Alleged attack on Chinese couple leads 30,000 people to sign petition to toughen Australian youth crime laws
Guardian2 days
Attack on Chinese Couple Sparks Petition for Tougher Measures on Juvenile Crime
Above: A screenshot of the petition asking for tougher measures on youth crime. Image copyright: Change.org
The Spin
Right narrative
The brutal attack that occurred last week is only the tip of the iceberg. In the days before the event that unfolded at Eastgardens, several other Asian individuals were harassed and physically assaulted by the same or a similar group of teenagers. These incidents occur because the law is currently an ineffective deterrent to crime. The only solution is to strengthen measures against youth violence so that these attacks come to an end.
Left narrative
The attacks specifically targeting the Chinese community in Sydney are appalling. Punitive justice, however, will not make the streets of NSW any safer, and could even risk exacerbating the situation. The way to curb outbreaks of youth violence like this is by being proactive, not reactive, and preventing it from occurring in the first place by tackling its root causes: poverty, disengagement, and emotional trauma.