Page 1308 - Week 04 - Thursday, 10 April 2008
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Motor vehicles—theft
MR GENTLEMAN: My question is to the Attorney-General. Can the minister advise the Assembly of recent developments in the government’s efforts to reduce motor vehicle theft in Canberra?
MR CORBELL: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Today I was very pleased to be joined by Mr Gentleman, and I thank him therefore for the question, to unveil a number of new motorcycle anchor points installed in Woden as part of the ACT government’s motor vehicle and motorcycle crime prevention pilot project.
Mrs Dunne: Mr Speaker, I raise a point of order. Mr Gentleman asked a question about this earlier this year or late last year. What Mr Corbell is about to announce is the unveiling of something that was already announced. There have been no further developments.
MR SPEAKER: I think it is a reasonable question.
Mrs Dunne: The words of Mr Gentleman’s question are so like the one that he asked before as to be almost identical.
MR SPEAKER: It seems to me to be a reasonable question. It is entirely appropriate for the minister to answer it. Start the clock, please.
MR CORBELL: I think Mrs Dunne is still smarting, Mr Speaker. I was very pleased to join with Mr Gentleman today to unveil a new parking facility for motorcyclists in Canberra at Woden as part of the ACT government’s motorcycle crime prevention pilot project. Again, I am very disappointed that those opposite just are not interested in issues that affect motorcyclists and the need to improve the safety and security of parking arrangements for motorcyclists—a growing part of our community.
These new anchor points will provide motorcyclists with the opportunity to lock their bikes to the new railings with a chain or other device. The Woden area, where I unveiled these new parking arrangements today, has been identified as a high-risk area for motorcycle theft. Initially it was an example of an innovative and tailor-made crime fighting strategy taken by the government. Of course, members would recall that the government announced last year the provision of $35,000 to provide for improved motorcycle security in public car parks. Today was the opening of the first of those facilities.
The problem that is being addressed here is that about 100 registered and 30 unregistered motorcycles are stolen in the ACT every year, and around 30 of those are stolen from public car parks. Nationally, as we see motor vehicle theft decline, we are seeing motorcycle theft increase. This, of course, is driven by the increasing popularity of motorcycling as a transport choice for financial reasons, as well as for environmental reasons.
This project, I am very pleased to say, is a great example of community collaboration between citizens and the government in addressing and fighting crime. The
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