Opinion: Time to get serious about this crime that’s actually growing

Contrary to public perception, the rate of unique youth offenders has fallen over the past decade. But this offence continues to grow, writes Aimee McVeigh.

Queensland Council of Social Service CEO Aimee McVeigh

David Crisafulli has given Queenslanders a clear measure to assess his leadership against if he becomes premier after October 26.

In extraordinary move, he has declared that he will resign if he does not reduce the numbers of victims in Queensland within four years.

It is commendable to see a leader attach his own success to a metric that is sadly relevant to many Queenslanders.

Continuing to drive down the numbers of victims of crime is naturally connected to reducing the number of offences committed in Queensland.

Interestingly, Queensland Police Service data shows the number of offences committed in the state is already declining.

Contrary to public perception, the rate of unique youth offenders has reduced by a third since 2012-13.

In contrast, domestic violence offences continue to grow, in 2023-24 accounting for 56.9 per cent of total assault offences.

Most domestic violence offences are committed by adult males, and the victims are usually women and children.

When dedicating his leadership to victims, we encourage the Opposition Leader to focus on reducing domestic and family violence in Queensland.

The impacts of domestic and family violence in Queensland are devastating.

Around a quarter of women in Queensland are domestic violence survivors, and one woman is killed by an intimate partner every 10 days.

Many of the children currently connected to the youth justice system are victims of domestic and family violence – with exposure to violence in the home being a root cause of the problematic and anti-social that leads to connection with the justice system.

In Queensland significant policy work has been undertaken to pave a way to improve women’s safety – implementation of the Women’s Justice and Safety Taskforce recommendations are still ongoing.

There is work to continue and if the LNP forms government after the election it is important that these evidence-based policies are continued.

In recent days we have seen the LNP acknowledge the “skyrocketing” rates of domestic violence, announcing it will pilot GPS trackers on high-risk DFV offenders.

This is not consistent with the Women’s Justice and Safety Taskforce recommendations, and the idea has not been formed through engagement with domestic and family violence services.

Domestic and family violence services in Queensland are staffed by experts, who are working with victims every day.

They know what is needed, and they know what works.

David Crisafulli taking ownership of reducing the numbers of victims and tackling the increase in domestic and family violence is welcome, but we encourage partnership and engagement with the domestic and family violence sector, working with victims directly and policies based on evidence.

Ultimately, ending violence is a collective endeavour, that includes leadership that challenges condoning violence against women and promoting women’s equal status in our community. Men must play a role in this endeavour and we welcome David Crisafulli to centre stage.

Aimee McVeigh is the CEO of Queensland Council of Social Service, the peak body for domestic and family violence services in Queensland