Page 293 - Week 01 - Thursday, 29 November 2012
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MR GENTLEMAN: Minister, are you able to outline for the Assembly what steps the ACT government has taken that have contributed to this result?
MR CORBELL: These consistent reductions in crime are the result of a dedicated strategic and proactive effort on the part of ACT Policing, and I extend to them my thanks and congratulations on behalf of the government for the dedicated work officers of ACT Policing do every day. But I also recognise that they do this in partnership with a range of ACT government agencies.
The decreases in assault offences, for example, over the past 12 months can be seen in part as a result of the Labor government’s efforts to reform our liquor licensing legislation to encourage safer and more responsible drinking practices. As a part of these reforms, there has been greater engagement with licensees and the community to increase our community’s understanding of the causes and precursors of alcohol-related harm.
Also contributing to this downward trend is ACT Policing’s partnership with the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education. This partnership aims to help reduce the number of alcohol-related acts of violence in public places. The review is currently evaluating the impact of risk-based licensing on alcohol-related violence in the ACT. Of course, those opposite continue to maintain what would almost appear to be an in-principle objection to risk-based licensing when you look at their actual detailed critique, but it is the case that risk-based licensing is making our city safer, and that is a good thing for our community.
There are many factors that can contribute to the quarterly decreases in property crime, particularly the efforts of ACT Policing’s initiative for the property crime targeting team using aggressive crime targeting strategies to target recidivist offenders, enforce bail conditions and target ongoing activity. But also the work of our property crime reduction strategy is making a difference.
MADAM SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Mr Seselja.
MR SESELJA: Minister, how many of the crimes in question during the period occurred when offenders were out on bail, and how many of those offences were violent offences?
MR CORBELL: I think it would be fair to say that any assault is a violent offence and I would have thought that would have been obvious. In relation to the issue of bail, there would be no doubt that some of these offences were committed by people who were on bail, and it may be the case that there would be others who were not on bail.
MADAM SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Ms Porter.
MS PORTER: Minister, the ACT criminal justice statistical profile also shows lower rates of youth detention in the ACT. Can you outline for the Assembly what this reduction was, in particular in reference to Indigenous young people?
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