Wide Bay Burnett car thefts increase by 256 per cent since 2015
The state government and Qld Police have defended their track record on crime as police data shows car thefts have more than tripled since Labor was elected in 2015.
Bundaberg
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Police statistics demonstrating dramatically escalating car thefts in the Wide Bay and Burnett were used as a political football on Wednesday, with the LNP claiming the tripling of offences since the Labor government came to power was evidence of its failure to protect the community.
Queensland Police Service data shows there were 860 unlawful use of motor vehicle offences in 2023 in the Wide Bay and Burnett, the highest number on record.
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The 2023 total is a 15 per cent increase from the previous year (743 offences), and a staggering 256 per cent increase from 2015 (241 offences) when the state government was first elected.
Citing accounts from residents of youth offenders breaking into homes to steal car keys and stealing cars with children inside, LNP Burnett MP Stephen Bennett said the crime escalation corresponded to the state government “watering down” crime laws in 2015.
“These reports are sickening, they’re stuff of nightmares, and they’re happening in our backyard,” Mr Bennett said.
“The Police Minister promised Queenslanders more police and the toughest laws in the country, but delivered neither.
“This Labor government has refused to acknowledge there is a crime crisis or listen to the victims.
“They are in chaos and crisis and it’s clear we can no longer trust the state Labor government.
“Bundaberg and Burnett residents deserve to feel safe in their own community and not worry about where to hide their car keys.”
The attack appeared to be part of an LNP strategy to damage the government on crime, with opposition leader David Crisafulli posting comments on X (formerly known as Twitter) claiming a statewide increase in car thefts was due to “Labor’s weak laws and falling police numbers”.
Mr Bennett’s claims of the Labor government “watering down” crime laws referred to the state government’s 2015 amendments to the Youth Justice Act, removing breach of bail, imposing detention as a last resort, abolishing boot camps and rendering child criminal histories inadmissable to court.
In 2023, the Qld parliament passed the Strengthening Community Safety Act which introduced tougher conditions for young offenders including making breaching of bail an offence for children.
Since the passing of the Act, 831 young offenders have been charged with 1845 offences under the new Unlawful Use of Motor Vehicle Circumstances of Aggravation offence, with a conviction rate of 93.3 per cent of matters finalised by the courts.
In response to the LNP’s comments, Police Minister Mark Ryan affirmed the government’s commitment to being tough on crime, saying the new legislation was reaping positive results in targeting serious repeat young offenders.
“Any instance of criminal offending is unacceptable,” Mr Ryan said.
“It’s why the government has and will continue to legislate to ensure there are consequences for criminals.
“Raw crime data shows that reported offences are up for some crime categories, and in fact down in some others, in Bundaberg and across the state.
“Our government will not take a backwards step when it comes to community safety and will continue to take the advice of the QPS when it comes to further initiatives and strategies requiring support.”
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, QPS deputy commissioner Shane Chelepy acknowledged the increase across a range of offences, which he said was due to a number of contributing factors including population growth and thefts related to the cost-of-living crisis.
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“We know we have seen an increase in our crime this year,” Mr Chelepy said.
“The police are working hard every single day of the week to work with our community, and are listening to our community.
“While the organisation is driven by crime stats ... I think the bigger thing here is how our community feels.
“While crime stats are important, even if we had a decrease in crime stats but the community still felt unsafe I don’t see that as a success.”
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