The Liberal National Party offered voters a “fresh start” at its Queensland election campaign launch, but protesters outside the event had little time for new beginnings.

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli and MPs were heckled and jeered as they arrived at the venue in Ipswich on Sunday for the official launch of the LNP’s campaign, six days ahead of polling day.

Protesters called on party members to clarify their stance on abortion, which has become a thorn in the LNP’s side after a conservative crossbencher raised the issue early in the campaign.

But Mr Crisafulli would not be drawn on the subject, focusing his launch speech on the cost of living, health, housing and especially crime.

Introducing the LNP leader to a raucous crowd was Cindy Micallef, whose mother Vyleen White died after being stabbed in the chest outside a shopping centre at Redbank Plains in February.

Ms Micallef said she is a mother, daughter and victim, and believes only Mr Crisafulli’s stance on crime will take the state forward.

“I know nothing will change unless we, the people of Queensland, change the government,” she said.

A 16-year-old boy has been charged with Ms White’s murder and the case is before the courts.

In his focus on crime and a “crisis” gripping the state, Mr Crisafulli announced a new ‘detention with purpose’ policy that includes compulsory education within youth detention centres, minimum isolation periods for assaulting staff, and the introduction of behavioural management plans.

Privileges for good behaviour will be rewarded and the opposite for poor behaviour.

“If the state is taking over the responsibility of their care, we must ensure we use their time to become better people, not better criminals,” Mr Crisafulli said.

“The youth crime crisis remains front and centre in Queenslanders’ minds, and we won’t allow the Labor party to try to airbrush this as the defining issue of this election.”

The LNP have consistently promised to strengthen crime laws if elected on October 26.

Other policies include adult sentences for adult crimes, removing detention as a last resort from youth justice laws and remote rehabilitation facilities.

Mr Crisafulli defended the isolation aspect of his new policy by inferring current young offenders just have to “calm down” if they assault detention centre staff.

“This strikes the right balance,” he said.

“It uses the current framework that is there, but enables an extended period – that will be done with consultation – to make sure that there is a consequence that sends a message that staff aren’t punching bags.”

He pushed back when asked by media if the isolation is solitary confinement.

“It means they are away from their peers. It means that they don’t have the privilege of going back into the environment with their peers and, in some cases, re-assaulting an officer.”

The state’s current detention model is “the most expensive and least effective solution to youth crime that we have designed”, a report from the Queensland Family and Child Commission said.

In 2020/21 the state had the second-highest rate of young people reoffending after release from detention, at 91.26 per cent.

While crime remains on the minds of politicians and voters, Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows the state’s youth crime rate has in fact halved in the past 14 years.

Polling has the LNP on track to unseat Labor in Queensland and form government for the first time since Campbell Newman was premier from 2012 to 2015.

This post was originally published on Michael West.