In Short:

• MP Roy Butler is demanding a major review of existing youth services and a trial to give magistrates power to refer young offenders to compulsory residential programs as an alternative to jail.
• The campaign is a response to "ghost services"—ineffective, government-funded programs that have allegedly failed to stem rising youth crime despite reported funding of up to $300 million across the electorate.
• While the initial trial focuses on Coonamble, Walgett, Brewarrina, and Bourke, the systemic issue of ineffective service delivery raises questions about future impacts and the need for solutions in communities across the entire electorate, including Hay, Balranald, Carrathool, and Central Darling.

The Member for Barwon, Roy Butler, is escalating his campaign for a major review of youth services and the introduction of a court-ordered attendance trial in residential programs across four western NSW Local Government Areas (LGAs), raising questions about potential future impacts across the rest of the electorate, including the communities of Hay, Balranald, Carrathool, and Central Darling.

Mr. Butler's call is a direct response to what he labels "ghost services"—funded youth programs that, despite receiving substantial government funding (reportedly up to $300 million across the electorate), are allegedly not delivered effectively, leaving significant service gaps in small, regional communities and failing to stem rising youth crime.

Focus on trial LGAs, but the issue spans Barwon

While the immediate focus of the trial and a meeting with the NSW Premier involves the LGAs of Coonamble, Walgett, Brewarrina, and Bourke, the systemic issues flagged by Mr. Butler regarding service delivery and youth crime are not isolated. Residents in the southern parts of the vast Barwon electorate, such as Hay, Balranald, Carrathool, and Central Darling, are often grappling with similar challenges in accessing consistent, effective services, highlighting the potential need for an eventual electorate-wide solution.

The key points of the push are:

A long-requested review of existing youth services to identify crucial gaps.

Giving magistrates the power to refer young offenders to compulsory residential programs as an alternative to incarceration.

Mr. Butler has been requesting this review for six years.

“For years, I have been calling for a review of youth services in Barwon to identify exactly where the gaps are in youth service delivery. Many services exist, but youth crime is not being addressed effectively in many of my communities,” said Mr Butler.

“I thank the Premier for his interest in this complex and distressing situation. A combined effort from State and Local Governments and the community is the key to success. A willingness to think outside the box and be honest in assessing current efforts, expenditure, and outcomes is the only way to achieve results that actually drive change.

“Residential programs will only succeed if they are home-grown in the community and offenders can return to their communities under the watchful eye of engaged youth service providers.

“The infrastructure is in place in these communities to support residential programs, and the local communities, councils and First Nations groups are supportive and eager to operate them. What is lacking is the effective delivery of youth services to support young offenders once they leave a residential program.

“We need the NSW Government to support a trial review into youth services in Coonamble, Walgett, Brewarrina, and Bourke, with a view to expanding.

“With strict supervision, regulatory oversight, community, Police and Local Government involvement, we can start addressing the very complex issue of anti-social behaviour and youth offending,” Mr Butler said.