Page 908 - Week 04 - Tuesday, 30 March 1993
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these issues, an approach which will address matters such as the resources that are allocated to fighting crime and to preventing crime, to perceptions and fears about crime compared to actual criminal activity, and the role that the whole community can play in confronting crime and containing and preventing crime.
A review of policing in the ACT is being undertaken by the Attorney-General's Department, Treasury and the Australian Federal Police. This review will identify the functions performed in relation to ACT policing and the associated costs and resource allocations. Based on that information, there will be an assessment made of how police services should be provided and the appropriate level of resources. Among other things, the review will address the need for a detailed statistical database on crime and on criminal activity in the ACT to better inform this continuing debate as to its true level and the impact that crime has, both on the Government and on the community.
Additionally, Madam Speaker, an integrated community safety and crime prevention strategy for the ACT is being developed, principally by the Attorney-General's Department and the Australian Federal Police, but also with major input and cooperation from all relevant government agencies. This strategy will address all aspects of crime and will aim to develop initiatives and programs to counter both criminal activity and the fear of crime. A significant component, in keeping with the Government's approach to major policy development, will be widespread community consultation on how the community views crime, what they would like to see done, and, perhaps more importantly, what they themselves are prepared to do about it.
Madam Speaker, far from any censure that should be directed at Mr Connolly, I believe that members can quite clearly see that we are addressing fundamental issues underlying crime in the ACT, and that we propose to develop and implement significant and cost-effective programs to address these issues. Mr Connolly, as the Minister for police and as Attorney-General, is at the forefront of these initiatives. Very far from misleading the Assembly - an assertion which I find, as I said before, very shaky indeed, not to mention being too trivial for a censure motion - Mr Connolly is proceeding to clearly identify the true situation as it develops in the ACT and also to address the underlying issues in a comprehensive and strategic fashion.
Madam Speaker, I put it to members that the issues surrounding the statistics have been effectively addressed by Mr Connolly, and also by the Chief Police Officer. Mr Connolly is addressing the question of crime in our community, as he addresses all of his portfolio, with energy and with vigour, and with dedication. I would have no hesitation in saying to members that Mr Connolly has my total confidence as a Minister and that nothing I have heard from Mr Humphries or Mr Stevenson has shaken that confidence. I urge Assembly members to reject this motion.
MS SZUTY (4.08): I must say first, in rising to address this censure motion, that I am surprised that there has been only one speaker from the opposition benches on such an important motion. Mr Humphries set out in his opening remarks that there were two issues that he wished to address, the first being the car theft issue and the second being the burglary issue. Mr Connolly, in his remarks, addressed both of those issues, too, in sequential order.
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