I Didn’t Have to Step Up. I Chose To.
I didn’t go into politics because I needed a job.
I went into politics because I had one.
I had built businesses. I had created jobs. I had raised my family here in Far North Queensland. I had a life that I genuinely loved.
I had spent my entire working life being self-employed, taking risks, building things and contributing to the community I call home.
And then I got tired of watching the same problems come up year after year.
I got tired of seeing our community hurt by crime.
I got tired of hearing from families who were scared in their own homes, business owners who were being repeatedly targeted and parents who worried about what their kids were being exposed to.
And I got tired of feeling like nothing was changing.
So eventually, I made a decision.
I could sit on the sidelines and complain about it.
Or I could step up and try to do something about it.
I chose to step up.
Because I love Cairns.
I believe in Far North Queensland. I believe in our people. I believe our lifestyle is worth protecting, and I believe our community deserves better.
Since the LNP Crisafulli Government came into office, we have been getting on with the job.
We have strengthened our youth crime laws.
We have put more police on the frontline.
We have given police stronger laws and better tools to do their jobs.
We have invested in early intervention, rehabilitation and programs designed to stop young people from entering the criminal justice system in the first place.
And we have started delivering the infrastructure and services our region needs.
But I am not going to stand here and pretend the job is done.
Because Cairns is still hurting.
Crime remains one of the biggest issues facing our community.
There are still serious repeat offenders who simply do not think the law applies to them.
They break into homes. They steal cars. They terrorise businesses. They target families.
And in the most devastating circumstances, innocent people are hurt or lose their lives.
Our police are doing their job.
They are out there catching offenders. They are making arrests. They are investigating offences and putting dangerous people before the courts.
But we need a justice system that backs them up.
That is why I have been so vocal about bail reform.
Our community is sick of the revolving door.
When someone is released on bail, breaches that bail and then commits another serious offence, people quite reasonably ask:
How many chances are enough?
Thousands of people across Far North Queensland have made their views clear through our petition and through the conversations I have had with residents, business owners, families and community groups.
They want stronger consequences for serious repeat offenders who breach bail.
I agree.
If you are an adult on bail and you commit another serious offence, there must be serious consequences.
If you are a serious repeat youth offender, you are on bail and you commit another serious offence, there must be serious consequences.
Breach bail. Go to jail.
And we also cannot pretend that the problem magically disappears when a serious repeat youth offender turns 18.
Turning 18 should not mean pressing reset on a history of serious offending.
Serious offending has consequences, and a history of serious offending should be taken seriously when that person enters adulthood.
Our community has had enough of people who should be behind bars being released back onto our streets.
People deserve to feel safe in their homes.
And that is what I will continue fighting for.
Keeping people safe requires more than legislation.
It requires police. It requires investment. It requires prevention. It requires early intervention. It requires rehabilitation for those who can be turned away from crime.
And it requires building the facilities and infrastructure our frontline services need.
That is exactly what the Crisafulli Government is delivering across Far North Queensland.
What we are delivering to make Far North Queensland safer
Stronger bail reform
We have already called for stronger bail laws for serious repeat youth offenders with thousands on FNQ supporting these reforms. The next phase of Adult Crime, Adult Time, with new Breach Bail, Go to Jail reforms are set to strengthen youth bail laws and hold repeat offenders accountable when they commit serious crimes while on bail.
If you are an adult on bail and you commit another serious offence, there must be serious consequences. If you are a serious repeat youth offender, you are on bail and commit another serious offence, there must be serious consequences.
More police on the frontline
We are delivering more police across the Far North, with more than 200 additional frontline police already delivered in the region.
That means more boots on the ground and more capacity for our hardworking local officers.
We have also expanded specialist policing operations, including the State Flying Squad, which has been deployed to the Far North to target serious offenders and crime hotspots. The State Flying Squad has been deployed in the Far North to target high-harm and repeat offenders. A dedicated Property Crime Unit has been established to target break-ins, theft and property crime.
POLAIR in Far North Queensland
We have expanded aerial policing capability so police have another powerful tool to track offenders, locate stolen vehicles and respond quickly across our large and geographically challenging region.
Adult Crime, Adult Time
We made our landmark Adult Crime, Adult Time laws a reality, ensuring serious repeat youth offenders face tougher consequences for serious crimes.
The laws have subsequently been expanded, with the Government moving to increase the number of offences covered to 45.
Jack’s Law
We made Jack’s Law permanent and giving police stronger powers to detect and remove weapons from our streets.
In Cairns alone, thousands of wanding operations have been conducted, with weapons seized as police take the fight directly to those carrying them.
Tougher laws on drugs and antisocial behaviour
We are strengthening the laws and giving police and the justice system greater tools to deal with offending that impacts our communities.
Domestic and Family Violence Electronic Monitoring
We are introducing stronger measures to monitor high-risk offenders and protect victims of domestic and family violence.
Daniels Law
We are delivering laws to create a public sex offender register, giving Queenslanders greater access to information designed to help keep children and families safe.
Cairns Courthouse improvements
We are investing in the Cairns Courthouse to improve the facilities supporting our local justice system.
Edmonton Police Facility upgrade
We are upgrading the Edmonton Police facility, strengthening the infrastructure available to our frontline officers.
Cairns Fire Communications Centre
We are investing in emergency response capability through the Cairns Fire Communications Centre.
Cairns Youth Justice School
We are delivering a new Cairns Youth Justice School, due to open in 2027, providing an important education pathway for young people in the youth justice system.
Regional Reset
The Regional Reset program is providing intensive early intervention for young people before offending escalates, combining structure, support and life skills.
Staying on Track
For young people leaving detention, Staying on Track provides ongoing mentoring and rehabilitation support designed to help them build stability and avoid returning to crime.
Kickstarter early intervention programs
We are investing in local organisations working directly with young people to divert them away from crime and towards education, training, employment and positive community connections.
In Cairns, Kickstarter funding has supported organisations delivering programs ranging from youth mentoring and cultural programs to practical skills and employment pathways.
Keeping our kids safe
We are investing in programs designed to protect children and intervene early, because the best outcome is not simply catching a young offender after they commit a crime.
The best outcome is stopping that crime from happening in the first place.
We are already seeing progress.
I know there are people who will say that nothing has changed.
I understand why they feel that way.
For a community that has experienced years of crime, one statistic or one announcement isn’t enough.
People want to feel the difference in their homes, their businesses and their streets.
But the evidence shows we are moving in the right direction.
Across Queensland, victim numbers fell in 2025, while Far North Queensland also recorded a reduction in victims. It’s not enough to write home about, but there has been a reduction.
They don’t mean we can declare victory.
They mean we keep going.
This is why I stepped up
I didn’t have to become a politician. I could have stayed in business. I could have kept doing what I had always done.I could have kept my head down, focused on my family and my own life, and left the difficult political arguments to someone else.
But I couldn’t do that anymore.
I couldn’t watch our community struggle and simply hope somebody else would fix it.
So I chose to fight.
Not because politics is easy.
It isn’t.
I knew there would be pressure. I knew there would be scrutiny. I knew there would be criticism.
But I also knew that if I genuinely believed in this place, I had to be prepared to stand up for it.
That is what representing Barron River and Far North Queensland means to me.
It means listening when people are angry, standing beside victims.
It means backing our police, fighting for families and small businesses.
It means delivering practical investment into our region.
And it means being honest enough to say when more needs to be done.
Yes, we have made progress. We have changed laws. We have put more police on the frontline. We have invested in prevention. We have strengthened our justice system. We are building the infrastructure our region needs.
But there is still more to do.
And you have my word:
I will keep fighting for tougher laws, stronger consequences and a justice system that puts victims and law-abiding Queenslanders first.
I chose politics because I love this place. Because I believe in Cairns.
And I chose it because I believe our community is worth fighting for.
And I won’t stop.
You have my word.
Bree
