The Hon. Michael Kemp, Member for Oxley, Media Release, 24 November 2025. Australian Rural & Regional News asked a further question of Mr Kemp, answered below the release.

Last Friday night the Minns Labor Government voted down NSW Nationals amendments to strengthen laws for repeat youth offenders.

While the Government’s Bill essentially adopts the Victorian position – the machete capital of Australia – our amendment would’ve seen NSW adopt the Queensland position that has been in place since 1899.

In Queensland, conviction rates for young offenders aged 10-13 held steady between 2016 and 2023. This law is tested, effective and proven.

Over the same time, conviction rates for young offenders aged 10-13 in Victoria dropped from 77 per cent to 7 per cent, and worse still, in NSW it dropped from 76 per cent to 16 per cent. This means more offenders back on our streets.

Member for Oxley Michael Kemp said the Minns Labor Government’s bill protects the legal system instead of our community.

“When the law stops holding repeat young offenders to account, they stop fearing the law,” Mr Kemp said. 

“If we remove consequences, we remove any incentive for a repeat young offender to turn things around.”

The Minns Labor Government’s Bill also takes away the ability for courts to order a maximum of a possible 250 hours community service for youth offenders – reducing the maximum to 35 hours.

“This reduction is not justified and ignores the benefits of community service to preventing future crimes by young offenders,” Mr Kemp said.

The NSW Opposition will again introduce its own Bill early next year to better protect our regional communities from repeat youth offenders and this city-centric government.

Australian Rural & Regional News asked Mr Kemp for a comment on the option put forward by Barwon MP Roy Butler, or other similar options for rehabilitation between gaol and unrestrained release into the community. Mr Kemp responded as follows.

Michael Kemp MP: “I would love to see a stop to our kids being recycled through a broken system and start giving them a real alternative. The goal is to get these kids onto a pathway that ends in a job not a jail cell. We want to see them contributing to society, paying taxes and helping rebuild our community.

“Repeat offenders must be off our streets so our community can feel safe. But we must also be intervening early for those about to go down the path of crime. When a young person offends for the first time, they should be diverted into a system that actually sets them up for success, so they come out with skills, qualifications and a job. I would also especially like to see drug and alcohol rehabilitation services prioritised alongside a discipline based program.”