Oriel Macpherson, a 65-year-old pensioner, keeps a key around her neck for the locks she has installed on every window and door in her house. “I feel like I’m living in a prison,” Ms. Macpherson said. Her sentiment echoes the growing anxiety among residents of Murgon, a regional Queensland town 250 kilometers northwest of Brisbane, as they grapple with a surge in crime.
Ms. Macpherson and her son, who is 25 and autistic, were asleep when a group of young men broke into their home in May, searching for car keys. “My son was assaulted; they were bashing him with a PVC pipe and a metal pipe,” she recounted. The traumatic encounter left her son so shaken that he hasn’t spoken since. Despite spending nearly $2,000 on security measures, including CCTV cameras, her home was targeted again last month.
End-of-Year Crime Spike
Queensland Police have noted an uptick in crime in Murgon, despite the overall rate being lower than in previous years. Last year, the town saw 62 offenses in October and 48 in November, which jumped to 103 in December. This year, the figures were 60 in October and 84 in November, primarily property offenses.
In response to community concerns, police conducted a week-long tactical operation from December 8 to 15, resulting in 49 people being charged with 202 offenses, including break-ins, stolen cars, and drug and traffic offenses. Assistant Commissioner for the Southern Region, Matthew Vanderbyl, emphasized the police’s commitment to addressing crime spikes.
“When we do receive concerns about perceptions or real spikes in crime, we will surge into that area,” Assistant Commissioner Vanderbyl said.
Community at Breaking Point
The Murgon community has held several meetings organized by the South Burnett Regional Council to address the crime issue. Mayor Kathy Duff expressed the residents’ frustration and fear. “I’ve actually had people contact me in the middle of the night and say they’re scared,” she said.
Mayor Duff is urging the Queensland government to impose harsher bail conditions and stronger sentencing to curb reoffending. “We’ve raised an alert with the government to let them know that the ‘adult crime adult time’ policy hasn’t worked here,” she stated.
Queensland’s Attorney-General and local MP, Deb Frecklington, mentioned recent legislative efforts to tighten juvenile crime laws. “That’s exactly why we’ve implemented wanding and Jack’s Law,” she said, referring to measures that allow police to randomly search for weapons.
Impact on Indigenous Communities
Murgon, with a population of 2,200, has strong ties to Cherbourg, a town with a significant Indigenous population. In Cherbourg, Indigenous elders have formed a crime prevention group to engage with Aboriginal families affected by crime.
Elder Frank Malone highlighted the need for support and structure for young offenders. “You’ve got to look at the disabilities some of these children have,” he said, noting the impact of alcohol and drugs on their cognitive abilities.
“Laws like this pipeline children into the criminal legal system and don’t do anything to address the root causes of offending behavior,” said Maggie Munn, First Nations justice director from the Human Rights Law Centre.
Early Intervention Programs
As part of a broader strategy to combat crime, the South Burnett CTC is preparing a 16-month program for disengaged youth, funded by the Crisafulli government’s $115 million investment in early intervention. The program includes activities like laser skirmish, beekeeping classes, and pool parties.
“If we can have some organized structured activities, good supervision, linking them with role models and skills they can use to further themselves,” said Jason Erbacher, chief executive of South Burnett CTC. “When we grow up, we all need to be accountable for our decisions and we need to help our young people make good decisions as well.”
The Murgon community continues to seek solutions, balancing immediate security needs with long-term strategies to address the underlying causes of crime. The situation remains tense, but local leaders are hopeful that a combination of law enforcement and community engagement will bring relief.
