Page 4133 - Week 12 - Thursday, 1 December 2022
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MR GENTLEMAN: I thank Mr Pettersson for the question. ACT police come from our community, and they understand our city very well. Their dedication to keeping all of us safe is their main focus—and to do this with an understanding of Canberrans. So, supporting victims is part of ACT Policing’s core work, and this is done by each member of ACT Policing.
I do want to acknowledge the feedback that has been provided by victims. I know that ACT Policing has reflected on this, and implemented some changes. This work is ongoing, and ACT police will continue listening and working to make improvements. As well as the work of those who attend incidents, ACT Policing has an in-place victims liaison officer. VLOs provide ongoing support, and act as the first point of call for all victims of serious crime.
The VLOs make contact with victims of crime within 7 to 10 days following an incident, and provide supplementary services to the victim. They also provide assistance to victims applying for the financial assistance scheme. VLOs provide ongoing support to victims, and provide court updates, advising them when an offender is in court for a bail application or variation, to obtain their views for consideration. A total of 4,485 calls were made to victims of crime in 2021-22.
Once again, my thanks go to ACT Policing, and all first responders who support Canberrans each and every day. This being our last sitting week before the holiday season, I want to extend my thanks to all those who will be on duty, keeping us safe and keeping things going. All of us in this place respect and support your work.
Planning—district strategies
MR CAIN: My question is to the Minister for Planning and Land Management. Minister, the Canberra Liberals have spoken with the residents of the Oaks Estate community village, who have expressed to us their concerns for being included in the East Canberra District under your proposed strategy. They feel this isolates them from other communities as they would be the only residential precinct in East Canberra. In the call-back session the Canberra Liberals requested, you stated on record you had spoken with Oaks Estate representatives who have since denied to us they had been consulted in preparation for the drawing of the district boundaries. Minister, can you confirm you or your department have spoken to community leaders at Oaks Estate? And if so, how and when?
MR GENTLEMAN: I thank Mr Cain for the question. It is a question he asked during the annual report hearings and I reflected on it at that time. I personally have not spoken to the Oaks Estate residents. I understand the directorate has though. So I will get the detail and come back to the chamber. But I will say that these are draft strategies. They are open for comment and we do want to hear from the Canberra community on their views on the planning bill and the district strategies.
MR CAIN: Minister, why have you ignored Oaks Estate’s request not to be considered within the East Canberra district boundaries, even in this draft version?
MR GENTLEMAN: As I said to Mr Cain at the annual report hearings in the
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