A growing number of Victorians are leaving the state amid mounting fears over Melbourne’s worsening crime crisis, with many choosing to relocate to Queensland’s booming coastal regions.
According to the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data, Victoria’s overall population dropped by 2,000 people this year, while more than 24,000 moved north to Queensland — particularly to the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast — in what experts describe as a “flight to safety”.
Gold Coast real estate agent Simon Mutton said he had received “hundreds” of calls from Victorians worried about the rise in violent incidents across Melbourne. “People are frightened — they no longer feel safe walking the streets,” he told Today.
The exodus comes as Premier Jacinta Allan’s government faces mounting pressure to curb crime across the state. Melbourne has seen a surge in stabbings, robberies, and youth gang activity in recent weeks, prompting widespread concern among residents and local leaders.
Deputy Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Roshena Campbell, acknowledged the problem on Today, saying: “This is a city doing great things, but crime is absolutely a problem, and it needs to be brought under control. People must feel safe again.”
The Allan Government has introduced tougher bail laws and ordered a major overhaul of Victoria Police to increase street patrols. However, critics say the measures are too little, too late. Campbell warned that unless crime is contained soon, the issue could severely damage Labor’s standing ahead of the 2026 state election.
“People’s sense of security has been shattered,” Campbell said. “If the government doesn’t fix this, there’s a real risk Jacinta Allan won’t remain Premier after the next election.”
In response, local councils have begun deploying community safety officers — unarmed patrols empowered to make arrests and defuse hostile situations. Federal Nationals Leader David Littleproud criticised the move, saying it highlights the state government’s failure to provide adequate policing.
“It’s sad that councils are having to effectively hire their own police,” Littleproud said. “That’s what happens when a government loses control of law and order.”
A recent Resolve Political Monitor poll shows the Allan Government trailing the Liberal Party by three points, with Liberal Leader Brad Battin now preferred Premier.
The escalating crime wave, coupled with the population decline, has become one of the most pressing political issues in Victoria — one that could redefine the state’s leadership within a year.
