❓ Ms Mettam questions the Premier on rising violent crime and prioritisation of electoral reform. The Premier defends the government's record on crime, highlighting one-punch laws, increased police numbers, and firearm legislation, while attacking the Leader of the Opposition's stance on gun control.
AnsweredQoN 778Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CRIME AND ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOUR
778. Ms L. METTAM to the Premier:
I refer to last night's
coward's punch incident during which a man was allegedly assaulted in
an unprovoked attack, resulting in serious head and facial injuries that have
left him in a critical condition in the intensive care unit at Royal Perth
Hospital.
(1) Can the
Premier explain why violent crime rates have increased by 46 per cent since
2017 despite repeated promises to address this issue?
(2) Why is the
electoral reform bill the government's most important urgent issue
given that this incident is reflective of the escalating violent crime crisis that
has happened under the Premier's watch?
778. Ms L. METTAM to the Premier:
I refer to last night's
coward's punch incident during which a man was allegedly assaulted in
an unprovoked attack, resulting in serious head and facial injuries that have
left him in a critical condition in the intensive care unit at Royal Perth
Hospital.
(1) Can the
Premier explain why violent crime rates have increased by 46 per cent since
2017 despite repeated promises to address this issue?
(2) Why is the
electoral reform bill the government's most important urgent issue
given that this incident is reflective of the escalating violent crime crisis that
has happened under the Premier's watch?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) Of
course, we were the party in government that brought in the one-punch laws. We
were the ones that brought in severe penalties for those who perpetrate such a cowardly
crime. In fact, they were called coward-punch laws at the time. It is good that
someone has been arrested in relation to that matter. It is good that we have
laws to cater for these sorts of actions and activities. We hope for a speedy,
good and resolute outcome in relation to that. This is also reflected in our
commitment to make sure we have more cops on the job. The number of police
officers has increased by over 320 in the last 12 months alone.
We continue to do everything we can
for community safety. That includes bringing in our nation-leading firearm
laws, which are about making sure that we keep people safe. We know from the
proliferation of guns in our community and some of the horrific crimes in which
people have been subject to domestic violence
by domestic violence offenders that there is a greater incidence of gun-related
crime. That is why we brought in our nation-leading gun laws, of which
we are very proud. We are making good progress; we have taken tens of thousands
of guns out of the community and, as a result, the community remains safer. I put this proposition: would the Leader of
the Liberal Party form government with the National P arty if it meant
sacrificing these firearm laws if that is what is required? We only need to
look at the Leader of the Liberal Party's
actions when these laws were going through Parliament to understand what she
truly believes about this. One of her party members voted against those
laws. The leader herself absconded— she
was missing in action. She ran away when the vote had to be counted. When it
counted, the Leader of the Liberal Party was nowhere. She turned her
back on domestic violence victims, she turned her back on people who are trying to make this community safer
and she turned her back on the cops who are out there day in, day out
trying to keep our community safe. When it comes to community safety, we know
where my government stands. Where does the Leader of the Liberal Party stand?
What does she stand for?
course, we were the party in government that brought in the one-punch laws. We
were the ones that brought in severe penalties for those who perpetrate such a cowardly
crime. In fact, they were called coward-punch laws at the time. It is good that
someone has been arrested in relation to that matter. It is good that we have
laws to cater for these sorts of actions and activities. We hope for a speedy,
good and resolute outcome in relation to that. This is also reflected in our
commitment to make sure we have more cops on the job. The number of police
officers has increased by over 320 in the last 12 months alone.
We continue to do everything we can
for community safety. That includes bringing in our nation-leading firearm
laws, which are about making sure that we keep people safe. We know from the
proliferation of guns in our community and some of the horrific crimes in which
people have been subject to domestic violence
by domestic violence offenders that there is a greater incidence of gun-related
crime. That is why we brought in our nation-leading gun laws, of which
we are very proud. We are making good progress; we have taken tens of thousands
of guns out of the community and, as a result, the community remains safer. I put this proposition: would the Leader of
the Liberal Party form government with the National P arty if it meant
sacrificing these firearm laws if that is what is required? We only need to
look at the Leader of the Liberal Party's
actions when these laws were going through Parliament to understand what she
truly believes about this. One of her party members voted against those
laws. The leader herself absconded— she
was missing in action. She ran away when the vote had to be counted. When it
counted, the Leader of the Liberal Party was nowhere. She turned her
back on domestic violence victims, she turned her back on people who are trying to make this community safer
and she turned her back on the cops who are out there day in, day out
trying to keep our community safe. When it comes to community safety, we know
where my government stands. Where does the Leader of the Liberal Party stand?
What does she stand for?
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