JOINT MEDIA STATEMENT: Making Queensland Safer Laws: Second tranche of Adult Crime, Adult Time laws passed

This milestone delivers on the Crisafulli Government’s promise to expand Adult Crime, Adult Time, to include more complex and serious offences. 

The Bill also includes measures to ensure the rights of victims are prioritised. The new laws will allow a victim on the ‘eligible persons register’ to nominate another person to receive information on their behalf, to limit further harm caused by receiving potentially triggering information. 

Since Adult Crime Adult Time became law in December, early police data has revealed green shoots in the reduction of key offences including stolen cars, break-ins and robberies.  

Premier David Crisafulli said the Government was taking another critical step towards restoring safety in our communities. 

“We promised Queenslanders that we would continue to strengthen the laws and that’s exactly what we are doing,” Premier Crisafulli said. 

“The expansion of Adult Crime Adult Time puts victims’ rights ahead of the rights of offenders and restores consequences for actions. 

“Labor opened the door to youth criminals through a decade of weak laws and inaction, but with Adult Crime Adult Time, we are taking steps to make our community safer.” 

Minister for Youth Justice and Victim Support Laura Gerber said the Bill delivered on the Crisafulli Government’s promise to continue strengthening the Making Queensland Safer Laws to arrest Labor’s Youth Crime Crisis. 

“The 20 new offences have been deemed harmful and serious enough by the Expert Legal Panel to warrant inclusion in Adult Crime, Adult Time and we are acting, like we said we would,” Minister Gerber said. 

“The Expert Legal Panel’s work is ongoing, because we will not stop strengthening our laws until Queenslanders feels safe in their homes once again. 

“Labor’s weak laws created a generation of hardcore repeat youth offenders who have been terrorising communities for a decade. 

“Now, we are finally on the path to breaking the cycle of crime in this State and youth offenders are not only facing serious consequences for their actions but, they will also receive effective early intervention and intensive rehabilitation.” 

Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Minister for Integrity Deb Frecklington said the Crisafulli Government’s expanded Adult Crime, Adult Time laws would give courts the additional tools they needed, to ensure sentences reflected community expectations. 

“It is a monumental task to turn the tide on Labor’s decade of destruction with their weakened youth crime laws,” the Attorney-General said. 

“But with every step we take, we are determined to put victims first and hold juvenile offenders to account - and that is exactly what these expanded laws are focused on. 

“Adult Crime, Adult Time ensures there are tough consequences for actions and victims can feel confident that justice has been served,” the Attorney-General said. 

Minister for Police and Emergency Services Dan Purdie said not only would police have the tougher powers to arrest Labor’s generation of serious repeat offenders, the new laws were designed to protect the frontline as well.  

“No longer will a juvenile get away with a slap on the wrist for endangering the lives of our frontline officers or ramming an emergency service vehicle,” Minister Purdie said.  

“Coupled with more boots on the ground, we will continue to drive down the unacceptably high crime rates ignored by the previous government.” 

ENDS 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Full list of Adult Crime, Adult Time offences available here. 

MEDIA CONTACT:  Cam Inglis 0412 084 743