You know we’re in the same state, don’t you?

HELLO? Can anybody hear us down there? Got a bit of a problem here in Townsville with crime. Maybe the line’s not too good and you’re not receiving us. Or maybe you just don’t care because your too busy patting yourself on the back for securing the 2032 Olympics or counting the votes you think you’ve banked with multi-million-dollar infrastucture spends in south-east Queensland.

Word of warning though. Votes up here in the state’s north might be drying up faster than it takes to bust a cheap screen door lock in the dead of night, snatching the keys to someone’s pride and joy before screaming out the driveway for yet another joyride.

Townsville’s latest victim, Rod Prior of Currajong, has had a gutful after his two cars were stolen on Thursday night and is demanding the state government get fair dinkum at last.

“Listening to the police, there were at least four cars stolen last night, which is far, far too many,” Mr Prior said.

“We’ve got to stop these fellas and lock them up. People are going to start fighting back because we are losing control ofthe streets.”

Mr Prior said the young people involved in crime were “bringing down” the large number of “excellent people” in Townsville.

MP Scott Stewart responded: “I know Queensland Police Service are always working hard to catch those responsible. This is a complex issue and we will continue to look at ways of tackling it.”

Everyone knows it’s a complex problem, but is the state government prepared to step forward and tell us it’s not an impossible one?