In 2015, the Labor State Government watered down criminal laws in Queensland and Sunshine Coast locals are feeling the effects.
Since then, crime rates have exploded across the state to crisis levels.
Newly released data from the Queensland Police Service (QPS) sadly prove what Queenslanders from across the state are telling us – they no longer feel safe in their own homes or walking in their neighbourhood.
For the first time in 17 years, police data shows nearly 50,000 break and enter offences were recorded across Queensland last year. Police data also shows car theft rose by 116 percent with nearly 11,000 more vehicles stolen during 2023 compared to 2015.
At the same time there are 322 fewer police now than 18 months ago.
This is the impact of the third term Labor State Government’s watering down of criminal laws and reduction in police numbers – this is the impact of Labor’s creation of untouchable youth criminals, when it didn’t have to be this way.
Locally between 2015 and 2023:
- Car theft increased by over doubled;
- Theft increased by over 30 percent; and
- Assault increased tripled.
This explosion in crime is also costing Queenslanders money.
Crime is driving up insurance premiums for everyone and heaping more costs on victims who can least afford it.
The LNP has announced practical solutions to tackle Queensland’s Youth Crime Crisis, reduce crime and help reduce insurance premiums.
These include:
- Rewriting the Youth Justice Act and embedding consequences for actions – putting victims’
- rights ahead of young criminals;
- Unshackling the judiciary by removing Labor’s policy of detention as a last resort;
- Delivering gold standard early intervention to turn young offenders around;
- Prioritising discipline, guidance, and opportunity for children in residential care to prevent them
- ending up in the youth justice system; and
- Attracting and retaining more police by giving them the laws and resources needed to do their
- job.
For too long Queenslanders have been forced to endure the chaos and crisis of this Labor Government.
A key responsibility of a government is to create a safe environment for people to live their lives. An LNP Government will have no greater priority than providing this to Queenslanders.
