Queensland expands 'adult crime, adult time' laws amid low juvenile offence rates
Consensus Summary
Queensland’s Liberal National Party government is expanding its controversial 'adult crime, adult time' laws to include 12 new offences, despite data showing minimal juvenile involvement in most of these crimes. Between 2015 and 2025, no children were charged with aiding suicide or stupefying to commit an indictable offence, and only nine were charged with four other proposed offences. The most common offence among juveniles was assault occasioning bodily harm (3,022 charges), while other offences like rioting (21 charges) and abuse of persons with an impairment of the mind (five charges) were rare. The government justifies the expansion by overriding the Human Rights Act, citing an 'exceptional crisis situation' in youth crime, though critics like the Youth Advocacy Centre argue the data does not support this claim. Youth Justice Minister Laura Gerber insists the laws are making Queensland safer, with victim numbers down 7.2%, while opponents demand an independent review of the laws' effectiveness. The parliamentary committee reviewing the legislation must report by 17 April 2026.
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Key details reported by multiple sources:
- No children under 18 were charged with aiding suicide or stupefying to commit an indictable offence between 2015 and 2025.
- The Queensland government is expanding its 'adult crime, adult time' laws to include 12 new offences, bringing the total to 45 offences under the regime.
- Between 2015 and 2025, 3,022 juveniles were charged with assault occasioning bodily harm (armed, in company, or involving social media publication).
- The government is overriding the Queensland Human Rights Act to implement the expansion, citing an 'exceptional crisis situation' in youth crime.
- Youth Justice Minister Laura Gerber stated that victim numbers are down 7.2% and crime is down as a result of the laws.
- The parliamentary committee considering the legislation must publish its report by 17 April 2026.
- The new offences include disabling to commit an indictable offence, choking in a domestic setting, rioting, unlawful stalking, and indecent treatment of a child under 12.
- The Youth Advocacy Centre CEO, Katherine Hayes, called for an independent review of the laws' effectiveness and consequences within 12–18 months of implementation.
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- The government’s legislation would also add 'endangering the safety of a person in a vehicle with intent' to the adult crime, adult time regime, with 27 children charged with this offence between 2015 and 2025.
- The definition of a juvenile offender was changed in 2018 to include 17-year-olds, who were previously classed as adults.
- The Youth Justice Department data notes that a child could be counted multiple times if charged with the same offence across multiple years or with multiple distinct offences in the same year.
- The government’s changes could limit the right to protection from cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment and the right to humane treatment when deprived of liberty under the Human Rights Act.
- Police have been asking for stronger laws to help make the state safer for years, according to Youth Justice Minister Laura Gerber.
- The government’s secret panel appointed to choose the offences did not release its advice during the committee process, instead publishing a document labeled its 'final report' without the guidance.
- Youth offenders committed 12% of all offences in Queensland in the last year measured, according to the ABS.
- The legislation also gives police the power to move on homeless people from designated 'business and community precincts' for up to a month and repeals the state’s drug diversion program, allowing more fines for drug possession.
- The previous tranche of adult crime legislation included six offences that had not been committed in the period covered, according to data published last year.
- The government argued that the legislation is necessary to address a 'youth crime crisis' that saw victim numbers rise 193% under the former Labor government.
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- The Guardian states the government’s previous tranche of adult crime legislation included six offences that had not been committed in the period covered, while ABC does not mention this specific detail.
- ABC notes that the government’s data excludes instances where an offence was dealt with outside the court system, while the Guardian does not specify this exclusion.
- The Guardian claims the government’s secret panel’s advice was not released, while ABC does not mention the secrecy of the panel’s process.
Source Articles
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