Last year, 300,000 Queensland residents became victims of crime, with car thefts and home invasions at record highs.
According to the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Queensland witnessed:
- 58,479 assaults
- 49,490 break-ins
- 18,210 car thefts
Comparison with NSW
Despite Queensland’s population of 5.5 million being smaller than NSW’s 8.4 million, crime rates in Queensland were found to be 12% higher. This statistic highlights a disproportionate vulnerability to crime in Queensland compared to its neighbouring state.
“If you’re in Queensland, you’re twice as likely to have your car pinched than if you’re in NSW and that’s not the kind of state that we want to see,” Queensland Opposition Leader David Crisafulli said.
Government Response
The Queensland government has introduced a new support package for victims of crime coming into effect from 1 July 2024 including; free counselling and financial aid.
“I’ve been calling for a couple of years now that we should have outback camps to rebuild these young people, to show them they do have a purpose,” Crisafulli said, referencing Youth Crime. “What you do is you teach them skills. You give them a trade.”
“They come away with a purpose that they know they can actually do something in life.”
As Queensland grapples with these challenges, the focus remains on implementing effective strategies to combat crime and support affected communities.
Our team are experts in criminal law. Our role is to sit down with you and work out the strategy that will get you the best possible result. If you have any questions about this article or any other topic of law, please call our team of experts on 1300 066 669.
