Two-Thirds of Australians Say Crime Is Rising in Their Communities, Survey Shows
Today’s email is brought to you by Empower your podcasting vision with a suite of creative solutions at your fingertips.
Public concern about crime has risen sharply across Australia, reaching its highest levels in more than 10 years, according to new national research released Tuesday by Roy Morgan.
Two-thirds of Australians, or 66%, now say crime is a growing problem in their communities. That figure marks a 15 percentage point increase since the pandemic low of 51% in 2020–21 and is higher than any point since the mid-2000s.
“The last time concerns about crime were at this level, or higher, for a sustained period was back in 2005–2006, and before that in 2001–2002 after the September 11 bombing of the World Trade Centre,” Roy Morgan chief executive Michele Levine said.
Rising Concern Nationwide
The survey, which interviewed nearly 500,000 Australians aged 18 and older between July 2015 and June 2025, shows the increase is broad-based, spanning all states and territories.
Queensland recorded the highest concern, with 77% agreeing crime is a growing problem — a jump of 17 points since 2020–21. Victoria posted the steepest rise, climbing 21 points in just four years to 72%.
South Australia rose 13 points in the same period to 63%, while New South Wales moved up 13 points from a pandemic low of 44% to 57%. Tasmania, though largely stable over the decade, is up 11 points since 2020–21.
The Australian Capital Territory, long the least concerned jurisdiction, saw one of the sharpest rebounds. Concern there nearly doubled from 27% in 2019–20 to 51% today.
Western Australia was the only state to record a net decline over the decade, slipping 2 points to 65%. However, it too saw a 6-point increase since the pandemic.
Truth matters. Quality journalism costs.
Your subscription to Mencari directly funds the investigative reporting our democracy needs. For less than a coffee per week, you enable our journalists to uncover stories that powerful interests would rather keep hidden. There is no corporate influence involved. No compromises. Just honest journalism when we need it most.
Not ready to be paid subscribe, but appreciate the newsletter ? Grab us a beer or snag the exclusive ad spot at the top of next week's newsletter.
Political Impact
Levine said crime has emerged as a defining political issue, particularly in states heading into elections.
“The issue was front-and-centre for Queenslanders at the state election in late 2024 with then Opposition Leader David Crisafulli vowing to take several measures to reduce crime and winning a convincing victory,” Levine said.
Crisafulli’s Liberal National Party government passed the Making Queensland Safer Act earlier this year, building on “Adult Crime, Adult Time” legislation introduced in late 2024 targeting youth crime.
South Australia, where 63% of residents now say crime is a growing problem, heads to the polls in March 2026. Levine said crime is likely to feature heavily in the campaign.
Victoria, with concern at 72%, votes in November 2026. State Opposition Leader Brad Battin, a former policeman, has already made law and order a centerpiece of his agenda.
“Although the trend of rising concern about crime is seen nationally, there are clearly some states in which the issue is set to play an out-sized role over the next 12–18 months,” Levine said.
A Decade in Data
The Roy Morgan study shows a U-shaped trendline in public sentiment. Concern was relatively high in 2015–17, peaking at 60%. It then declined steadily, bottoming out at 51% during the pandemic, before surging back over the past four years.
The findings highlight how the pandemic years temporarily muted perceptions of crime before a strong rebound.
“The national trend over the last decade shows concerns about crime reached a pre-pandemic high of 60% in 2016–17 before moderating over the next few years, falling to a pandemic low of 51% in 2020–21. Since then, concern has surged and is up 15 points in only four years to 66%,” Levine said.
State-by-State Breakdown
Queensland: 77%, up 17 points since 2020–21.
Victoria: 72%, up 21 points since 2020–21.
Western Australia: 65%, down 2 points over 10 years but up 6 since 2020–21.
South Australia: 63%, up 13 points since 2020–21.
Tasmania: 61%, stable over decade, up 11 points since 2020–21.
New South Wales: 57%, up 13 points since 2020–21.
Australian Capital Territory: 51%, up 24 points since 2019–20.
Why It Matters
The surge in public concern comes as cost of living and law and order dominate the national agenda. Roy Morgan research earlier this year found crime and safety ranked among the top 10 issues shaping the 2025 federal election, alongside inflation and economic pressures.
While the study measures perceptions rather than crime statistics, analysts say the findings point to voter priorities that will influence campaigns and policy debates for years to come.
Got a News Tip?
Contact our editor via Proton Mail encrypted, X Direct Message, LinkedIn, or email. You can securely message him on Signal by using his username, Miko Santos.
Sustaining Mencari Requires Your Support
Independent journalism costs money. Help us continue delivering in-depth investigations and unfiltered commentary on the world's real stories. Your financial contribution enables thorough investigative work and thoughtful analysis, all supported by a dedicated community committed to accuracy and transparency.
Subscribe today to unlock our full archive of investigative reporting and fearless analysis. Subscribing to independent media outlets represents more than just information consumption—it embodies a commitment to factual reporting.
As well as knowing you’re keeping Mencari (Australia) alive, you’ll also get:
Get breaking news AS IT HAPPENS - Gain instant access to our real-time coverage and analysis when major stories break, keeping you ahead of the curve
Unlock our COMPLETE content library - Enjoy unlimited access to every newsletter, podcast episode, and exclusive archive—all seamlessly available in your favorite podcast apps.
Join the conversation that matters - Be part of our vibrant community with full commenting privileges on all content, directly supporting The Evening Post (Australia)
Catch up on some of Mencari’s recent stories:
It only takes a minute to help us investigate fearlessly and expose lies and wrongdoing to hold power accountable. Thanks!