Mundingburra MP Janelle Poole speaks on QPS data showing increase in motor vehicle thefts

Mundingburra MP Janelle Poole is confident that as the months progress, crime rates will decrease because of the LNP’s Adult Crime, Adult Time laws despite the most recent data.

Queensland premier, David Crisafulli and local LNP members Adam Baillie, Natalie Marr and Janelle Poole at Kirwan Police Station. December 13 2024.

Mundingburra MP Janelle Poole is confident that as the months progress, crime rates will decrease because of the LNP’s Adult Crime, Adult Time laws.

This comes as the latest Queensland Police Service data showed there was a five per cent increase in unlawful use of a motor vehicle offences in January 2025 compared to January 2024.

Since the Crisafulli Government was elected and tougher penalties for youth crime were handed down on December 13, Townsville’s overall crime rate is still on the rise.

Ms Poole said on Tuesday the figures do show an increase, but that it was important to consider the time of the offences.

Premier David Crisafulli with Member for Townsville Adam Baillie, Member for Mundingburra Janelle Poole and Member for Thuringowa Natalie Marr at the Townsville Police Station. Picture: Evan Morgan

“What you will see with those figures is that some of those offences, and I’m not trying to pass the buck here this is the way it works, some of those offences that are included in those January figures are offences that were committed prior to the Adult Crime Adult Time and Making Queensland Safer Laws that were introduced,” she said.

“When you commit an offence you get charged under the legislation of the date that offence was committed, so some of those offences would have been committed prior to our legislation so they are charged and sentenced under the old legislation.”

Ms Poole said she was confident that as the months progressed that numbers would begin to drop for youth crime offences.

Brisbane, 18 February 2025. Queensland Minister for Youth Justice Laura Gerber during the first sitting day of parliament. Picture: Supplied

A spokeswoman for Youth Justice Minister Laura Gerber defended the Crisafulli Government’s efforts on Monday, saying that fixing a decade of weak laws takes time.

“Unravelling a decade of weak laws is a process, but we are already on the path to fewer victims of crime, and we will continue delivering the reforms needed to restore safety where you live.”

Originally published as Mundingburra MP Janelle Poole speaks on QPS data showing increase in motor vehicle thefts