- Miles Labor Government releases evidence-based Community Safety Plan for Queensland.
- Centred on five targeted pillars of action, which drive focus and investment across government agencies and NGOs.
- Backed by new ideas, new investments and an expansion of initiatives that are working.
Premier Steven Miles has today released the Community Safety Plan for Queensland, backed by $1.28 billion in additional investment from the government.
It builds on the successful measures that we have seen reduce offending in the first quarter of this year, with new investment and expanded initiatives.
The plan is focused on five key pillars, backed by evidence:
- Supporting victims.
- Delivering for our frontline.
- Detaining offenders to protect the community.
- Intervening when people offend.
- Preventing crime before it occurs.
The plan is a product of the Premier, Ministers' and Police Commissioners meeting with frontline police, DFSV frontline workers, victims of crime and experts.
It charts the path for a safer, more vibrant Queensland that provides opportunity for all – grounded in decisive action.
Simply put, the plan delivers more police and more police resources, more funding for the DFSV sector, action to address exposure to family violence and drug and alcohol abuse, and more programs to prevent crime and intervene early.
It's highlighted that of young people involved in the youth justice system, 53 per cent are impacted by domestic and family violence and 48 per cent are not enrolled in education or in training or in employment.
Concerningly, 38 per cent of youth in custody have used ice or methamphetamine in the past.
It's these underlying factors that the government's comprehensive community safety plan targets, building on the $1.65 billion Better Care Together mental health support plan, $3.1 billion Homes for Queenslanders plan and $288 million package to keep kids engaged in education.
The Community Safety Plan for Queensland can be found online at: www.qld.gov.au/about/community-safety
Quotes attributable to Premier Steven Miles:
"Queensland is the place for opportunity and for aspiration, a place for industries of the future to foster and where anyone who wants a job can get a job.
"Crime and its causes are complex – often stemming from experiences of domestic violence, homelessness, disengagement from education, poor mental health and lack of family support.
"My government's Community Safety Plan for Queensland is about delivering the evidence-based prevention and intervention services to prevent crime from occurring, while giving police the tools and laws they need to track and detain offenders.
"These initiatives have helped to deliver a reduction in overall offences by young people by 10.7 per cent this year (QPS, Q1 2024 compared to Q1 2023).
"While we know there will always be some level of crime, it's our jobs as a government to put the plans in place to respond quickly and support those victims."
Quotes attributable to Deputy Premier Cameron Dick:
"I said that if our police needed any additional funding to tackle crime and make our community safer, we would deliver for them.
"That is exactly what the Community Safety Plan for Queensland does.
"These are real measures, informed by our police and the best practices when it comes to preventing crime and criminal behaviour.
"Now is the time for David Crisafulli to give up his three-word slogans, to tell Queenslanders what he would actually do to fulfil his guarantee that all crime would be lower, and to explain how he would pay for it."
Quotes attributable to the Attorney General, Minister for Justice and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence:
"The Community Safety Plan for Queensland doesn't just address crime – but takes a holistic approach, using evidence-based research to prevent crime from happening, capturing at-risk youth before offending begins and supporting victims.
"Victims often feel alone and unheard after being targeted by criminals, but this plan along with work already underway for victims, should demonstrate that the Miles Government has listened and is acting in their interests.
"We also know domestic and family violence is a contributing factor for more than half of young people involved in the youth justice system, this is why we are increasing our funding for the sector by 20% to address a surge in demand for their services."
Quotes attributable to Police Minister Mark Ryan:
"This is a comprehensive plan to further enhance community safety.
"It's a multi-pronged approach that reflects the government's commitment to detain those who need to be detained, but also intervene with the programs and supports that work to break the cycle of offending.
"The community can rest assured that the Queensland Police Service will continue the deployment of successful operations like Operation Whiskey Unison, Operation Whiskey Legion and Taskforce Guardian, which have produced encouraging results in reducing crime in many regions across the state.
"This comprehensive plan demonstrates the government's absolute commitment to backing police and making the necessary investments to keep Queenslanders safe, and make them feel safe."
Quotes attributable to Youth Justice Minister Di Farmer:
"The Miles Government is committed to keeping Queenslanders safe.
"We are investing in more programs to tackle the root causes of crime.
"We will continue working with parents to get kids on the right path and ensure we always support victims."
Commissioner of Police Steve Gollschewski:
"The QPS welcomes the Government's announcements of additional police personnel, resources and new laws which will all support our dedicated frontline officers.
"They will assist us in our commitment to keeping the community safe and ensuring they feel safe."
Quotes attributable to Crimestoppers Queensland Chair Greg Beale:
"This additional investment from the state government will allow us to grow and diversify our volunteer program, improve our website accessibility and inclusivity, further advance our anonymous reporting platform, and collaborate with more community organisations to ensure all Queenslanders can report illegal activity in a safe, anonymous manner.
"We look forward to continuing our work to ensure a safer Queensland for everyone."
Quotes attributable to Stop the Coward Punch Campaign Director Danny Green:
"As a parent I know all I want is for my children to be able to go out and enjoy themselves without the fear of being harmed, or worse, killed, because of a disgusting act of cowardice.
"Stop the coward punch campaign has been working hard for 12 years and has diminished the amount of deaths in the community, and has powerfully changed the vernacular in society so everyone associates this type of unnecessary violence with cowards.
"The impact on the families of victims, and survivors lasts forever. The campaign is focused on awareness and education to continue to change behaviour and attitude so we can have a safe and cohesive existence."
