Petition for Stronger Laws and Stricter Sentences to Combat Rising Crime in Australia

To the Australian Government and Relevant Authorities,

Every day, Australians are forced to confront the shocking reality of rising crime. Innocent people are suffering, and our justice system’s inability to protect them is nothing short of an outrage. These aren’t just statistics — these are real lives, real families, and real tragedies. This issue recently struck disturbingly close to home when a friend of mine and her sister endured a terrifying ordeal that no one should ever have to face.

My friend and her sister were in their car outside their mother's house when two men approached them. These men weren’t just intent on stealing; they came to terrorize. One of them held a machete to my friend’s throat, sliced her hand, threatened her life, and robbed her of personal belongings before stealing their car. The trauma they experienced is unimaginable. While I am immensely grateful they survived, I can’t help but think: What if the outcome had been different? How many other Australians have faced similarly horrifying events, or worse? How much longer will we allow this to happen?

This is not an isolated incident — this is a national crisis.

Across Australia, violent crimes such as assault, home invasions, carjackings, stabbings, and youth gang activities have surged to unprecedented levels. Communities are living in fear. Families are locking their doors and avoiding once-safe public spaces. This epidemic of violence has left countless Australians feeling abandoned by the very justice system designed to protect them.

Adding to the frustration is the tendency of law enforcement to let certain individuals within groups of criminals go, rather than arresting all involved. Time and again, we see partial measures taken instead of decisive action, allowing some offenders to walk free and perpetuate the cycle of crime. This pattern must stop. We cannot allow the justice system to continue failing its duty to protect innocent Australians.

The statistics are damning, painting a grim picture of a society under siege:

AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

ASSAULT

·       Assault increased by 7% (168) from the previous year to 2,628 victims. This was the highest number in the thirty-one-year time series and the third consecutive increase in assault victims.

SEXUAL ASSAULT

·       There were 372 victims of sexual assault in 2023, an increase of 15% (47 victims) from the previous year. This was the highest number recorded in the thirty-one-year time series. 

ROBBERY

·       There were 183 victims of robbery in the Australian Capital Territory in 2023, a decrease of 4 victims (2%) from the previous year.

UNLAWFUL ENTRY WITH INTENT

·       In 2023, the number of victims of unlawful entry with intent decreased by 2% (45 victims) from the previous year to 1,827 victims. This was the lowest number in the thirty-one-year time series. 

MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT

·       There were 992 victims of motor vehicle theft recorded in 2023, a decrease of 16% (189 victims) from the previous year. This was the lowest number recorded since 2016.

OTHER THEFT

·       There were 6,804 victims of other theft in 2023, a decrease of 5% (336 victims) from the previous year. 

NEW SOUTH WALES

HOMICIDE RELATED OFFENCES

·       There were 79 victims of homicide and related offences recorded in New South Wales in 2023, remaining stable from the previous year.

ASSAULT

·       The number of victims of assault increased by 10% (7,040 victims) from the previous year to 76,533 victims in 2023. 

SEXUAL ASSAULT

·       There were 14,708 victims of sexual assault recorded in New South Wales in 2023, an increase of 19% (2,296 victims) from 2022. This was the twelfth annual increase in victim numbers.

ROBBERY

·       There were 2,204 victims of robbery in 2023, an increase of 6% (117 victims) from 2022.

BLACKMAIL/EXTORTION

·       Victims of blackmail/extortion recorded in New South Wales more than doubled since 2022, up 1,029 victims to 1,874 victims in 2023. 

UNLAWFUL ENTRY WITH INTENT

·       There were 33,974 victims of unlawful entry with intent recorded in New South Wales in 2023, an increase of 10% (3,040 victims) from the previous year.

MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT

·       The number of victims of motor vehicle theft increased by 18% (1,764 victims), from 9,909 victims in 2022 to 11,673 victims in 2023.

OTHER THEFT

·       There were 117,870 victims of other theft recorded in 2023, an increase of 14% (14,156 victims) from the previous year.

NORTHERN TERRITORY

HOMICIDE RELATED OFFENCES

·       There were 11 victims of homicide and related offences recorded in the Northern Territory in 2023. The victimisation rate decreased from 6 to 4 victims per 100,000 persons. 

ASSAULT

·       The number of victims of assault in the Northern Territory increased by 11% (1,113 victims) from the previous year to 11,540 victims in 2023. This was the highest number of victims of assault recorded since the time series began in 1995. 

SEXUAL ASSAULT

·      There were 452 victims of sexual assault recorded in the Northern Territory in 2023, an increase of 25% (90 victims). This was the highest number of sexual assaults recorded since the time series began in 1993. 

UNLAWFUL ENTRY WITH INTENT

·      In 2023, the number of victims of unlawful entry with intent increased by 6% (354 victims) from the previous year to 6,548 victims. This was the highest number of victims of unlawful entry with intent since the time series began in 1993.

MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT

·       There were 1,228 victims of motor vehicle theft recorded in the Northern Territory in 2023, an increase of 23% (227 victims) from the previous year. This was the highest number of victims of motor vehicle theft since the time series began in 1993. 

QUEENSLAND

HOMICIDE RELATED OFFENCES

·       There were 111 victims of homicide and related offences recorded in Queensland in 2023, remaining relatively stable from the previous year.

ASSAULT

·       The number of victims of assault recorded in Queensland increased by 12% (6,104 victims) from the previous year to 58,479 victims in 2023.

SEXUAL ASSAULT

·       In 2023, there were 8,442 victims of sexual assault recorded in Queensland, a 14% increase (1,011 victims) from the previous year. 

ROBBERY

·       There were 3,235 victims of robbery recorded in Queensland in 2023, a 17% increase (476 victims) from the previous year. 

BLACKMAIL/EXTORTION

·       There were 152 victims of blackmail/extortion recorded in Queensland in 2023.

UNLAWFUL ENTRY WITH INTENT

·       There were 49,490 victims of unlawful entry with intent recorded in Queensland in 2023, an increase of 5% (2,213 victims) from the previous year. 

MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT

·       There were 18,210 victims of motor vehicle theft in Queensland in 2023. This was the highest recorded number of victims of motor vehicle theft since 2000.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

HOMICIDE RELATED OFFENCES

·       There were 48 victims of homicide and related offences recorded in South Australia in 2023, an increase of 19 victims from 2022. 

ASSAULT

·       In 2023, there were 21,878 victims of assault recorded in South Australia, an increase of 11% (2,137 victims) from the previous year.

SEXUAL ASSAULT

In South Australia, the number of victims of sexual assault increased by 11% (198 victims) to 2,014 victims in 2023.

ROBBERY

·       There were 579 victims of robbery in South Australia in 2023, an increase of 17% (83 victims) from 2022.

BLACKMAIL/EXTORTION

·       The number of victims of blackmail/extortion remained relatively stable, with a 5 victim increase from the previous year to 350 victims in 2023.

UNLAWFUL ENTRY WITH INTENT

·       There were 10,284 victims of unlawful entry with intent recorded in South Australia in 2023, an increase of 8% (741 victims) from 2022.

MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT

·      There were 3,950 victims of motor vehicle theft in South Australia in 2023, an increase of 9% (341 victims) from the previous year.

OTHER THEFT

·       There were 51,250 victims of other theft recorded in South Australia in 2023, an increase of 16% (7,022 victims) from the previous year.

TASMANIA

HOMICIDE RELATED OFFENCES

·       There were 8 victims of homicide and related offences in Tasmania in 2023.

ASSAULT

·       In 2023, there were 4,085 victims of assault recorded in Tasmania, an increase of 8% (303 victims) from the previous year.

SEXUAL ASSAULT

·       There were 585 victims of sexual assault in Tasmania in 2023, an increase of 9 victims (2%) from 2022.

ROBBERY

·       There were 263 victims of robbery in Tasmania in 2023, an increase of 56 victims (27%) from 2022. This was the highest recorded number of robbery victims in the thirty-one-year time series.

UNLAWFUL ENTRY WITH INTENT

·       Victims of unlawful entry with intent increased by 31% from the previous year to 3,278 victims. However, the number of victims of unlawful entry with intent remained lower than 2019 (3,372 victims), prior to when COVID-19 restrictions were put in place.

MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT

·       There were 1,678 victims of motor vehicle theft recorded in Tasmania in 2023, an increase of 13% (189 victims) from 2022.

OTHER THEFT

·       Victims of other theft increased by 31% (2,404 victims) to 10,128 victims in 2023 - the highest recorded number since 2006.

VICTORIA

HOMICIDE RELATED OFFENCES

·       There were 88 victims of homicide and related offences recorded in Victoria in 2023.

SEXUAL ASSAULT

·       There were 6,316 victims of sexual assault recorded in Victoria in 2023. 

ROBBERY

·       There were 2,976 victims of robbery recorded in Victoria in 2023, an increase of 30% (682 victims) from 2022. However, the number of victims of robbery remained lower than 2019 (3,854 victims), prior to when COVID-19 restrictions were put in place.

BLACKMAIL/EXTORTION

·       The number of victims of blackmail/extortion recorded in Victoria increased by 10% (55 victims) in 2023 to 624 victims.

UNLAWFUL ENTRY WITH INTENT

·       In 2023, there were 36,652 victims of unlawful entry with intent recorded in Victoria, an increase of 19% (5,778 victims) from the previous year. However, the number of victims of unlawful entry with intent remained lower than 2019 (39,760 victims), prior to when COVID-19 restrictions were put in place.

MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT

·       Victims of motor vehicle theft increased by 24% (3,076 victims) to 15,957 victims in 2023 - the highest recorded number since 2016. 

If you like click on this link, scroll down and click on "Victoria" and have a look at the more detailed crime statistics over the last 9 years.

https://www.crimestatistics.vic.gov.au/harm-and-crime

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

HOMICIDE RELATED OFFENCES

·       There were 68 victims of homicide and related offences in Western Australia in 2023, an increase of 19 victims from the previous year. 

ASSAULT

·       In 2023, the number of victims of assault in Western Australia increased by 11% (4,083 victims) to 42,826 victims, the highest recorded across the thirty-one-year time series.

SEXUAL ASSAULT

·       The number of sexual assault victims increased by 9% (271 victims) to 3,429 victims in 2023, the second highest recorded victim number in the thirty-one-year time series. 

ROBBERY

·       There were 1,374 victims of robbery in 2023, an increase of 11% (138 victims) from the previous year.

BLACKMAIL/EXTORTION

·       In 2023, victims of blackmail/extortion increased by 64% (137 victims) to 352 victims. This was the highest number recorded in the thirty-one-year time series. 

UNLAWFUL ENTRY WITH INTENT

·       In 2023, the number of victims of unlawful entry with intent decreased by 15% (3,224 victims) from the previous year to 18,835 victims. 

MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT

·       There were 6,732 victims of motor vehicle theft recorded in Western Australia in 2023, an increase of 14 victims from 2023.

OTHER THEFT

·       Victims of other theft increased by 17% (12,030 victims) to 83,882 victims in 2023. This was the highest recorded number since 2019.

 
These figures are not just numbers. They represent lives devastated, families shattered, and communities gripped by fear. The Australian justice system is failing to act as a deterrent. Criminals walk free, and repeat offenders strike again and again. How many more victims must there be before decisive action is taken?

We, the undersigned, demand immediate and sweeping reforms.
We call on the Australian Government to:

• Enforce stricter penalties for violent offenders to ensure accountability.
• Implement stronger sentencing laws for repeat and youth offenders, preventing them from further endangering communities.
• Adopt victim-focused reforms that prioritize justice, safety, and peace of mind for law-abiding citizens.
• Regulate the sale and possession of knives, machetes, and other weapons to ensure they are not easily accessible to potential offenders.
• Legalise carrying non-lethal self-defence tools like pepper spray to give Australians a means to protect themselves in life-threatening situations.
• Hold parents legally accountable for crimes committed by their underage children, ensuring greater oversight and responsibility.
• Mandate community service and counselling for all offenders upon completing their sentences, ensuring rehabilitation and reintegration into society.
• Ensure police apprehend and charge all individuals involved in criminal activity, ending the practice of selectively releasing members of offending groups.

This is no longer about politics. This is about survival. Every Australian deserves to feel safe in their homes, on their streets, and in their communities. It is unacceptable that families are left to pick up the pieces while criminals exploit a broken system.

This petition is a rallying cry for change. By signing, you stand up for a safer Australia — one where parents don’t have to fear for their children’s lives, where individuals can go about their day without looking over their shoulders, and where justice is finally served.

Let’s send a clear message to our leaders: Enough is enough. The Australian people demand justice.

Please sign and share this petition. Together, we can demand the change that our nation so desperately needs.

It’s time for action. It’s time for justice.