Recent Queensland police statistics confirm that crime on the Sunshine Coast is out of control under the Palaszczuk Labor Government.
The 2017-18 QPS Annual Statistical Review shows that since Labor took office in 2015, crime has exploded.*
• Robbery is up 53%
• Car theft and hooning (unlawful use of a motor vehicle) is up 54%
• Fraud is up 64%
• Unlawful entry is up 11%
• Assault is up 46%
Member for Kawana, Jarrod Bleijie, used the opportunity in Parliament yesterday to question the Police Minister and the Premier about the Palaszczuk government’s failure in their duty to keep Queenslanders safe.
“Over the past couple of months, we have seen more and more incidences of serious crime sweeping its way across our region – robberies, assaults and a recent public shooting,” Mr Bleijie said.
“Frightening headlines are becoming a weekly occurrence, including, ‘Man, 35, arrested over string of Coast break-ins’, ‘Man, 21, charged with armed robbery of Coast 7-Eleven’, ‘Hunt on as tomahawk robbers strike twice in 24 hours’, ‘Coast armed robbers’, ‘Chemist armed robbery accused hopes for bail’, ‘18yo held up by knife-wielding man’ and – more concerning in the last couple of weeks – ‘Shooting sparks fears bikies are back’.
“Every day, I hear another story from another fed up or frightened resident fearful of having their car broken into or stolen, or having their home burgled – enough is enough!”
Mr Bleijie said that since the Palaszczuk Labor government wound back the LNP’s strong criminal gang laws, organized crime groups and drugs have flooded into the community.
“It’s no coincidence that since Labor took office crime has exploded and incredibly Labor’s last Budget cut police funding by $44.6 million. Our Police do an incredible job, but they’re under-resourced and overstretched under this soft-on-crime Labor government,” he said.
In a subsequent Question on Notice submitted to the Premier, Mr Bleijie has requested ‘increased funding to facilitate more policeman and policewoman at the Kawana Waters Police Station’, and that ‘a direction be provided in writing to the Police Commissioner to deploy additional officers on a permanent basis to the Kawana Waters Police Station.
Mr Bleijie said he would be shortly launching a public campaign on the matter.
[ENDS] 1 November 2018
* Statistics used from QPS Annual Statistical Review compare offence type from 2015-16 financial year with 2017/18 financial year.
