Queensland is now the crime capital of Australia, according to a new study showing a significant increase in violent crimes committed by young offenders.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics revealed on Thursday that 289,657 Queenslanders had been victims of crime in 2023, with more assaults and home invasions than any other state.
An increase in assaults, sexual assaults, kidnappings, robberies, blackmail, break-ins and thefts caused the total number of victims to increase by 13 percent compared to the previous year.
It also saw state residents become more likely to experience robberies, burglaries and vehicle thefts, most of which were committed by juvenile offenders.
The shocking statistics come as Queensland faces a youth crime crisis highlighted by a report released by the state’s auditor-general.
The report found that 55 percent of all juvenile crimes in the state between 2022 and 2023 had been committed by “serious repeat offenders.”
It also reported that the average daily number of serious repeat offenders had increased by 64 per cent, from 278 in 2018-19 to 457 in 2022-23.
The grim statistics prompted the Miles government on Friday to unveil a new four-year youth justice strategy and the state’s first Victims Commissioner.
Police data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics revealed that Queenslanders were victims of more crime than any other state in Australia last year (pictured, file image)
ABS statistics found that of the almost 50,000 burglaries recorded, more than 34,000 occurred at the victim’s home, of which more than half resulted in stolen goods.
Another 151,501 people experienced retail theft or theft from another person, an increase of 25,107 from 2022, making it the highest level on record.
The 18,201 motor vehicle theft victims also represented the state’s highest number since 2000.
Although there has only been a record since 2022, victims of attacks also increased by more than 6,000 in just one year.
The statistics also revealed that around 30,000 more Queenslanders experienced crime than second-placed New South Wales, despite having around 3 million fewer residents.
The figures also show that around 5.2 per cent of all Queenslanders have been victims of crime, the third highest in the country.
Western Australia – with around 2.6 million fewer people – had a slightly higher rate at around 5.4 per cent, while the Northern Territory stood at around 7.8 per cent – 19,782 deaths among 253,634 residents.
The day after the statistics were released, the Miles government announced that Rebecca O’Connor, executive director of DVConnect and Victim Connect, would be appointed as the state’s first Victims Commissioner.
The rise in assaults, sexual assaults, robberies, blackmail, burglaries and robberies saw the total number of victims increase by 13 per cent since last year to just under 300,000 (pictured, file image)
Establishing his office cost the government $18 million, while a further $2.97 million was awarded to “support the functions of the Victims Commissioner”.
“The Independent Victims’ Commissioner will conduct systemic reviews and, importantly, consult with victims of crime on matters relating to them,” Queensland Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath said.
‘Ms O’Connor will make recommendations and provide advice to the Attorney General on those areas of responsibility and will oversee the implementation of those recommendations.’
Just hours later, the state’s Minister for Education and Youth Justice, Di Farmer, unveiled the Youth Justice Strategy 2024-2028.
The plan seeks to “address the root causes of crime and support community safety.”
“The Intensive Bail Initiative, the expansion of Electronic Monitoring and other amendments to the Juvenile Justice Act will ensure that serious repeat offenders are held accountable for their actions,” Ms. Farmer said in a statement.