As Mount Isa grapples with one of the highest crime rates in Queensland and more than 1,000 imminent job losses, local leaders want a prison to be built in their backyard.
For almost 20 years, Father Mick Lowcock has been ready to greet the busloads of men returning home from prison thousands of kilometres away.
"We've literally got hundreds of men away and they have no connection with people while they're away," he explained.Mount Isa is a city feeling the squeeze from twin pressure points. Almost 45,987 offences were committed per 100,000 people in the outback town last year, compared to 19,473 in Townsville and 26,508 in Cairns.Senior Sergeant Adrian Rieck from the Mount Isa Police said domestic and family violence was a serious issue in the community.
As new police patrol helicopters are promised for the state's east, and the state government's plans for two new youth detention facilities in Cairns and Woodford, Isa locals like firefighter David McCrindle see a new local correctional facility as a good thing.
Outback Prison Queensland Government Glencore Closure Jobs Youth Crime Father Mick Mick Lowcock Court
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