time I saw stats on this the proportion of the incarcerated population with significant mental health issues was in the 40% to 50% range.
Linked to this is addiction – mental, physical, social and economic consequences. But the big addictions alcohol and gambling are legal and make money for important people (and for governments). But the main impact here is on the 20% of the population who have problems with these addictive activities – and those they interact with.
Next issue – income and wealth. Not so much inequality as simple lack of it. Desperate people with nothing can be tempted to steal. It is actually surprising more don’t.
Then there is the legal system. As any first year law student is told it is not about justice, it is about a body of law. The bit they don’t say is it is usually made to advantage or protect the important haves from the less important have nots.
Having said all this there are dangerous people out there who cannot be reformed. Releasing sociopaths and psychopaths on bail (if they have the money) may be the legal way but it is not great for society or individual safety. A way of dealing with the chronically dangerous antisocial person needs to be found – and it will not be the same as for the 99% plus of the population who do not fit the category.
So lets all skip the outrage unless we are prepared to follow through and take thoughtful action.
As the article says, they are 15 so the commentary is restricted. Also, I’ll be outraged when the FACTS come to light. There have been far too many cases in recent times of false or heavily exaggerated accusations to simply be spontaneously outraged when an article gives very little detail and then talks about “sexual assault” and “rape” interchangeably.
Let this case play its way through the legal system and then, if it is outrageous, then be outraged.