A CROWD gathered at the Alexandra Hills AFC to thrash out solutions for youth crime, however key players including Capalaba MP Don Brown and Redlands Mayor Karen Williams did not attend the meeting.
Queensland Police Service were not present, however there was a representative from the Police Union.
MPs and the mayor had two teleconferences this week to discuss the youth justice forum, but some decided not to attend the meeting tonight.
Convened by Redland City's Drug Action Team, the forum hosted more than 130 residents and was supported by about 20 local service providers in the Redlands.
The gathering was chaired by Darren Cole from Love and Hope Redlands and allowed residents to discuss and develop solutions on youth crime, community policing, early intervention, rehabilitation and judicial reform.
The LDAT lead agency, the Cage Youth Foundation's Linda Grieve said the size of the event reflected community sentiment to see major changes implemented.
"This enables us to look at ways to move forward so we can make a difference together," she said.
People were divided into their suburbs to discuss issues and ideas they wanted to take to government.
The discussions were solutions based and residents voiced their agreement or disagreement during the meeting by holding up green or pink tickets.
Federal MP Andrew Laming said while the event was limited to Redlands elected officials and local residents, the lessons were statewide.
"Key to all this is identifying drug addiction early, then intervening hard to break cycled before they become intractable."
"I anticipate extra state and federal funding to ensure detox and rehabilitation is never overflowing or unaffordable. Fixing this will come with a hefty price tag," he said.
Mr Laming has also moved private members' business in federal Parliament to introduce illicit drug testing and cashless debit card welfare for youth allowance recipients who front court or fail to meet mandatory job-search obligations.
Oodgeroo MP Mark Robinson attended the meeting and said he hoped to take the residents issues and solutions to state Parliament.
Mr Brown said state MPs have agreed to work with Redland City Council to hold a forum that will have the appropriate government agencies at it, such as Queensland Police Service.