Queensland Expands Adult Crime Law to 33 Offences
A Fresh Start for Queensland: Adult Crime, Adult Time expands to 33 offences
- The Crisafulli Government has today introduced the expansion of Adult Crime, Adult Time to the Queensland Parliament.
- The expansion brings Adult Crime, Adult Time to 33 offences and delivers on a key commitment to act on recommendations from the Expert Legal Panel.
- 20 new offences include arson, torture, kidnapping, trafficking in dangerous drugs, rape, attempted rape, sexual assault, ramming a police vehicle while driving and attempted murder.
- Expert Legal Panel delivered recommendations to Government following stakeholder consultation, consideration of crime statistics, community safety, and harm index.
The Crisafulli Government is expanding its landmark Adult Crime, Adult Time laws to 33 youth crime offences, with new laws introduced to the Queensland Parliament today, as part of its commitment to restore community safety.
The Making Queensland Safer (Adult Crime, Adult Time) Amendment Bill 2025 provides for an additional 20 Adult Crime, Adult Time offences, including attempted murder, rape, attempted rape, torture, aggravated attempted robbery, trafficking in dangerous drugs, and endangering a police officer when driving a motor vehicle.
The expanded list of Adult Crime, Adult Time offences follows recommendations from the Expert Legal Panel which was established to consider further and more complex crimes, in line with the process outlined during the election.
It follows the landmark Making Queensland Safer Laws that were delivered before Christmas, as part of the Crisafulli Government’s election pledge of a fresh start for Queensland.
Premier David Crisafulli said expanding Adult Crime, Adult Time was the next major step in restoring community safety.
“Adult Crime, Adult Time puts victims first by restoring consequences for action, it’s what we promised and what we’re delivering,” Premier Crisafulli said.
“Not only does this send a strong message to youth criminals, it is critical in taking dangerous repeat offenders off our street to help make our community safer.
“We’ve had 10 years of youth criminals getting a green light from Labor; Adult Crime, Adult Time is a red-light on youth crime.
“This is the next step to restoring safety but it won’t be the last, we’ll continue delivering the stronger laws needed to arrest the Youth Crime Crisis.”
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Minister for Integrity Deb Frecklington said the expanded Adult Crime, Adult Time offences would lift the threshold for sentencing.
“Labor’s lax and lenient laws let us down for a decade, but the Crisafulli Government is steadfast in its commitment to Queenslanders, and to putting the rights of victims ahead of the rights of offenders,” the Attorney-General said.
“We are giving our courts every tool they need to deliver sentences that reflect community expectations and, importantly, the expectations of victims.
“Adult Crime, Adult Time is exactly what we promised we would deliver and we’ll continue delivering the reform needed to make our community safer.”
Minister for Youth Justice and Corrective Services Laura Gerber said the Expert Legal Panel was continuing its work considering further reform.
“Every change we make will be to strengthen youth crime laws, not weaken them like we saw under the former Labor Government,” Minister Gerber said.
“But we’re not just focused on delivering consequences for actions – our plan is also focused on effective early intervention and meaningful rehabilitation to help break the cycle of crime for good.”
Minister for Police and Emergency Services Dan Purdie said the expansion of the Adult Crime, Adult Time would help police to do their jobs.
“Strengthening these laws is exactly what we promised Queenslanders and now we have delivered,” Minister Purdie said.
“Police officers work tirelessly to protect our community, and this expanded list of offences will not only help protect them as they go about their duties, but also act as a strong deterrent to young offenders.”
https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/102316