LNP’s new laws will end Cairns crimewave

Wednesday 28 October, 2020

Cairns voters have just four days left to stop Labor’s crimewave in its tracks, LNP Shadow Attorney-General David Janetzki said today.

Mr Janetzki said crime had skyrocketed in Far North Queensland under Labor – but the party had failed to deliver any plan to cut crime.

New crime figures have revealed there were 303 recorded assaults in Cairns in August – the highest number ever.

The record was almost smashed again in September, when 291 assaults took place.

There are now almost 10 recorded assaults in the Cairns district every day.

“This wave of violent crime must stop,” Mr Janetzki said.

“Labor pollies have made a lot of visits to Cairns but they don’t want to talk about crime.

“Only the LNP has a plan to stop Labor’s crimewave and make the streets safe again.

“We will put 60 more police into Cairns and we’ll work with the AFP to smash ICE gangs.

“The LNP will also give our police and our courts the tough laws they need to cut crime.

“A Deb Frecklington LNP Government will crackdown on youth crime, but there will also be new laws to reduce domestic violence, knife crime and gun crime.

“Only the LNP will put victims first and cut crime in Cairns.”

Since Annastacia Palaszczuk became Premier, robbery has increased by 85% in Cairns, armed robbery is up 72% and car theft is up 69%.

LNP Candidate for Cairns Sam Marino said Labor’s local MPs were in denial about crime.

“Labor has never admitted there is a serious crime problem and they have done nothing to address it,” Mr Marino said.

“The LNP will deal with Labor’s youth crime wave, but we will also do more to protect the victims of domestic violence, as well as gun and knife crime.

“My community shouldn’t have to live in fear of crime. The LNP will give our police the tough laws they need to make Cairns safe again.”

The LNP will cut youth crime by: scrapping Labor’s ‘catch and release’ laws; bringing back breach of bail as an offence; introducing mandatory detention for third convictions; a new night-time curfew for under-18s; and more early intervention through a $7 million justice reinvestment program in Cairns and Townsville.

The LNP will protect domestic violence victims by: doubling the current maximum penalty for strangulation from 7 years to 14 years; introducing new laws to empower police to issue domestic violence orders on the spot; rolling out 200 personal safety devices to people vulnerable to domestic violence; providing $2.4 milllion of extra funding to provide victims with support and crisis accommodation.

The LNP will crackdown on knife crime by: asking the Queensland Law Reform Commission to consider new laws, including increased stop and search powers for police.

The LNP will cut gun crime by: allowing QPS to issue Firearm Prohibition Orders banning ‘high-risk’ individuals from owning firearms; creating a new ‘drive-by’ shooting offence against offenders who fire at buildings, cars and dwellings; and new laws against the 3D printing of firearms.

Source: https://www.police.qld.gov.au/maps-and-statistics (Go to District Report Offences Number)