The Queensland Government has passed new legislation to expand its “Adult Crime, Adult Time” framework, marking a significant shift in how the state responds to youth crime, drug offences, and antisocial behaviour.
The Expanding Adult Crime, Adult Time and Taking a Strong Stance on Drugs and Antisocial Behaviour Bill 2026 introduces tougher penalties, broader police powers, and a revised approach to drug enforcement, measures the government says are aimed at improving community safety and reducing repeat offending.
A central feature of the reform is the expansion of the Adult Crime, Adult Time policy to cover 12 additional serious offences. These include crimes such as aggravated assault causing bodily harm, stalking and harassment, riot-related offences, and serious domestic violence-related acts like choking or strangulation.
Other newly included offences range from conspiring to murder and administering poison with intent to harm, to crimes involving the abuse of vulnerable individuals and endangering lives in vehicles.
By widening the scope of offences, the legislation increases the number of situations where young offenders can face adult-equivalent penalties.
The reforms also introduce Designated Business and Community Precincts in key regional centres, including Maryborough, Mackay, Cairns, and Townsville. Within these areas, police are granted additional authority to issue move-on orders and ban individuals engaging in disruptive or harmful behaviour.
The aim is to provide stronger protections for small businesses, workers, and families, particularly in high-traffic urban areas where antisocial behaviour has been a persistent concern.
In addition to crime and policing reforms, the legislation includes a new Illicit Drug Enforcement and Diversion Framework. This approach seeks to strike a balance between enforcement and health-based responses.
Under the framework, repeat or serious drug offenders face stricter consequences, while first-time or low-risk individuals may be diverted into treatment and support programs. The intention is to reduce drug-related harm while maintaining accountability.
According to government figures, the introduction of Adult Crime, Adult Time laws has coincided with a 7.2% reduction in the number of crime victims in 2025 compared to the previous year. Nearly 4,700 young people have been charged with more than 22,800 offences under the framework so far.
Supporters of the reforms argue that stronger laws, combined with increased policing and early intervention, are beginning to reverse long-term trends in youth offending.
At the same time, the changes continue to generate debate around the balance between deterrence and rehabilitation—particularly in relation to the treatment of young offenders within the justice system.
Alongside stricter penalties, the reforms include a continued emphasis on rehabilitation. Young offenders sentenced under the framework are provided with structured support, including up to 12 months of post-detention rehabilitation aimed at reducing reoffending and supporting reintegration into the community.
This dual approach, combining consequences with intervention, reflects a broader strategy to address not just the symptoms of youth crime, but its underlying causes.
The expansion of Adult Crime, Adult Time represents one of the most significant justice reforms in Queensland in recent years. As implementation continues, its long-term impact on crime rates, community safety, and youth rehabilitation will be closely watched.
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