Page 1500 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 10 May 2006
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in robberies, with 258 reported between March 2005 and December 2005, and 251 between March 2004 and December 2004.
Criminologists advise that, in offences where the overall number of offences is relatively low, in the case of robbery and sexual assault typically, around 250 to 300 a year, the rates tend to be more volatile. It only needs two or three recidivist offenders to cause a spike until arrested.
Burglary and break and enter offences for December 2005 decreased by 16 per cent to 1,233, after 473 reported in September 2005. Year-to-date comparisons show a 12 per cent decrease, with 4,683 reported between March 2005 and December 2005, after 5,302 between March and December 2004.
There were 497 incidents of motor vehicle theft. That shows a decrease of 24 per cent from 650 reported in September 2005. Year-to-date comparisons show a rise of 17 per cent in motor vehicle theft, with 2,107 reported between March 2005 and December 2005, after 1,795 between March 2004 and December 2004. While this may seem alarming, I understand that we are coming off an exceptionally low base. The figures for the 12 months to December 2004 were the lowest recorded for many years.
I made reference earlier to the property crime reduction strategy. It is targeting motor vehicle theft and is using, as its statistical baseline indicator, the offences reported in the calendar year 2003, the last full year prior to the commencement of the strategy. I am advised that the strategy is on track in meeting its interim targets, the first of which was a reduction of 15 per cent on the 2003 rate by December 2005.
The ACT has the lowest imprisonment rate in Australia. There was an increase of 5 per cent to 128 in the December 2005 quarter, from 122 in September 2005. Year-to-date comparisons showed little change, with a monthly average of 117 between March 2005 and December 2005, and 119 between March and December 2004. The Belconnen Remand Centre admissions decreased by 23 per cent to 134 in the December 2005 quarter, from 174 in September 2005. Year-to-date comparisons show a 12 per cent decline, with 614 admissions between March 2005 and December 2005, and 701 admissions between March 2004 and December 2004.
We know that not all crime is reported to the police, for a variety of understandable reasons. The national survey that the Australian Bureau of Statistics undertook to capture unreported crime, the crime and safety report released in April 2006, indicates that, in those areas where the data was reliable, for the ACT there was a downward trend in persons reporting being victims of crime compared to the previous survey conducted in 2002. In the same 2006 crime and safety report the ACT had the second highest feelings of safety rating in the country, at 84.7 per cent, compared to Tasmanian’s top rating of 85.3 per cent.
It is clear that, on any fair assessment of the data, crime is not out of control. Let me repeat what the minister has already stated: in budgets since the Stanhope government assumed office, funding has been provided for 60 extra policing positions. That is not an insubstantial increase. I reject the motion.
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