Crisafulli government’s tough teen crime laws have become law in Queensland

Teenagers in one state will face the same punishments as adults for certain serious offences amid a contentious crackdown on youth crime.

The new Queensland government’s contentious ‘adult crime, adult time’ laws to address teen crime have passed parliament, marking a major win for Premier David Crisafulli.

Mr Crisafulli made teen crime a cornerstone of his campaign for the October 26 state election, promising the new laws would pass before Christmas.

The landmark Making Queensland Safer Bill 2024 were introduced into parliament on November 28 and passed on Thursday, 13 days before Christmas.

Mr Crisafulli had made no secret of his promise to crack down on high-profile youth crime and introduce “adult time for adult crime” during and after his campaign.

Premier David Crisafulli had made the adult crime, adult time a key promise during the election campaign for the October 26 election. Picture: NewsWire / John Gass

“These laws are for every Queenslander who has ever felt unsafe and been a victim of youth crime across our state,” Mr Crisafulli said on Thursday.

“Queenslanders voted for it, we’ve delivered it and now Adult Crime, Adult Time will be law before Christmas.

“These laws are the first strike back against the Youth Crime Crisis to start restoring safety where you live.

“We have restored consequences for actions and put victims’ rights ahead of offenders, as they always should have been.”

Under the new laws, juvenile offenders who commit some of the most serious crimes will now face the same penalties as adult offenders, with the state government promising to put “the rights of victims” ahead of offenders.

It would mean children convicted of murder would face the penalty of life detention.

Currently, they face 10 years or up to life imprisonment if a court finds the offence was “particularly heinous”.

Premier David Crisafulli met with victims of crime before the Adult Time, Adult Crime Bill passed parliament. Picture: NewsWire / John Gass

Victims of teen crime, including Chris Sanders (centre), had backed the LNP on the new laws. Picture: NewsWire / John Gass

Other offences subject to the “adult crime, adult time” range include manslaughter, unlawful striking causing death, grievous bodily harm, wounding, serious assault, home and business break-ins and robbery and dangerous operation of vehicles.

Detention as a last resort would also be removed from the Youth Justice Act.

Mr Crisafulli previously told parliament the new laws would change how young offenders were sentenced.

This would include allowing the courts to consider their full criminal history at sentencing – including their juvenile record – when they are sentenced as an adult for a five-year period.

In 2023, Labor introduced a raft of changes following outcry over high-profile crimes involving young offenders, including the murder of North Lakes mum Emma Lovell.

Emma Lovell was killed by a teenager in a home invasion in 2022. Picture: Supplied

CCTV (blurred) of the home invasion where Emma Lovell was fatally stabbed. Picture: Supplied

Under the changes, juveniles faced up to 14 years’ jail for stealing cars, with harsher penalties if they bragged about their crimes on social media.

Then-premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said $9.89m would be fast-tracked for new sentencing programs in Brisbane, Townsville, Southport and Cairns so children spend “less time on remand and more time serving their sentences”.

Youth Justice Minister Laura Gerber said the Making Queensland Safer Laws would work hand-in-hand with early intervention and rehabilitation.

“Labor failed to act for a decade – they ignored victims, they ignored the warnings and ignored the chaos across Queensland,” Minister Gerber said.

“Under Labor, youth criminals were given a free pass, the Crisafulli Government’s laws send a clear message that if you do the wrong thing, you will face the consequences.