Labor, LNP clash over claims Wide Bay Burnett car thefts up 34%

Allegedly stolen cars have been involved in some shocking and deadly crimes across the region in 2023, and a war of words has erupted, with the opposition claiming the state government is ‘out of ideas’ on what to do.

Allegedly stolen cars have been involved in some shocking and deadly crimes across the region in 2023, including this one on the Bruce Highway at Federal. Picture 9News

A fresh volley of shots between the LNP opposition and state government were fired this week after it was claimed car thefts in the Wide Bay had soared.

The surge was highlighted in a media release on Tuesday by LNP opposition spokesman for police Dale Last, who claimed chaos within the government had allowed crime rates to soar.

Queensland police data shows there had been 537 unlawful use of a motorvehicle crimes entry crimes reported across the Wide Bay Burnett from January to July 2023.

This was compared to 399 across the same seven month period in 2022.

The number of unlawful use of a motorvehicle crimes across the Wide Bay Burnett has increased by more than 34 per cent, according to police data, with LNP opposition spokesman for police Dale Last saying weaker laws and fewer police were contributing to the problem.

Allegedly stolen cars have been involved in some shocking and deadly crimes across the region in 2023.

They were seen driving around outside the Maryborough police station, with one teenage girl charged with multiple times over a string of thefts.

Still before the courts is the case of a devastating triple fatality at Maryborough, allegedly caused by a 13-year-old driving a stolen car, on April 30, 2023.

A second shocking triple fatality occurred at Federal south of Gympie on July 21, with a man accused of causing the crash after stealing a 4WD at knifepoint.

A News Corp analysis of car theft crimes across the Wide Bay Burnett in June 2023 revealed police were charging 2.2 people each day of car theft.

The Fraser Coast was the worst affected region.

Mr Last said the government was “out of ideas” on how to deal with the region’s crime problems.

A horror triple fatality at Federal in April involving a car allegedly stolen at knifepoint from Gympie was one of two serious incidents involving allegedly stolen vehicles. Picture 9News

“(Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk) refused to meet with victims of crime when they marched to Parliament House last month, she refuses to introduce tough laws and she no longer listens to Queenslanders,” Mr Last said.

“There are 202 fewer police officers in Queensland because the Labor government can’t follow through on their commitment to hire more police officers.

“Weaker laws and fewer police, is it any wonder crime has increased?”

A government spokeswoman fired back saying it would “never relent in keeping the community safe”.

“That is why we continue to strengthen laws and criminal sanctions, invest in intervention and rehabilitation programs, and extend supports for those who have been impacted by crime,” she said.

“Police are relentlessly targeting the small cohort of serious offenders who commit a disproportionate amount of crime, and police are targeting offenders with extreme high visibility patrols.”

Police said cutting vehicle theft rates remained “a priority focus”.

“Wide Bay Police continue to target property and youth crime, with officers running high visibility policing operations to prevent, disrupt and investigate these matters.

“Officers relentlessly investigate property offences to identify and apprehend offenders, put them before court, and hold them to account.

“Officers execute targeted operations for property crime and car theft, often not overtly observed by members of the public.”