‘Crime Epidemic in Retreat’: Queensland Sees Shocking 4% Plunge in Victims as LNP’s ‘Adult Crime, Adult Time’ Policy Takes Hold
- Queensland records 12,000 fewer victims of crime in 2025, with a 4% drop from the previous year
- LNP’s ‘adult crime, adult time’ policy credited for the decline, with Attorney-General Deb Frecklington hailing the data as “green shoots” in the government’s crime crackdown
- Victim numbers down across the board for serious crimes, including robbery, burglary, assault, and sexual assault
- Premier David Crisafulli’s job on the line as he tied his tenure to a reduction in crime victims, with the latest statistics exceeding his target
The latest crime statistics from the Australian Bureau of Statistics have delivered a stunning blow to Queensland’s crime epidemic, with a 4% plunge in victims of crime in 2025.
The numbers, released just days ago, show a significant decrease in victim numbers, with 277,411 recorded in 2025, down from 289,449 in the previous year.
This drop is the first yearly decline since the introduction of the LNP’s ‘adult crime, adult time’ policy, which has been championed by the government as a key plank in its crime crackdown.
The policy, which was legislated in late 2024, means that children guilty of serious crimes, including murder, manslaughter, and rape, are convicted as adults and face harsher sentences.
Attorney-General Deb Frecklington has hailed the data as “green shoots” in the government’s efforts to tackle crime, saying that every victim is “one victim too many”.
“But as a government, we consider this as a message to keep going, to stay strong, to stand on the side of victims in Queensland,” she added.
The ABS figures show that the decline in victim numbers is not limited to one area, with robbery and burglary seeing the steepest falls, down 13 and 12% respectively.
Assault, sexual assault, and motor vehicle theft also saw marginal falls, with the number of homicide victims decreasing from 92 to 90. The majority of homicide victims were male, and the most common age group involved was between 35 and 54 years old.
The decline in crime victims is a significant turnaround for Queensland, which recorded a 32-year high in 2024. The state’s crime rate had been on the upswing for several years, with many blaming a lack of tough laws and lenient sentencing.
However, the LNP’s ‘adult crime, adult time’ policy has been credited with the decline, with many experts saying that it has sent a strong message to would-be offenders.
Analysis: What This Means for Australia
The decline in crime victims in Queensland is a significant development that has national implications. The ‘adult crime, adult time’ policy has been closely watched by other states and territories, with many considering similar laws.
The success of the policy in Queensland could pave the way for a national crackdown on crime, with Attorney-General Deb Frecklington saying that the government will continue to “stay strong, to stand on the side of victims in Queensland”.
Security analysts say that the decline in crime victims is a result of the government’s tough stance on crime, which has sent a strong message to would-be offenders.
“The LNP’s ‘adult crime, adult time’ policy has been a game-changer in Queensland, and it’s clear that it’s having a significant impact on crime rates,” said one analyst.
“Other states and territories would do well to take note of Queensland’s success and consider similar laws.”
However, not everyone is convinced that the policy is the sole reason for the decline in crime victims. Some experts point to other factors, such as changes in policing strategies and an increase in community engagement.
“While the ‘adult crime, adult time’ policy has certainly played a role in the decline in crime victims, it’s not the only factor at play,” said one expert.
“We need to look at the broader picture and consider all the factors that are driving this trend.”
As the debate continues, one thing is clear: the decline in crime victims in Queensland is a significant development that has national implications.
Whether or not the ‘adult crime, adult time’ policy is the sole reason for the decline, it’s clear that it has sent a strong message to would-be offenders and has contributed to a safer Queensland.
With the government committed to continuing its tough stance on crime, it’s likely that the decline in crime victims will continue.
As Attorney-General Deb Frecklington said, “Every victim is one victim too many, but as a government, we consider this as a message to keep going, to stay strong, to stand on the side of victims in Queensland.”
crime statistics Queensland LNP Australian Bureau of Statistics