Queensland has been crowned ‘the crime capital of Australia’, recording the most victims of crime in any state or territory.
Almost 300,000 residents became victims of crime in the last year alone, while car thefts and home invasions are at record levels.
According to new data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, 58,479 assaults and 49,490 break-ins occurred in 2023.
At least 18,210 car thefts took place.
The data found crime rates were 12 per cent higher in Queensland compared to NSW, which has a larger population of 8.4 million residents compared to Queensland’s 5.5 million residents.
If you’re in Queensland, you’re twice as likely to have your car pinched than if you’re in NSW and that’s not the kind of state that we want to see,” Queensland Opposition Leader David Crisafulli told Today.
The Queensland government has introduced a new support package for victims of crime which will come into effect tomorrow.
The measures include free counselling and financial aid available for victims who have experienced more violent crimes.
Nationals Leader David Littleproud told Today the measures came “all too little, too late”.
“I’ve been calling for a couple of years now that we should have outback camps to rebuild these young people, to show them they do have a purpose,” he said.
“What you do do is you teach them skills. You give them a trade.
“They come away with a purpose that they know they can actually do something in life.”
