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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 2 Hansard (19 February) . . Page.. 354 ..

MR STANHOPE (continuing):

There are a whole range of statistics around that change that have impacted on the nature and level of crime around town. The police have certainly adopted a whole range of other strategic approaches to crime detection. I think that is another reason.

There are a whole range of reasons to suggest that the view that with the amendment of the Bail Act crime has dropped through the floor is a little bit simplistic, Mr Stefaniak. It is the simplistic approach that you adopted in government. It is not the simplistic approach that we will adopt.

MR STEFANIAK: I ask a supplementary question. There was a bit of flip-flopping around there, Mr Attorney. I am unsure from your answer whether you agree with your colleague Mr Hargreaves, who was quoted in the Canberra Times in October in an article about the reduction in crime as saying, "The Bail Act has nothing to do with it."

Mr Hargreaves: I take a point of order, Mr Speaker. I have listened to all of the questions so far, and there have been repeated preambles in supplementary questions. Mr Speaker, I would ask you to bring opposition members to order on the use of preambles in supplementary questions.

Mr Smyth: What standing order?

MR SPEAKER: It is well understood that we do not use preambles in supplementary questions. I do not think we have to dig around the standing orders to discover the real reason. I think you all understand it. Mr Stefaniak certainly does, don't you?

MR STEFANIAK: I will say it again. Do you agree or not agree with your colleague Mr Hargreaves, who was quoted in the Canberra Times last October-

MR SPEAKER: Mr Stefaniak!

MR STEFANIAK: It is a question, Mr Speaker. Do you agree with your colleague Mr Hargreaves, who was quoted by the Canberra Times in an article about the reduction of crime last October, I believe, as saying, "The Bail Act has nothing to do with it"? Will you now admit that he is wrong, particularly in light of statements by senior policemen that the bail amendments were a major factor in crime reduction?

MR STANHOPE: I think there are a whole range of factors in the reduction in crime. Let us hope we can maintain it. One of the major reasons, of course, was the success of Operation Anchorage. Unfortunately, it was a task force, and the task force no longer exists. It was a very significant determinant in the reduction of crime.

There are a whole range of reasons why crime has dipped. One of them would relate to changes to the law. Another one would potentially relate to the success of Operation Anchorage. Another one relates to the changing nature of the drug scene in the ACT. Another change is related to enhanced strategic policing. I think there are a whole range reasons. There are probably a few other reasons as well.

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