The Queensland Government’s Budget is delivering for the Far North, with a major boost to help restore safety and make Cairns safer.

As part of the 2025-26 Budget, major new initiatives and upgrades will be delivered in the Far North, including:

• POLAIR capacity locked-in for the long-term for the Far North.

• A major $35 million upgrade to Edmonton Police Station.

• A new Youth Justice School for young people on youth justice community orders.

• More police on the beat as part of 1,600 new recruits across the State over the next four years.

The Queensland Government is delivering a $5.2 billion Making Our Community Safer Plan for a fresh start for Queensland after strengthening youth crime laws with Adult Crime, Adult Time, establishing a permanent State Flying Squad and removing Detention as a Last Resort for juvenile offenders.

The Budget will now take the important next steps in funding the roll out of more police, essential police resources including Taser 10s, upgrades to police beats, stations and facilities, and new early intervention and rehabilitation.

Since October 2024 - when it first launched in Cairns - POLAIR has attended 617 jobs, assisted in the arrests of 167 people, including 76 juveniles, and helped to locate 73 stolen vehicles.

The Queensland Government is also delivering a $35 million upgrade of the Edmonton police station, a community that has been at the coalface of youth crime in the Far North.

Over the past decade, youth crime soared to record highs – including a 95 per cent increase in car theft and 100 per cent increase in robbery.

The Budget is also delivering $40 million for two crime diversion Youth Justice Schools – including one in Cairns – to keep youths on Youth Justice orders out of trouble and protect the community.

Premier David Crisafulli said the Budget was delivering the foundation to make the Far North safer.

“The Far North has experienced some of the worst of the Youth Crime Crisis and we are delivering the stronger laws, police, early intervention and rehabilitation needed to restore safety,” Premier Crisafulli said.

“There’s much more work to do to turn the tide on youth crime in the Far North but we’ll deliver what’s needed to make the community safer.

“Frontline police deserve the best tools to do their job, and that’s exactly what we’re delivering for Cairns by locking-in POLAIR for the long-term.

“A Youth Justice School will also help turn young lives away from crime before they become another generation of repeat offenders.”

Minister for Police and Emergency Services Dan Purdie said the Budget was delivering the resources police needed to make the Far North safer.

“These are serious investments for a serious challenge” Minister Purdie said.

“The people of Cairns and Edmonton and surrounding regions have called for help to get a grip on the spiralling crime levels.

“We are putting more boots on the ground, more eyes in the sky and giving police the infrastructure they need to drive down crime and keep communities safe.”

Minister for Youth Justice and Victim Support and Minister for Corrective Services Laura Gerber said the Youth Justice Schools were part of the Making Queensland Safer Plan.

“The Schools will be targeted towards crime diversion, delivering highly specialised behavioural reform, with individual case management, mentoring, and personalised support for both the youth and their family.

“These children need discipline, support, education and structure to get them back on track which is exactly what the Youth Justice Schools will provide.”

The Queensland Government’s 2025-26 Budget is also delivering across Queensland:

• $347.7 million to implement the Making Queensland Safer laws.
• $560 million for new early intervention and rehabilitation programs to prevent crime and break the cycle of repeat crime.
• $50 million for the Victims’ Advocate Service for the protection and support for victims of crime.
• $147.9 million to deliver front line police with new equipment including tasers, tactical first aid kits, body worn cameras and tyre deflation devices.
• $290.3 million in new and upgraded police stations, facilities and beats across Queensland.