Arabic version: جرائم الأحداث في كوينزلاند لا تزال مصدر قلق كبير

According to ABC News, Queensland recorded around 4 per cent fewer crime victims in 2025 than in the previous year, or about 12,000 fewer people, nearly two years after the LNP took office. The government says it has more work to do to reverse the state’s youth crime crisis.

Premier David Crisafulli said during the 2024 election campaign that he would quit within four years if he could not reduce the number of crime victims, later qualifying the measure as per capita. Since taking power, the LNP has passed three tranches of its adult crime, adult time policy, under which juveniles charged with serious offences can face tougher maximum sentences.

Bond University criminologist Terry Goldsworthy said victim numbers and youth offending had begun falling during Labor’s final year in government. He attributed the reduction to better police targeting, tougher bail laws and a focus on serious repeat offenders, while saying Queensland’s overall crime rate remained at a 20-year high.

More than 7,000 juveniles had been charged with more than 34,100 offences under the adult crime, adult time laws as of October 10. Youth Justice and Victim Support Minister Laura Gerber said there was “a long way to go to reverse” the crisis and that the government would continue expanding stronger crime laws, including adult crime, adult time and the breach bail, go to jail policy.

Townsville dance teacher Tara Howard, whose studio was allegedly set alight by teenagers in 2023, said she had noticed more police on the streets and felt “that little bit safer” in the community. But she said Queensland still had “a very, very long way to go.”