Page 3250 - Week 10 - Thursday, 25 August 2005
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property damage and weapons offences show a very significant decrease in every single area of crime. The one increase in the latest quarter was an increase in burglaries and break and enter offences but, even with that increase, the year-to-year comparisons show a decrease. In every one of those areas of crime, in both the last quarter and for the year to date, there has been a significant decrease.
We can go as well to other crime statistics, such as prison population. The daily average prison population in the ACT has remained steady at 113 in the June quarter. Year-to-date comparisons show no change, with a monthly average of 115 between September 2004 and June 2005.
Belconnen Remand Centre admissions increased by 34 per cent in June 2005 after the March quarter, but year-to-year comparisons show a five per cent decline in admissions. New receptions at Quamby decreased by 30 per cent in the June quarter and year-to-year comparisons show a decline of 27 per cent in admissions.
In relation to indigenous crime results, it is very pleasing that the monthly average of indigenous adult prisoners sentenced was just three in the June quarter, a reduction from a very small base of five. Year-to-date comparisons show a 40 per cent decline in indigenous adult prisoners sentenced, which is a pleasing result for the territory.
Belconnen Remand Centre indigenous admissions rose in June 2005, but the year-to-year comparisons show an overall drop in indigenous admissions to the Belconnen Remand Centre of 10 per cent. Indigenous admissions to Quamby, pleasingly, but from very low base, also declined for the quarter quite significantly. The year-to-date comparisons show a 12 per cent decrease in indigenous admissions, and similarly at Quamby.
In relation to crime statistics overall, both on the basis of quarterly and year-to-year comparisons, in our prison population, our remand population and, pleasingly, in relation to our indigenous remandees and others, there have been very significant decreases in the commission of crime overall in the ACT.
Gaming taxes
MR STEFANIAK: My question without notice is directed to the Treasurer and Minister for Economic Development and Business. Minister, as a result of changes to gaming and other legislation and increased gaming taxes in recent years, clubs are starting to feel the pinch. For example, the Vikings group recently reduced its payments to 55 affiliated sporting clubs by 40 per cent. I understand that other clubs similarly have reduced payments to sporting teams, community groups and the charities that they support.
What action, if any, does the government proposes to take to assist the sports, community groups and charities that are affected?
MR QUINLAN: In recent times there has been a decline in poker machine takings. Mr Stefaniak would probably know that in the past few years they have been quite high. They have come back to single-figure percentages. Anybody who thought about it would realise that that would be the case; that there would be a decrease in poker machine takings. If, as Jan MacMillan’s studies show, there is a correlation between problem gambling, the existence of note accepters and the speed with which one can be parted
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