Labor’s “bad economy” is fuelling rising crime rates across the country, Angus Taylor says as he fires fresh shots at the Albanese government’s financial credentials.
Fronting media on Monday, the Opposition Leader said history had shown people turn to crime at times of economic strain.
“We’re obviously worried about the increase in crime we’re seeing across the country,” he told reporters in Canberra.
“We are concerned about that, and when your economy goes bad – when you have a rotten economy, when this is the economy that Labor builds – we know historically that does result in increases in crime.
“We’re worried about the role that illicit tobacco is playing in funding that crime as well, and these are things that the government can deal with.”
Mr Taylor added that “a strong economy solves so many problems”.
“It ensures that the government has the money they need to provide the services that Australia needs,” he said.
“It ensures that Australian households are able to get ahead, and it ensures that people can make money and get ahead without crime – that’s what we want to see first and foremost.”
Official data showed the number of “offenders proceeded against by police” jumped nationwide by almost 4000 last financial year to 344,620.
Family and domestic violence offenders totalled 97,800, representing an 8 per cent increase on the previous year, the Australian Bureau of Statistics reported.
Youth offenders were also up 5 per cent to 44,583.
