{"id":367982,"date":"2025-12-18T18:11:29","date_gmt":"2025-12-18T08:11:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=367982"},"modified":"2025-12-20T00:31:14","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T14:31:14","slug":"crime-residents-want-answers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2025\/12\/18\/crime-residents-want-answers\/","title":{"rendered":"Crime: Residents Want Answers"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Cherbourg Deputy Mayor Gordon Wragge, Mayor Bruce Simpson and South Burnett Mayor Kathy Duff listened intently as local residents aired their concerns<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

December 18, 2025<\/strong><\/p>\n

Murgon Town Hall was packed again on Wednesday night for the follow-up public forum on local crime … this time with Attorney-General Deb Frecklington in attendance.<\/p>\n

The first forum, held on November 27, had voted overwhelmingly to hold a second event but wanted their local MP, Mrs Frecklington, to be present.<\/p>\n

Mrs Frecklington had been unable to attend the first event, which had been called at very short notice.<\/p>\n

A microphone was passed around again on Wednesday so people could share their experiences of break-ins, vehicles being stolen and frustrations over apparent lenient sentencing and offenders released on bail.<\/p>\n

One resident noted he had attended Murgon Courthouse on another matter, coinciding with Children’s Court. He said there were 12-year-old boys sitting on the steps smoking while upstairs it was “like a party” with laughing and joking.<\/p>\n

A local businessman said 18 out of the 28 homes in the street in which he lived had either been broken into or had vehicles stolen.<\/strong><\/p>\n

“If you haven’t got the money to build the jails, find it!” he said.<\/p>\n

“The National Party has to step up and be harder on crime or there will be blood on their hands.”<\/p>\n

(Listen to Attorney-General Deb Frecklington’s response, below)<\/em><\/p>\n

Another resident said he had phoned Triple Zero when he heard whistling in the street (the way thieves communicate) but no police arrived.<\/p>\n

“If you have a problem and ring Triple Zero, ask for the fire brigade, they’ll actually turn up,” another joked.<\/p>\n

However, despite these jibes, most speakers were supportive of the local police, laying the blame for repeat offenders<\/strong>\u00a0with the courts.<\/strong><\/p>\n

One suggested the police should round up the children on bail and drop them off at the magistrate’s front gate.<\/p>\n

Cherbourg Mayor Bruce Simpson said the spike in crime was affecting Cherbourg, too, with a reduction in nursing staff possibly affecting health services over the Christmas \/ New Year break.<\/p>\n

Deputy Mayor Gordon Wragge said Cherbourg residents were also sleeping with “one eye open” because of break-ins.<\/p>\n

“We’re hurting, too,” he said.<\/p>\n

Another Cherbourg resident pointed out that the PLOs (Police Liaison Officers) have no real power despite wearing uniforms.<\/strong><\/p>\n

“They have no authority whatsoever to approach these kids,” she said.<\/p>\n

South Burnett Deputy Mayor Ros Heit pressed Mrs Frecklington to advocate for funding for police to maintain the security cameras in Murgon and Wondai, an issue she raised earlier in the day at Wednesday’s Council meeting (see separate report<\/a><\/strong>).<\/p>\n

However, Mrs Frecklington said this did not happen anywhere in Queensland.<\/p>\n

Speaking later, the Attorney-General said it had been a productive meeting and was pleased that people had been so respectful.<\/strong><\/p>\n

“We need to ensure there is a community-led response as well as the community working together,” Mrs Frecklington said.<\/p>\n

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Attorney-General Deb Frecklington was carefully taking notes as each resident spoke from the floor of the meeting<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Darling Downs District Superintendent Doug McDonald, Acting Inspector Brett Everest and Acting Senior Sergeant Jaime Hastie<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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South Burnett Regional Council CEO Mark Pitt, Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council CEO Chatur Zala and Cr Jane Erkens<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Cherbourg councillor Carla Fisher with South Burnett councillors Deb Dennien and Linda Little<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Murgon Town Hall was packed again for the follow-up public forum on crime<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Attorney-General Deb Frecklington’s address to the crime forum:<\/strong><\/p>\n