General News
15 July, 2026
Crimestoppers funds decision still pending
MAREEBA-based Crime-stoppers volunteers were still waiting to hear on what will happen to the $134,000 raised by the local group in the wake of the decision by the State authority to “sack” volunteers from its groups.
The 40 members of the Mareeba group were told in May that the Crimestoppers executive based in Brisbane had decided to no longer support volunteer groups in Queensland.
Under the new arrangements, instead of locally-based volunteers involved in promoting the services and activities of the organisation, up to 15 “ambassadors” would be appointed across the state.
Up until May’s sacking announcement, the highly-active FNQ Crimestoppers group had spent hundreds of hours to self-fund equipment purchases, spread relative information and links and other activities across Mareeba Shire and further into the more remote areas including Coen, Laura and other Cape centres.
“We have worked hard to spread the word about Crimestoppers and its support and benefits and have received strong support for the organisation much further than the immediate area,” former Volunteer Area Crimestoppers co-ordinator Mladen Bosnic said.
“With such a strong, successful and active group of volunteers, it’s a real kick in the guts to learn we have been ousted, full stop.”
Addressing State Parliament in May, Member for Cook David Kempton strongly highlighted the plight of the FNQ Area Committee of Crime Stoppers Queensland and volunteers who had been instructed that they were no longer needed under a new service delivery model for the organisation.
Mr Kempton also highlighted the imposed difficulties in a strongly worded letter to Crime Stoppers Queensland Chair Ian Stewart.
In the interim, Crimestoppers executive has given the local group until 30 September to fulfill previous obligations to attend pre-arranged events.
A number of dates have been put forward for the Brisbane-based Crimestoppers to meet with the Far Northern executive and volunteers and conduct a workshop to discuss and confirm how the local Crimestoppers group’ will dispose of funds raised and other assets, but at present no dates have suited both parties.
