Locals Updated at Crime Prevention Forum

Published on 09 July 2025

Mayor Peta MacRae, Member for Traeger Robbie Katter MP, and Mount Isa Police District Officer Superintendent Tom Armitt spoke to local residents at last night's Crime Prevention Forum Annual Update at the Civic Centre.

Cr MacRae spoke about Council's advocacy work over the past year, since the first Crime Prevention Forum was held in May 2024.

"We’ve reformed the Cross-Border Alliance with Tennant Creek (Barkly Regional) Council. Robbie, myself, and the Cross-Border Commissioner have paid a visit to Tennant Creek, and we’re starting to work with that Council, looking at what processes we can streamline and identifying the push-and-pull factors that are between the two communities," Cr MacRae said.

"We’re working with the local Liquor Accord, because I think a lot of us can identify that alcohol is an issue in our community – it doesn’t only affect crime. We also see antisocial behaviour, where people are drinking in public. We’re working with the Liquor Accord to see what things we can try and implement to help with those issues.

"We’ve been working with (former director-general of Queensland Corrective Services) Keith Hamburger, who’s an expert in detention centres and also on rehabilitation and working with young people, on how we can start stakeholder engagement – so, if we were to have our own correctional facility in Mount Isa, what that could look like.

"We know the State Government is very supportive of us receiving funding for that. However, before you just go in and start something like that, you need to have a good idea on what you need – whether it’s for youth or adults, what are your aims, what your programs are going to be. Hopefully working with Keith and starting that stakeholder engagement will mean that it’s really community-powered."

Cr MacRae said Council had also been working with not-for-profit organisations in Mount Isa "to make them work in a more streamlined, effective, and more cooperative manner".

Superintendent Armitt said crime statistics for Mount Isa for the 2024-25 financial year had decreased, with 69 fewer cases of assault – the first reduction for that offence in at least six years; 67 fewer stolen vehicles (a reduction of 35%); and 216 fewer burglaries (a reduction of 36%).

He spoke about crime-reduction initiatives and activities in Mount Isa, including the Youth Co-Respondent Team that diverts children from high-risk activities; the PCYC; and the JT Academy.

"The aim of these groups is about holistic early intervention with the young offenders and their families. The intent is improving decision-making and looking to address a lot of those causal factors that go towards young people entering criminal behaviours," Superintendent Armitt said.

Mr Katter spoke about the Katter's Australian Party's policies about reducing crime, including mandatory minimum sentencing, "castle law", and relocation/remote sentencing.