WE ARE ‘LIVING IN FEAR’: MP

Courier Mail, QLD

Journalists: Janessa Ekert, Zoe Devenport

A MACKAY politician is pushing for parliament to be recalled in the wake of what he labelled a "youth crime epidemic", after a number of school students were nearly struck by a stolen vehicle less than 12 hours before a young man died in a fatal crash also involving a stolen SUV.

The Mackay Christian College students were nearby when a stolen Toyota Corolla crashed near a bus stop at Glenpark St and Ambrose Way about 8am on Wednesday.

Detective Acting Inspector Chris Eaton said the male driver fled the scene before stealing another vehicle, a green Nissan Patrol, from Moffatt St.

That car was later found dumped on Glenpark St.

This incident occurred just 10 hours before a fatal crash on the Bruce Highway.

Tiege Close, 20, died when the stolen blue ASX wagon he was driving crashed head-on with a Bdouble about 6.05pm at Bloomsbury, north of Mackay.

It is understood his vehicle crossed into the oncoming traffic lane. The highway was closed for several hours as a result of the crash, which damaged the roadway.

Inspector Eaton confirmed the SUV had been stolen from a Mt Pleasant address on January 31 and was one of a number of vehicles stolen that night - officers are investigating if the thefts are linked.

Police are calling for dashcam footage and information in relation to the separate incidents.

Dawson MP Andrew Willcox is now pushing for parliament to be recalled immediately in the wake of a "youth crime epidemic" in Central and North Queensland.

He said Mackay Christian College had suffered firsthand "with students almost being run over by an out-ofcontrol stolen vehicle".

"I am standing with leader of the opposition David Crisafulli to recall parliament now," Mr Willcox said, calling for member for Mackay Julieanne Gilbert to "start listening to the people's cries for help rather than toeing the party line".

"Our people can't wait until the 21st for state parliament to return." Mr Willcox said that in Mackay and Townsville young people breaking into people's homes had "become an everyday occurrence".

"And those criminals are now moving into our smaller towns of Dawson," Mr Willcox said.

"A young restaurateur and takeaway owner in Bowen was robbed at knifepoint.

"And a stolen farm truck was hooned around town before being set alight in the local river.

"The people of Dawson are living in fear and are essentially prisoners in their own homes."