Page 3082 - Week 08 - Thursday, 16 August 2018
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Crime—Yerrabi
MR MILLIGAN: Madam Speaker, my question is to the Minister for Police and Emergency Services. Minister, why has there been an increase in crime across the suburbs of Yerrabi, most recently in Moncrieff, where the community have set up their own community watch group as well as holding a forum next month with Neighbourhood Watch and Crime Stoppers?
MR GENTLEMAN: I thank Mr Milligan for his interest. I am pleased to see that the number of offences for the 2017-18 financial year shows a decrease overall of 3.2 per cent, or 1,116 offences, compared to the previous financial year. Mr Milligan is referring to a brand-new suburb, so it is very difficult to see how you could compare previous years. Talking about all of Canberra, though, the total number of recorded offences against a person for the reporting period shows a decrease of 14.8 per cent, or 581 offences, compared to previous years. Alcohol-related assaults decreased from 17.6 per cent, or 154 offences, for the 12 months to 30 April 2018. So, overall, in the stats we have seen, over the past year we have seen an average decrease in criminal activity in the ACT. But in new suburbs we will of course see those occurrences going up, because there is no previous data for them.
MR MILLIGAN: Minister, why are police refusing to attend to reports made via Crime Stoppers?
MR GENTLEMAN: I am sorry, I have a little bit of hearing loss in one ear. If Mr Milligan could repeat.
MR MILLIGAN: Minister, why are police refusing to attend to reports made via Crime Stoppers?
MR GENTLEMAN: I am not aware that police are refusing to attend any calls for assistance.
MR COE: Minister, what actions will you take to ensure that crime such as car break-ins and property damage are thoroughly investigated by the police?
MR GENTLEMAN: Police have, of course, a responsibility and an operational plan to look after the most serious crimes and dangerous offences first. They will look at those serious categories first, but certainly investigations occur where they can. If there is no evidence or no view for the victim to take action the police cannot do much about that. They do as much as they possibly can. As I said, we are a safe city, crime statistics are reducing and police are doing a good job.
Justice—accessibility
MS CHEYNE: My question is to the Attorney-General. Attorney, can you please give an update on the government’s work to make our justice system more accessible?
MR RAMSAY: I thank Ms Cheyne for the question. We have been hard at work over this term delivering on our commitment to make sure that our laws and our courts
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