Ankle Bracelets for Young Offenders

The Queensland Government has announced tougher youth bail monitoring laws, with plans to significantly expand the use of GPS ankle bracelets for young offenders across the state.

Introduced to Parliament today, the Youth Justice (Electronic Monitoring) Amendment Bill 2025 will make electronic monitoring a permanent measure and broaden its application. The Government says the reforms are aimed at reducing reoffending and improving community safety.

The move follows two earlier GPS monitoring trials under the former Labor Government, which fitted only four youths with monitoring devices in the first year. According to the Government, electronic monitoring has been shown to reduce the likelihood of reoffending by 24 per cent.

Youth Justice and Victim Support Minister Laura Gerber said the changes deliver on the Crisafulli Government's commitment to strengthen youth crime laws.

"We promised Queenslanders we would continue to strengthen our youth crime laws, and that's exactly what we are doing," Ms Gerber said.

"Under Adult Crime, Adult Time, youth offenders now face serious consequences for their actions. These reforms are another step towards reducing reoffending and lowering victim numbers."

The Government says the new laws form part of a broader strategy including tougher legislation, increased police resources, and expanded early intervention and rehabilitation programs.