Crime riddled regional Queensland cities turned on Labor well before election

Voters in Queensland’s most crime-riddled suburbs made up their minds about ousting Labor well before election day, with a massive surge against them in pre-polling and postal votes.

The regions didn’t trust former Premier Steven Miles to handle youth crime. Picture Lachie Millard

Voters in Queensland’s most crime-riddled suburbs made up their minds about ousting Labor well before election day, with a massive surge against them in pre-polling and postal votes.

It comes as Queensland Police divisions with some of the worst crime rates showed a swing against Labor across the state, as the election race ultimately came down to who was going to fix the issue.

The LNP’s hard on crime policies, including “Adult Crime, Adult Time” played a pivotal part in the party’s win of crucial seats statewide, including all three of Townsville’s marginal electorates – Thuringowa, Mundingburra and Townsville.

Thousands of residents in other areas impacted by juvenile crime, including Toowoomba, Rockhampton, Mackay and Mount Isa, also voted early against Labor.

LNP also gained the seat of Capalaba with candidate Russell Field, whose son, partner, and their unborn child were killed by a teenager in a stolen car in 2021.

Mundingburra voters Maurice and Joanne Jacobsson – the police division with the worst break-in and car theft rates in the Townsville – said crime played a massive part in them voting LNP after they became victims.

A group of youths broke into their unit, stole their car filled with Christmas presents, and crashed it into a pole.

Ms Jacobsson, who works in insurance, said some of her elderly clients were going to extreme lengths to stay safe.

“Once they have been broken into, they actually sleep throughout the day and stay awake at night because they are so scared. It actually impacts their whole mental health and wellbeing,” Ms Jacobsson said.

The regions believe David Crisafulli is the man to end the youth crime crisis. Picture: Richard Walker

Some of the biggest booths in Townsville Division, which has a crime rate of 126 break-ins and 48 car thefts per 100,000, showed more than 40 per cent of the votes towards LNP.

In Kirwan Division, which has a crime rate of 124 break-ins and 55 car thefts per 100,000 people, one of its largest booths showed almost 40 per cent of the votes went to LNP’s Natalie Marr.

But pre-polling and postal votes in all three electorates showed residents had decided they’d had enough of their former MPs, with more than 14,000 people rushing to the polls early in Thuringowa.

The pre-polling in the electorate – which was held by Labor’s Aaron Harper – showed 46 per cent of voters got in early to elect Ms Marr at the Kirwan Early Voting centre. It had the most pre-polls in the region.

Aaron Harper has lost his seat. Picture: Shae Beplate.

Mr Harper fended off Ms Marr in the 2020 state election, but this time he received just 27 per cent of the pre-poll votes at the early voting booth.

Ms Marr said voters knew what they wanted, and she was going to deliver for them.

“Early voters are usually voters who have made their decision,” Ms Marr said.

“I strongly believe grassroots door knocking and being engaged with the community during the last four years shows in the results. I also believe our community was ready for change.”

Thousands of postal votes also painted a similar picture, with more than 50 per cent towards LNP’s Adam Baillie and Janelle Poole to help them claim the seats of Townsville and Mundingburra from Labor’s Scott Stewart and Les Walker.

Mr Jacobsson said he expected the LNP to act on their promised policies, which include enabling juveniles to be sentenced as adults for very serious crimes.

“They all promise everything but now we’ll see what happens in four years time and see what they deliver,” Mr Jacobsson said.

Originally published as Crime riddled regional Queensland cities turned on Labor well before election