Controversial youth justice laws have been welcomed at a crime-ravaged city amid claims juvenile offences have contributed to business closures, tarnishing a region's reputation.
An insight into a north Queensland city's ongoing battle with youth crime was provided on Tuesday, with one business allegedly ram raided twice in a week.
Proposed "adult crime, adult time" laws are being scrutinised by a state parliamentary committee, sparking outrage among human rights advocates.
Experts have warned against introducing harsher sentences for serious youth offences, saying it violates human rights and won't make the community safer.
However, Townsville appears to have embraced the move after enduring ongoing break-ins and car thefts that have left some local businesses reeling.
A glimpse into the "irreparable damage" caused by juvenile offenders was provided on Tuesday when public submissions were heard by the parliamentary committee in the city, described as "ground zero for the youth crime crisis".
"Crime has become a significant and ongoing challenge for local businesses," Townsville Chamber of Commerce CEO Heidi Turner told the hearing.
"There is no doubt crime has directly contributed to business closures in our region."
Ms Turner said Townsville businesses were burdened with escalating security and repair costs because of ongoing break-ins and car theft, with retaining employees a challenge.
"Just this week, a local business was ram-raided twice. As they were beginning to recover from the first attack, it happened again," she said.
"In some areas of Townsville, antisocial behaviour has made it almost impossible to lease commercial properties."
Ms Turner hoped youth justice laws would bring "meaningful and lasting change".
"Crime ... is causing irreparable damage to the fabric of our community, tarnishing our region's reputation and deterring skilled workers from relocating to Townsville," she said.
The Liberal National Party campaigned hard on youth crime before winning the October 26 election, ending Labor's nine-year reign.
The LNP swept through north Queensland on its path to victory, claiming key seats Thuringowa, Mundingburra and Townsville from Labor.
Premier David Crisafulli on Tuesday indicated community sentiment rather than expert opinion was the driving force behind the laws after criticism from human rights advocates.
The laws remove detention as a last resort and dramatically increase penalties for serious youth crimes, with children now facing a life sentence for five offences.
"We are forging ahead knowingly violating the UN Convention against torture against children - in any other context that is called child abuse," Queensland's Human Rights Commissioner Scott McDougall told the public hearing on Monday.
The premier said the laws would be passed by Christmas regardless, ensuring he fulfilled a key election promise.
"We are a different government and we are taking a different approach that puts victims first across the spectrum," Mr Crisafulli said.
"We are doing exactly what we said we would before the election.
"There will be some short term pressures (on detention centres) but we believe long term we can deliver a system that provides fewer victims but also better outcomes."
