Queensland youth crime victims say 'long way to go' despite fall

Victims of youth crime in Queensland say the state still has a long way to go, even as new figures show fewer people were affected last year.

Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows there were about 12,000 fewer crime victims in Queensland in 2025 than in the previous year, a drop of 4 per cent. One expert said crime remained problematic in the state because the crime rate was still at a 20-year high.

Youth crime was one of the four key issues at the 2024 state election. During the campaign, the now premier pledged there would be fewer victims, saying he would not be seen at the next election if that did not happen. He later clarified that the pledge would be measured per capita.

Since the government came to power, laws have been passed that see juveniles charged with serious offences face tougher sentences. One person interviewed said the results promised under the government's "adult crime, adult time" approach had not yet been seen.

In Townsville, a dance studio described as a place of joy for children was destroyed by fire in 2023. Two 15-year-old boys were charged over the blaze. Owner Tara Howard watched the building burn and said the experience was too raw to continue. The business has since been sold, and she has no plans to open another studio, saying she would not feel safe.

A Brisbane family said they experienced at least four attempted break-ins over a three-month period. Two boys were charged in June. The family has since moved, saying they were constantly worried someone was trying to get in and did not feel safe.

Frustration over youth crime has also spilled onto the streets before. In 2019, residents in Sunnybank gathered after a doctor was shot in his garage by a 17-year-old boy.

Youth Justice Minister Laura Gerber, one of the key ministers responsible for reducing victim numbers, said there was a long way to go to reverse the crisis. She said the government would continue to deliver stronger laws.