Case Explained: Youth crime laws strengthened | Noosa Today – Legal Perspective

The state government is expanding its landmark Adult Crime, Adult Time laws to 45 youth crime offences, with new laws being introduced to the Queensland Parliament this week.    

The government says since the passing of the Making Queensland Safer Laws, more than 4,000 youth offenders have been charged with over 19,000 Adult Crime, Adult Time offences and the number of crime victims has fallen 7.2 per cent in 2025, compared to the previous year.  

The Bill adds a dozen new offences to Adult Crime, Adult Time, which are:

Assault occasioning bodily harm 

Conspiring to murder 

Unlawful stalking, intimidation, harassment or abuse 

Riot 

Abuse of persons with an impairment of the mind 

Indecent treatment of a child under the age of 16 

Choking, suffocation, or strangulation in a domestic setting 

Disabling in order to commit indictable offence 

Stupefying in order to commit indictable offence  

Endangering the safety of a person in a vehicle with intent 

Aiding suicide 

Administering poison with intent to harm 

Premier David Crisafulli said expanding Adult Crime, Adult Time was another critical step towards reducing victim numbers and turning the tide on youth crime. 

He said the expansion was based on the recommendation of an expert legal panel established to consider more complex and serious offences.

“Expanding Adult Crime, Adult Time sends a strong message to young thugs, that there are consequences for their actions,” he said.

Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Deb Frecklington said in 12 months, the government had taken strong, decisive steps to address Labor’s Youth Crime Crisis and break the cycle of repeat offending, and were giving judges and magistrates the tools they needed to hand down sentences that reflect community expectations. 

“We’re just getting started and our important work will continue, including strengthening laws where necessary,” she said. 

Minister for Youth Justice and Victim Support Laura Gerber said: “we  are finally on the path to breaking the cycle of crime in this State and youth offenders are not only facing serious consequences for their actions but, we are also delivering early intervention and intensive rehabilitation programs across the State”.