THE State Government will introduce legislation to the Queensland Parliament this week to expand its Adult Crime, Adult Time laws to cover 45 youth crime offences, adding a further 12 serious crimes to the regime.
The new offences include assault occasioning bodily harm, conspiring to murder, riot, unlawful stalking and intimidation, domestic violence strangulation, indecent treatment of a child under 16, and several offences involving intent to seriously harm.
The expansion follows recommendations from an Expert Legal Panel established to examine more complex and serious youth offending.
The Government said the changes are part of a broader strategy to strengthen youth crime laws, increase police numbers, and invest in early intervention and rehabilitation programs, after what it describes as a decade of rising youth crime under the former Labor Government.
Since the passage of the Making Queensland Safer Laws, more than 4,000 youth offenders have been charged with over 19,000 Adult Crime, Adult Time offences.
The Government report the number of crime victims has fallen by 7.2 per cent in 2025 compared with the previous year.
Premier David Crisafulli said the expansion of Adult Crime, Adult Time was a critical step in reducing victim numbers and restoring community confidence.
“We promised Queenslanders we would continue to strengthen our youth crime laws and put the rights of victims first, and that’s exactly what we are doing,” the Premier said. “Expanding Adult Crime, Adult Time sends a strong message that there are consequences for serious criminal behaviour.”
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Deb Frecklington said the reforms would give courts greater capacity to impose sentences that reflect the seriousness of offending.
“In just 12 months, we’ve taken decisive action to address youth crime and break the cycle of repeat offending,” she said. “Judges and magistrates now have stronger tools to hand down sentences that align with community expectations.”
Minister for Youth Justice and Victim Support Laura Gerber said the laws were already having an impact, while acknowledging that long-term change would take time.
“We are starting to see a reduction in victim numbers and serious repeat youth offenders,” she said. “At the same time, we are expanding early intervention and intensive rehabilitation programs to address the causes of youth crime and prevent reoffending.”
The Bill will be introduced to Parliament this week as part of the Government’s ongoing commitment to strengthen youth justice laws and improve community safety across Queensland.
