Cross border commissioner fast-tracked in Goondiwindi amid youth crime surge

Premier Steven Miles has fast-tracked the appointment of a dedicated cross-border commissioner as young criminals run riot in a southern Queensland town.

• Editor’s view: The right move

Young criminals running rampant through a small Queensland border town are getting away with their crimes by crossing the border to exploit the loophole of being in another police jurisdiction.

The southern border town of Goondiwindi has seen escalating crime in recent weeks, with rates of car thefts and break-ins surging.

Frightening footage has emerged of a street fight where a group of young people can be seen brandishing several weapons including machetes, axes and crowbars.

Fed-up residents say the offenders are getting away with their crimes by crossing over the border into the New South Wales police jurisdiction to avoid being dealt with by Queensland officers.

Premier Steven Miles on Tuesday fast-tracked the appointment to Goondiwindi of a dedicated cross-border commissioner to help police operations between Queensland and NSW.

Border towns have been campaigning for more than a decade for the creation of the civilian position designed to help improve liveability of communities on the border.

Shocking footage shows a street brawl near Goondiwindi.

The commissioner’s role is to help break down intergovernmental barriers and navigate complex border problems like policing, health, education and other essential services.

Goondiwindi sits on the NSW border, with offenders regularly stealing cars in Queensland and dumping them over the border in Boggabilla to avoid arrest.

“We will act this week to expedite the appointment of Queensland’s cross border commissioner,” said Mr Miles, who announced plans for the commissioner in June.

Shocking new data compiled by The Courier-Mail shows car theft and break-in offence rates in the Goondiwindi division were higher than those in crime-riddled Mount Isa.

While Goondiwindi is home to about 10,000 people, on the official per capita measurement of offences per 100,000 people, it appears to have become the state’s car theft and break in hotspot.

In June, Goondiwindi car theft rates hit 57 offences per 100,000 people, and break-ins reached 202 offences per 100,000 people.

In the same month, Mount Isa recorded car theft rates of 37 offences per 100,000 people and 156 break-ins per 100,000 people.

A burnt out car at Goondiwindi.

A group of armed offenders have been on a three day crime spree through Goondiwindi.

The sharp rise in offences since April has left the small town gripped by fear, with 20 car thefts and break-ins already recorded so far this month.

In Boggabilla, where stolen cars are dumped and burnt out, 19 car theft offences were laid in the year to March 2024.

According to NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, Moree Plains local government area – which encompasses Boggabilla – recorded a 33.8 per cent increase in break-ins compared to last year.

Resident of 63 years Trevor Hoole said his town was “sleepy by day, and a nightmare at night”, and welcomed the fast tracking of the new police role.

“We’ve been broken into, everyone knows someone who has been broken into,” Mr Hoole said.

“The average person is scared to lie in their bed at night and hope no one comes into their homes.”

The surge in offences prompted Queensland Police to send reinforcements from Toowoomba into the region at the weekend to assist a station which usually staffs 18 officers.

Crime has skyrocketed in Goondiwindi, vision of a street brawl at Boggabilla has emerged.

The community are demanding action.

Shocking footage shows a street brawl in Boggabilla.