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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 5 Hansard (11 May) . . Page.. 1467 ..

MR HUMPHRIES (continuing):

It is now drying up very fast. It will end at some point in the future when the new national credit legislation cuts in and different penalty regimes apply under the new legislation. I am told that they are much lower than was the case before. That means the funding available previously for Care no longer will be there. On that basis, I do not propose to continue to fund it.

MR HARGREAVES: My question also is to the Attorney-General. Minister, as you are aware, crime in the ACT is rising rapidly. Over the last few years there has been an increase in robbery, burglary and theft. For instance, 4,491 burglaries took place in 1997, but this figure jumped to 6,849 in 1999, that is, a 53 per cent increase. Can the minister say whether the AFP's burglary teams still exist? If so, where do they operate? Which crime prevention programs does the government have in place to curtail what is a growing problem?

MR HUMPHRIES: First of all, let me take one part of that question. If there is an AFP burglary team, I do not propose to tell Mr Hargreaves where it is operating because, doubtful as it is that there are any criminals in the gallery at the moment-I do not see anyone I recognise immediately as a criminal-and doubtful as it is that they read Hansard, I am not going to put on the public record where particular police operations in the ACT are taking place. I am not going to tell anybody where they are taking place, Mr Speaker. I will keep that detail as low key as possible, to the extent required to ensure that there is a capacity by the AFP to do their job without hindrance at the political level.

Mr Speaker, there are activities under way at the moment, recently upgraded, by the AFP with respect to burglary. I propose to say no more about that in this place. If you want more information, Mr Hargreaves, find out in some other way.

Mr Stanhope: It is quite appalling that we cannot know whether there is a burglary team.

MR HUMPHRIES: I am not proposing to tell members of this place or other people outside this place who need not know what activity is going on.

Mr Stanhope: Is there a burglary team?

MR HUMPHRIES: I have just answered that question, Mr Stanhope, and I suggest that you pay attention to what I have to say. Mr Speaker, there will be a budget coming down, if members have not noticed.

Mr Stanhope: Are there any police left? Do we have any police?

MR SPEAKER: Order, please!

Mr Stanhope: Do we have any police at all? Can you tell us that? Is that a secret, too? We have some policemen, do we?

MR SPEAKER: Mr Stanhope, be quiet!

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