General News
12 July, 2025
Premier on crime crusade
PREMIER David Crisafulli has detailed what he plans to do to beat the crime epidemic in Cairns.
Last week he visited Edmonton to outline more money for the police helicopter, a new youth justice school and upgrades to Edmonton police station.
As part of the 2025-26 budget, major new initiatives and upgrades will be delivered in the Far North, including:
Polair capacity locked-in for nine years for the Far North
A major $35 million upgrade to Edmonton Police Station
A new youth justice school for young people on youth justice community orders
More police on the beat as part of 1600 new recruits across the state over the next four years.
He said the Far North had experienced some of the worst of the youth crime crisis “and we are delivering the stronger laws, police, early intervention and rehabilitation needed to restore safety”.
“There’s much more work to do to turn the tide on youth crime in the Far North but we’ll deliver what’s needed to make the community safer,” Mr Crisafulli said.
“Frontline police deserve the best tools to do their job and that’s exactly what we’re delivering for Cairns by locking-in Polair for the long-term.
“A ($20m) youth justice school will also help turn young lives away from crime before they become another generation of repeat offenders.”
Police and Emergency Services Minister Dan Purdie said the budget was delivering the resources police needed to make the Far North safer. “The people of Cairns and Edmonton and surrounding regions have called for help to get a grip on the spiralling crime levels after a decade of inaction,” he said.
“We are putting more boots on the ground, more eyes in the sky and giving police the infrastructure they need to drive down crime and keep communities safe.”
Youth Justice, Victim Support and Corrective Services Minister Laura Gerber said the youth justice schools were part of the ‘Making Queensland Safer Plan’.
She said the schools would break the cycle of repeat youth offenders by diverting them away from a life of crime.
“The schools will be targeted towards crime diversion, delivering highly specialised behavioural reform, with individual case management, mentoring and personalised support for both the youth and their family.
“These children need discipline, support, education and structure to get them back on track which is exactly what the youth justice schools will provide.”
Since October 2024 – when it first launched in Cairns – Polair has been involved in 617 jobs, assisted in the arrests of 167 people, including 76 juveniles, and helped to locate 73 stolen vehicles.
