The Queensland Opposition says Sunshine Coast crime figures revealed in a new report show the consequences of the government’s soft approach on crime. But the Police Minister has hit back, saying laws have become tougher under the current government.
The Queensland Treasury Crime Report, which provides an overview of the volume and nature of crime across the state, shows the total number of offences in the Sunshine Coast statistical area grew by 6 per cent in the 2021-22 financial year to 24,725 crimes.
By comparison, the total number of offences across Queensland grew by 8 per cent.
Opposition Leader David Crisafulli said the report showed the result of a soft approach to crime by Labor.
“The explosion in crime on the Sunshine Coast is deeply alarming and confirms what local residents have long known,” Mr Crisafulli said.
“It’s clear Labor’s weak laws and cuts to police have fuelled a crime epidemic that’s causing chaos in our communities.
“Each one of these numbers represents a Queenslander who has lost their car or had their home broken into and will now pay for a new vehicle or higher insurance premiums.”
Police Minister Mark Ryan responded by saying his government was committed to improving police numbers to tackle crime.
“There would be far less police on the Sunshine Coast and right across Queensland under the LNP,” he said.
“The LNP went to the last election committed to slashing by more than two-thirds the record number of extra police being delivered by the government.
“The Police Commissioner has stated publicly that the government’s investment will deliver a minimum of 150 extra police officers to the regions – that takes in the Sunshine Coast.
“Our tough new laws have become even tougher and are targeting serious repeat offenders with harsher penalties available to courts.”
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Shadow Police Minister Dale Last said the figures showed police on the Sunshine Coast needed more support.
“These figures don’t lie. Our hard-working police are doing all they can to combat crime but they’re being forced to do it with fewer officers on the ground,” Mr Last said.
“This makes no sense in the midst of a crime crisis.
“The Palaszczuk Government must increase police resources on the Sunshine Coast and make this community safe again.”
Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll was asked about the crime report at a press conference earlier this month, saying the figures needed context.
“What is very pleasing is the number of unique offenders over a 10-year trend has actually reduced substantially, but we have that smaller cohort that is committing more offences,” she said.
“I do want to put context to that. In July 2021, we changed how we report particularly domestic violence offences. It was recorded as domestic violence. Now we record every single crime that’s associated with that, so a substantial increase in assaults as a result … That has contributed markedly to the increase in the stats.
“Is that a good thing? Yes, we get a real picture of what’s happening.”
The report also points out that the effects of the COVID pandemic were most apparent in 2020-21, with the most recent report covering the subsequent 2021-22 financial year.
“Readers are advised, when considering the statistics in this report, that comparisons with figures in periods before the pandemic was declared must be made with caution,” it says.
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