Engine immobiliser trial in Townsville, Cairns and Mount Isa extended to September 30

With more than half of the government’s engine immobiliser subsidy vouchers not yet redeemed, motorists have been given extra time to protect their cars with the trial extending.

Accessory fitter Cruz Hale fits an engine immobiliser at 4WD Central in Garbutt. Picture: Evan Morgan

With more than half of the government’s engine immobiliser subsidy vouchers not yet redeemed, motorists have been given an extra three months to protect their cars with the trial extending.

The Queensland Government initially rolled out the Engine Immobiliser Subsidy Trial in December 2022, investing $10m to provide around 20,000 $500 engine immobilisers vouchers for residents in Mount Isa, Cairns, and Townsville.

The trial, set to wrap up on this Sunday, now has a new deadline – September 30, 2024 – as the Queensland Police Service extend the program.

During the trial police exhausted all vouched allocations and distributed a total of 20,242 but 56 per cent still have not been redeemed.

Specifically, 5936 vouchers remain outstanding in Townsville, 5017 in Cairns, and 388 in Mount Isa.

Police said the extension aims to give residents more time to use their vouchers and install the immobilisers.

Inspector Dean Cavanagh at the launch of the engine immobiliser trial in Townsville in 2022. Picture: Shae Beplate.

Lisa Cohen, principal at LC Distributors and a supplier of car immobilisers, welcomed the extension but urged political parties to commit to a broader scheme before the state election on October 26.

“There was uncertainty with 30 June looming, so many of my installers – not knowing if the vouchers were valid beyond 30 June – had stopped taking bookings,” Ms Cohen said.

The code-safe engine immobiliser. Picture: Shae Beplate.

“The three-month extension gives more time for car owners in Cairns, Townsville, and Mount Isa to get their cars protected with an immobiliser.”

She highlighted the importance of immobilisers, explaining, “An immobiliser prevents someone without the code from starting a vehicle, even if they have the car keys. The extent of car theft across the state has been appalling, and the Queensland Government is to be congratulated for adopting the Queensland Police Union proposal for a car immobiliser trial.”

Ms Cohen also advocated for expanding the trial to other parts of Queensland as part of the government’s $1.28bn Community Safety Plan for Queensland.

She pointed out that the government has already committed to a statewide towing assistance scheme to support those who have had their car stolen.

“It would make sense to extend the car immobiliser trial for statewide implementation to reduce the number of victims of crime and reduce the call on the Towing of Motor Vehicles scheme,” she said.

Originally published as Engine immobiliser trial in Townsville, Cairns and Mount Isa extended to September 30