Labor soft on Toowoomba youth crime

Frustrations are growing in Toowoomba and across the Darling Downs, as the Labor Palaszczuk Government refuses to get tough on crime.

Data from Queensland Police shows offences including shop stealing, unlawful use of motor vehicle, serious assault and unlawful entry have all increased since Labor took office.

Fed-up locals have held two public meetings to address several crime-related issues including juvenile crime, reoffending and youth curfews.

Shadow Minister for Corrective Services and LNP Member for Toowoomba North Trevor Watts and Shadow Attorney-General and LNP Member for Toowoomba South David Janetzki have been in attendance.

During a visit to Toowoomba today, LNP Leader Deb Frecklington said the youth justice system is a revolving door that won’t stop under Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.

Talking about local crime in Toowoomba are (L to R) Shadow Attorney-General and Shadow Minister for Justice David Janetzki, Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington, local community safety advocate Corby Orford and Shadow Police, Counter Terrorism and Corrective Services Minister Trevor Watts. 

“Toowoomba frontline police are struggling under a Labor Government who expects police to do more with less,” Ms Frecklington said.

“Annastacia Palaszczuk has no plan to address escalating crime, instead she ha scut the number of police officers in the Darling Downs district by 30 and delayed the new Highfields police station.

“Reducing crime is a top priority for the LNP and we believe in early intervention and rehabilitation for first time offenders, but youth reoffenders must be held to account.

“Annastacia Palaszczuk has ripped $44 million from the Queensland Police budget and the consequences are being felt here in Toowoomba,” Mr Watts said.

Mr Janetzki added that it’s disturbing to think Labor wants to raise the minimumage of criminal responsibility.

“Labor’s soft on crime laws means that youth offenders on bail cannot be charged with breaching their bail conditions,” Mr Janetzki said.

Crime statistics Darling Downs district:

  • Shop stealing up 42%
  • Unlawful use of motor vehicle up 56%
  • Assault up 20%
  • Serious assault up 25%
  • Unlawful entry up 22%
    Source: QPS 2014-2018