Media Release

KAP Leader and Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter and Member for Dalrymple Shane Knuth support a boot camp option that would see First Australian juvenile offenders placed on a cattle station in Greenvale to learn farming, construction and mining skills that will facilitate long term career options.

The “Youfla” program, which needs $10 million funding from the state and federal governments, involves kids being placed at the station by a court sanction to tackle their rehabilitation via a two stage process over 18 months. During this time the kids will build experience and key skills in mustering cattle, building fences, bricklaying, operating machinery and mechanics.

“Youfla”, as the program is currently called, comes from the words “you fella”.

Mr Katter said KAP was 100 per cent behind the “Youfla” boot camp program and that the party would be active in lobbying for the program at both a state and federal level.

“This program is absolutely essential. For many First Australian teenagers, a life of crime and nuisance is the only one they know. This program removes them from that situation and offers them the chance to have a career in mining, agriculture or construction.

“A Queensland children’s service officer has said that if you send kids away to some incarceration centre, you send away a juvenile criminal and get back a professional criminal. The only success he’s seen has been from sending them out bush.

“We will be putting pressure on state and federal governments to get behind this incredibly important program”.

Located outside of Greenvale, Jervoise Station runs 7000-8000 head of cattle over 110 square km and is owned and operated the Jonsson family.

Mr Knuth said the station ran a similar privately funded program almost 20 years ago and has existing facilities, space and infrastructure would enable up to 30 kids between the ages of 13 and 17 to live and work at any one time as part of the program.

“This program cracks two birds with one stone; teaching good values and getting kids out in the outback where they can utilise the skills they learn for the benefit of the region.

“When these kids leave the boot camp, they will have skills they can use for the rest of their lives”.

The program aims to provide the kids with the qualifications and licences that will ideally enable the station to tender for infrastructure projects in the region within a 12 month period. These projects would include building roads, dams and bridges ultimately facilitating self-sufficiency.

Mr Katter said he has had a number of meetings with key players and cattle station proprietors in Townsville and Cairns about the program and the $10 million set up costs should be considered by the governments.

“This outback boot camp concept was law in Australia 200 years ago. We would applaud any moves by Government in this direction. We have been pushing it for some considerable time and will continue to do so,” Mr Katter said.

 PHOTO: Shane Knuth, Bob Cotter, Kerry Jonsson, Bob Katter, Wayne Parker. In front: Kristine Jonsson.