❓ The Attorney General outlines steps taken to reform the criminal justice system, citing an 8.6% decrease in reported crime and attributing it to government policies. He criticizes the opposition's stance on crime statistics.
AnsweredQoN 12Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
REFORM OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
The Liberal–National government was elected with a strong mandate to reform our criminal justice system and begin to restore community confidence. Can the Attorney General advise the house of the steps the government has taken to begin this process and the evidence of its success? Mr C.C. PORTER
The Liberal–National government was elected with a strong mandate to reform our criminal justice system and begin to restore community confidence. Can the Attorney General advise the house of the steps the government has taken to begin this process and the evidence of its success? Mr C.C. PORTER
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for her question. Some recent statistics are worth considering because they show a number of the benefits of the law and order policies instituted by this government over the past 18 months or so. The primary statistic is that there has been an overall 8.6 per cent decrease in reported crime. It is interesting to know what that measures; it is a very standard measure of crime using police reported statistics. It shows that crime is at its lowest rate in at least four years. However, the significance of the decrease is the size of the decrease. For instance, in 2008 there was an overall increase — Mr P. Papalia : How about the last 10 years? Mr C.C. PORTER : The member for Warnbro has a view on crime statistics. I am reading from a transcript of a broadcast from 720 ABC Perth. According to my notes, the transcript stated — Mr Papalia says that while there’s been a sharp rise in prisoner numbers, crime rates haven’t changed. According to my notes, Mr Papalia is quoted as saying — What is called tough on crime, is a bogus agenda, it is having no impact on the crime rates. The statistics demonstrate that the rate of crime is just the same as it was before, but we just have more people in our prisons. Is that true or false? Why does the member for Warnbro say things in the media that are not correct? I do not think it is because he means to be dishonest; I think it is because he is too lazy to go out, find the statistics and get to the truth of the matter. The truth of the matter is a very significant decrease in overall reported rates of crime. What does that measure? It measures homicide, sexual assault, assault, threatening behaviour, deprivation of liberty, robbery, burglary, motor vehicle theft, arson and property damage. Why can the opposition not be happy for the people of Western Australia that 18 000 fewer offences occurred in 2009 than occurred in 2008? Why can it not be happy about that? It cannot be happy about that because it could not achieve that result when it was in government. How has that result been achieved? It has been achieved because of, firstly, and most importantly, the change of government, and what a good thing that was; secondly, the removal of the one-third automatic truth-in-sentencing reduction system; thirdly, complete changes to the breach policy for community work, under which people who fail to attend community work are returned to court and re-sentenced; fourthly, a change in focus at the Prisoners Review Board of Western Australia, which is the agency that makes parole determinations; fifthly, a complete change in the focus of policing under our excellent Minister for Police, which has resulted in prolific and priority offender programs through which prolific offenders, whilst on parole and on bail, are scrutinised to ensure that they are meeting their conditions—National Party members might like to know that targeting these offenders has resulted in a decrease in crime in some regional areas in the vicinity of 30 per cent—and, sixthly, a focus on program delivery. We have had a lot of high-minded talk from the opposition about assisting people in prison. This government last year increased the number of programs delivered to prisoners by 45 per cent, and the increase for this year is predicted to be 65 per cent within the same budget. That means that more people are coming out of prison with a better chance of not reoffending and returning to prison. It was interesting to hear the member for Victoria Park talk about the extra costs associated with keeping extra prisoners in the prison system. Yes, there are extra costs, but the Australian Institute of Criminology figures—which are actually very conservative—show what it costs a member of the community against whom an offence has been carried out. For instance, the cost of each burglary is about $2 900. What happens when we multiply that by the 4 507 fewer burglaries we had in Western Australia this year? That is a cost saving to the people of Western Australia of more than $13 million. The opposition is quiet because it failed where the government has succeeded. It is a success from which every Western Australian will benefit in due course.
Mr C.C. PORTER replied: I thank the member for her question. Some recent statistics are worth considering because they show a number of the benefits of the law and order policies instituted by this government over the past 18 months or so. The primary statistic is that there has been an overall 8.6 per cent decrease in reported crime. It is interesting to know what that measures; it is a very standard measure of crime using police reported statistics. It shows that crime is at its lowest rate in at least four years. However, the significance of the decrease is the size of the decrease. For instance, in 2008 there was an overall increase — Mr P. Papalia : How about the last 10 years? Mr C.C. PORTER : The member for Warnbro has a view on crime statistics. I am reading from a transcript of a broadcast from 720 ABC Perth. According to my notes, the transcript stated — Mr Papalia says that while there’s been a sharp rise in prisoner numbers, crime rates haven’t changed. According to my notes, Mr Papalia is quoted as saying — What is called tough on crime, is a bogus agenda, it is having no impact on the crime rates. The statistics demonstrate that the rate of crime is just the same as it was before, but we just have more people in our prisons. Is that true or false? Why does the member for Warnbro say things in the media that are not correct? I do not think it is because he means to be dishonest; I think it is because he is too lazy to go out, find the statistics and get to the truth of the matter. The truth of the matter is a very significant decrease in overall reported rates of crime. What does that measure? It measures homicide, sexual assault, assault, threatening behaviour, deprivation of liberty, robbery, burglary, motor vehicle theft, arson and property damage. Why can the opposition not be happy for the people of Western Australia that 18 000 fewer offences occurred in 2009 than occurred in 2008? Why can it not be happy about that? It cannot be happy about that because it could not achieve that result when it was in government. How has that result been achieved? It has been achieved because of, firstly, and most importantly, the change of government, and what a good thing that was; secondly, the removal of the one-third automatic truth-in-sentencing reduction system; thirdly, complete changes to the breach policy for community work, under which people who fail to attend community work are returned to court and re-sentenced; fourthly, a change in focus at the Prisoners Review Board of Western Australia, which is the agency that makes parole determinations; fifthly, a complete change in the focus of policing under our excellent Minister for Police, which has resulted in prolific and priority offender programs through which prolific offenders, whilst on parole and on bail, are scrutinised to ensure that they are meeting their conditions—National Party members might like to know that targeting these offenders has resulted in a decrease in crime in some regional areas in the vicinity of 30 per cent—and, sixthly, a focus on program delivery. We have had a lot of high-minded talk from the opposition about assisting people in prison. This government last year increased the number of programs delivered to prisoners by 45 per cent, and the increase for this year is predicted to be 65 per cent within the same budget. That means that more people are coming out of prison with a better chance of not reoffending and returning to prison. It was interesting to hear the member for Victoria Park talk about the extra costs associated with keeping extra prisoners in the prison system. Yes, there are extra costs, but the Australian Institute of Criminology figures—which are actually very conservative—show what it costs a member of the community against whom an offence has been carried out. For instance, the cost of each burglary is about $2 900. What happens when we multiply that by the 4 507 fewer burglaries we had in Western Australia this year? That is a cost saving to the people of Western Australia of more than $13 million. The opposition is quiet because it failed where the government has succeeded. It is a success from which every Western Australian will benefit in due course.
I thank the member for her question. Some recent statistics are worth considering because they show a number of the benefits of the law and order policies instituted by this government over the past 18 months or so. The primary statistic is that there has been an overall 8.6 per cent decrease in reported crime. It is interesting to know what that measures; it is a very standard measure of crime using police reported statistics. It shows that crime is at its lowest rate in at least four years. However, the significance of the decrease is the size of the decrease. For instance, in 2008 there was an overall increase — Mr P. Papalia : How about the last 10 years? Mr C.C. PORTER : The member for Warnbro has a view on crime statistics. I am reading from a transcript of a broadcast from 720 ABC Perth. According to my notes, the transcript stated — Mr Papalia says that while there’s been a sharp rise in prisoner numbers, crime rates haven’t changed. According to my notes, Mr Papalia is quoted as saying — What is called tough on crime, is a bogus agenda, it is having no impact on the crime rates. The statistics demonstrate that the rate of crime is just the same as it was before, but we just have more people in our prisons. Is that true or false? Why does the member for Warnbro say things in the media that are not correct? I do not think it is because he means to be dishonest; I think it is because he is too lazy to go out, find the statistics and get to the truth of the matter. The truth of the matter is a very significant decrease in overall reported rates of crime. What does that measure? It measures homicide, sexual assault, assault, threatening behaviour, deprivation of liberty, robbery, burglary, motor vehicle theft, arson and property damage. Why can the opposition not be happy for the people of Western Australia that 18 000 fewer offences occurred in 2009 than occurred in 2008? Why can it not be happy about that? It cannot be happy about that because it could not achieve that result when it was in government. How has that result been achieved? It has been achieved because of, firstly, and most importantly, the change of government, and what a good thing that was; secondly, the removal of the one-third automatic truth-in-sentencing reduction system; thirdly, complete changes to the breach policy for community work, under which people who fail to attend community work are returned to court and re-sentenced; fourthly, a change in focus at the Prisoners Review Board of Western Australia, which is the agency that makes parole determinations; fifthly, a complete change in the focus of policing under our excellent Minister for Police, which has resulted in prolific and priority offender programs through which prolific offenders, whilst on parole and on bail, are scrutinised to ensure that they are meeting their conditions—National Party members might like to know that targeting these offenders has resulted in a decrease in crime in some regional areas in the vicinity of 30 per cent—and, sixthly, a focus on program delivery. We have had a lot of high-minded talk from the opposition about assisting people in prison. This government last year increased the number of programs delivered to prisoners by 45 per cent, and the increase for this year is predicted to be 65 per cent within the same budget. That means that more people are coming out of prison with a better chance of not reoffending and returning to prison. It was interesting to hear the member for Victoria Park talk about the extra costs associated with keeping extra prisoners in the prison system. Yes, there are extra costs, but the Australian Institute of Criminology figures—which are actually very conservative—show what it costs a member of the community against whom an offence has been carried out. For instance, the cost of each burglary is about $2 900. What happens when we multiply that by the 4 507 fewer burglaries we had in Western Australia this year? That is a cost saving to the people of Western Australia of more than $13 million. The opposition is quiet because it failed where the government has succeeded. It is a success from which every Western Australian will benefit in due course.
Mr P. Papalia : How about the last 10 years? Mr C.C. PORTER : The member for Warnbro has a view on crime statistics. I am reading from a transcript of a broadcast from 720 ABC Perth. According to my notes, the transcript stated — Mr Papalia says that while there’s been a sharp rise in prisoner numbers, crime rates haven’t changed. According to my notes, Mr Papalia is quoted as saying — What is called tough on crime, is a bogus agenda, it is having no impact on the crime rates. The statistics demonstrate that the rate of crime is just the same as it was before, but we just have more people in our prisons. Is that true or false? Why does the member for Warnbro say things in the media that are not correct? I do not think it is because he means to be dishonest; I think it is because he is too lazy to go out, find the statistics and get to the truth of the matter. The truth of the matter is a very significant decrease in overall reported rates of crime. What does that measure? It measures homicide, sexual assault, assault, threatening behaviour, deprivation of liberty, robbery, burglary, motor vehicle theft, arson and property damage. Why can the opposition not be happy for the people of Western Australia that 18 000 fewer offences occurred in 2009 than occurred in 2008? Why can it not be happy about that? It cannot be happy about that because it could not achieve that result when it was in government. How has that result been achieved? It has been achieved because of, firstly, and most importantly, the change of government, and what a good thing that was; secondly, the removal of the one-third automatic truth-in-sentencing reduction system; thirdly, complete changes to the breach policy for community work, under which people who fail to attend community work are returned to court and re-sentenced; fourthly, a change in focus at the Prisoners Review Board of Western Australia, which is the agency that makes parole determinations; fifthly, a complete change in the focus of policing under our excellent Minister for Police, which has resulted in prolific and priority offender programs through which prolific offenders, whilst on parole and on bail, are scrutinised to ensure that they are meeting their conditions—National Party members might like to know that targeting these offenders has resulted in a decrease in crime in some regional areas in the vicinity of 30 per cent—and, sixthly, a focus on program delivery. We have had a lot of high-minded talk from the opposition about assisting people in prison. This government last year increased the number of programs delivered to prisoners by 45 per cent, and the increase for this year is predicted to be 65 per cent within the same budget. That means that more people are coming out of prison with a better chance of not reoffending and returning to prison. It was interesting to hear the member for Victoria Park talk about the extra costs associated with keeping extra prisoners in the prison system. Yes, there are extra costs, but the Australian Institute of Criminology figures—which are actually very conservative—show what it costs a member of the community against whom an offence has been carried out. For instance, the cost of each burglary is about $2 900. What happens when we multiply that by the 4 507 fewer burglaries we had in Western Australia this year? That is a cost saving to the people of Western Australia of more than $13 million. The opposition is quiet because it failed where the government has succeeded. It is a success from which every Western Australian will benefit in due course.
Mr C.C. PORTER : The member for Warnbro has a view on crime statistics. I am reading from a transcript of a broadcast from 720 ABC Perth. According to my notes, the transcript stated — Mr Papalia says that while there’s been a sharp rise in prisoner numbers, crime rates haven’t changed. According to my notes, Mr Papalia is quoted as saying — What is called tough on crime, is a bogus agenda, it is having no impact on the crime rates. The statistics demonstrate that the rate of crime is just the same as it was before, but we just have more people in our prisons. Is that true or false? Why does the member for Warnbro say things in the media that are not correct? I do not think it is because he means to be dishonest; I think it is because he is too lazy to go out, find the statistics and get to the truth of the matter. The truth of the matter is a very significant decrease in overall reported rates of crime. What does that measure? It measures homicide, sexual assault, assault, threatening behaviour, deprivation of liberty, robbery, burglary, motor vehicle theft, arson and property damage. Why can the opposition not be happy for the people of Western Australia that 18 000 fewer offences occurred in 2009 than occurred in 2008? Why can it not be happy about that? It cannot be happy about that because it could not achieve that result when it was in government. How has that result been achieved? It has been achieved because of, firstly, and most importantly, the change of government, and what a good thing that was; secondly, the removal of the one-third automatic truth-in-sentencing reduction system; thirdly, complete changes to the breach policy for community work, under which people who fail to attend community work are returned to court and re-sentenced; fourthly, a change in focus at the Prisoners Review Board of Western Australia, which is the agency that makes parole determinations; fifthly, a complete change in the focus of policing under our excellent Minister for Police, which has resulted in prolific and priority offender programs through which prolific offenders, whilst on parole and on bail, are scrutinised to ensure that they are meeting their conditions—National Party members might like to know that targeting these offenders has resulted in a decrease in crime in some regional areas in the vicinity of 30 per cent—and, sixthly, a focus on program delivery. We have had a lot of high-minded talk from the opposition about assisting people in prison. This government last year increased the number of programs delivered to prisoners by 45 per cent, and the increase for this year is predicted to be 65 per cent within the same budget. That means that more people are coming out of prison with a better chance of not reoffending and returning to prison. It was interesting to hear the member for Victoria Park talk about the extra costs associated with keeping extra prisoners in the prison system. Yes, there are extra costs, but the Australian Institute of Criminology figures—which are actually very conservative—show what it costs a member of the community against whom an offence has been carried out. For instance, the cost of each burglary is about $2 900. What happens when we multiply that by the 4 507 fewer burglaries we had in Western Australia this year? That is a cost saving to the people of Western Australia of more than $13 million. The opposition is quiet because it failed where the government has succeeded. It is a success from which every Western Australian will benefit in due course.
It was interesting to hear the member for Victoria Park talk about the extra costs associated with keeping extra prisoners in the prison system. Yes, there are extra costs, but the Australian Institute of Criminology figures—which are actually very conservative—show what it costs a member of the community against whom an offence has been carried out. For instance, the cost of each burglary is about $2 900. What happens when we multiply that by the 4 507 fewer burglaries we had in Western Australia this year? That is a cost saving to the people of Western Australia of more than $13 million. The opposition is quiet because it failed where the government has succeeded. It is a success from which every Western Australian will benefit in due course.
Mr C.C. PORTER replied: I thank the member for her question. Some recent statistics are worth considering because they show a number of the benefits of the law and order policies instituted by this government over the past 18 months or so. The primary statistic is that there has been an overall 8.6 per cent decrease in reported crime. It is interesting to know what that measures; it is a very standard measure of crime using police reported statistics. It shows that crime is at its lowest rate in at least four years. However, the significance of the decrease is the size of the decrease. For instance, in 2008 there was an overall increase — Mr P. Papalia : How about the last 10 years? Mr C.C. PORTER : The member for Warnbro has a view on crime statistics. I am reading from a transcript of a broadcast from 720 ABC Perth. According to my notes, the transcript stated — Mr Papalia says that while there’s been a sharp rise in prisoner numbers, crime rates haven’t changed. According to my notes, Mr Papalia is quoted as saying — What is called tough on crime, is a bogus agenda, it is having no impact on the crime rates. The statistics demonstrate that the rate of crime is just the same as it was before, but we just have more people in our prisons. Is that true or false? Why does the member for Warnbro say things in the media that are not correct? I do not think it is because he means to be dishonest; I think it is because he is too lazy to go out, find the statistics and get to the truth of the matter. The truth of the matter is a very significant decrease in overall reported rates of crime. What does that measure? It measures homicide, sexual assault, assault, threatening behaviour, deprivation of liberty, robbery, burglary, motor vehicle theft, arson and property damage. Why can the opposition not be happy for the people of Western Australia that 18 000 fewer offences occurred in 2009 than occurred in 2008? Why can it not be happy about that? It cannot be happy about that because it could not achieve that result when it was in government. How has that result been achieved? It has been achieved because of, firstly, and most importantly, the change of government, and what a good thing that was; secondly, the removal of the one-third automatic truth-in-sentencing reduction system; thirdly, complete changes to the breach policy for community work, under which people who fail to attend community work are returned to court and re-sentenced; fourthly, a change in focus at the Prisoners Review Board of Western Australia, which is the agency that makes parole determinations; fifthly, a complete change in the focus of policing under our excellent Minister for Police, which has resulted in prolific and priority offender programs through which prolific offenders, whilst on parole and on bail, are scrutinised to ensure that they are meeting their conditions—National Party members might like to know that targeting these offenders has resulted in a decrease in crime in some regional areas in the vicinity of 30 per cent—and, sixthly, a focus on program delivery. We have had a lot of high-minded talk from the opposition about assisting people in prison. This government last year increased the number of programs delivered to prisoners by 45 per cent, and the increase for this year is predicted to be 65 per cent within the same budget. That means that more people are coming out of prison with a better chance of not reoffending and returning to prison. It was interesting to hear the member for Victoria Park talk about the extra costs associated with keeping extra prisoners in the prison system. Yes, there are extra costs, but the Australian Institute of Criminology figures—which are actually very conservative—show what it costs a member of the community against whom an offence has been carried out. For instance, the cost of each burglary is about $2 900. What happens when we multiply that by the 4 507 fewer burglaries we had in Western Australia this year? That is a cost saving to the people of Western Australia of more than $13 million. The opposition is quiet because it failed where the government has succeeded. It is a success from which every Western Australian will benefit in due course.
I thank the member for her question. Some recent statistics are worth considering because they show a number of the benefits of the law and order policies instituted by this government over the past 18 months or so. The primary statistic is that there has been an overall 8.6 per cent decrease in reported crime. It is interesting to know what that measures; it is a very standard measure of crime using police reported statistics. It shows that crime is at its lowest rate in at least four years. However, the significance of the decrease is the size of the decrease. For instance, in 2008 there was an overall increase — Mr P. Papalia : How about the last 10 years? Mr C.C. PORTER : The member for Warnbro has a view on crime statistics. I am reading from a transcript of a broadcast from 720 ABC Perth. According to my notes, the transcript stated — Mr Papalia says that while there’s been a sharp rise in prisoner numbers, crime rates haven’t changed. According to my notes, Mr Papalia is quoted as saying — What is called tough on crime, is a bogus agenda, it is having no impact on the crime rates. The statistics demonstrate that the rate of crime is just the same as it was before, but we just have more people in our prisons. Is that true or false? Why does the member for Warnbro say things in the media that are not correct? I do not think it is because he means to be dishonest; I think it is because he is too lazy to go out, find the statistics and get to the truth of the matter. The truth of the matter is a very significant decrease in overall reported rates of crime. What does that measure? It measures homicide, sexual assault, assault, threatening behaviour, deprivation of liberty, robbery, burglary, motor vehicle theft, arson and property damage. Why can the opposition not be happy for the people of Western Australia that 18 000 fewer offences occurred in 2009 than occurred in 2008? Why can it not be happy about that? It cannot be happy about that because it could not achieve that result when it was in government. How has that result been achieved? It has been achieved because of, firstly, and most importantly, the change of government, and what a good thing that was; secondly, the removal of the one-third automatic truth-in-sentencing reduction system; thirdly, complete changes to the breach policy for community work, under which people who fail to attend community work are returned to court and re-sentenced; fourthly, a change in focus at the Prisoners Review Board of Western Australia, which is the agency that makes parole determinations; fifthly, a complete change in the focus of policing under our excellent Minister for Police, which has resulted in prolific and priority offender programs through which prolific offenders, whilst on parole and on bail, are scrutinised to ensure that they are meeting their conditions—National Party members might like to know that targeting these offenders has resulted in a decrease in crime in some regional areas in the vicinity of 30 per cent—and, sixthly, a focus on program delivery. We have had a lot of high-minded talk from the opposition about assisting people in prison. This government last year increased the number of programs delivered to prisoners by 45 per cent, and the increase for this year is predicted to be 65 per cent within the same budget. That means that more people are coming out of prison with a better chance of not reoffending and returning to prison. It was interesting to hear the member for Victoria Park talk about the extra costs associated with keeping extra prisoners in the prison system. Yes, there are extra costs, but the Australian Institute of Criminology figures—which are actually very conservative—show what it costs a member of the community against whom an offence has been carried out. For instance, the cost of each burglary is about $2 900. What happens when we multiply that by the 4 507 fewer burglaries we had in Western Australia this year? That is a cost saving to the people of Western Australia of more than $13 million. The opposition is quiet because it failed where the government has succeeded. It is a success from which every Western Australian will benefit in due course.
Mr P. Papalia : How about the last 10 years? Mr C.C. PORTER : The member for Warnbro has a view on crime statistics. I am reading from a transcript of a broadcast from 720 ABC Perth. According to my notes, the transcript stated — Mr Papalia says that while there’s been a sharp rise in prisoner numbers, crime rates haven’t changed. According to my notes, Mr Papalia is quoted as saying — What is called tough on crime, is a bogus agenda, it is having no impact on the crime rates. The statistics demonstrate that the rate of crime is just the same as it was before, but we just have more people in our prisons. Is that true or false? Why does the member for Warnbro say things in the media that are not correct? I do not think it is because he means to be dishonest; I think it is because he is too lazy to go out, find the statistics and get to the truth of the matter. The truth of the matter is a very significant decrease in overall reported rates of crime. What does that measure? It measures homicide, sexual assault, assault, threatening behaviour, deprivation of liberty, robbery, burglary, motor vehicle theft, arson and property damage. Why can the opposition not be happy for the people of Western Australia that 18 000 fewer offences occurred in 2009 than occurred in 2008? Why can it not be happy about that? It cannot be happy about that because it could not achieve that result when it was in government. How has that result been achieved? It has been achieved because of, firstly, and most importantly, the change of government, and what a good thing that was; secondly, the removal of the one-third automatic truth-in-sentencing reduction system; thirdly, complete changes to the breach policy for community work, under which people who fail to attend community work are returned to court and re-sentenced; fourthly, a change in focus at the Prisoners Review Board of Western Australia, which is the agency that makes parole determinations; fifthly, a complete change in the focus of policing under our excellent Minister for Police, which has resulted in prolific and priority offender programs through which prolific offenders, whilst on parole and on bail, are scrutinised to ensure that they are meeting their conditions—National Party members might like to know that targeting these offenders has resulted in a decrease in crime in some regional areas in the vicinity of 30 per cent—and, sixthly, a focus on program delivery. We have had a lot of high-minded talk from the opposition about assisting people in prison. This government last year increased the number of programs delivered to prisoners by 45 per cent, and the increase for this year is predicted to be 65 per cent within the same budget. That means that more people are coming out of prison with a better chance of not reoffending and returning to prison. It was interesting to hear the member for Victoria Park talk about the extra costs associated with keeping extra prisoners in the prison system. Yes, there are extra costs, but the Australian Institute of Criminology figures—which are actually very conservative—show what it costs a member of the community against whom an offence has been carried out. For instance, the cost of each burglary is about $2 900. What happens when we multiply that by the 4 507 fewer burglaries we had in Western Australia this year? That is a cost saving to the people of Western Australia of more than $13 million. The opposition is quiet because it failed where the government has succeeded. It is a success from which every Western Australian will benefit in due course.
Mr C.C. PORTER : The member for Warnbro has a view on crime statistics. I am reading from a transcript of a broadcast from 720 ABC Perth. According to my notes, the transcript stated — Mr Papalia says that while there’s been a sharp rise in prisoner numbers, crime rates haven’t changed. According to my notes, Mr Papalia is quoted as saying — What is called tough on crime, is a bogus agenda, it is having no impact on the crime rates. The statistics demonstrate that the rate of crime is just the same as it was before, but we just have more people in our prisons. Is that true or false? Why does the member for Warnbro say things in the media that are not correct? I do not think it is because he means to be dishonest; I think it is because he is too lazy to go out, find the statistics and get to the truth of the matter. The truth of the matter is a very significant decrease in overall reported rates of crime. What does that measure? It measures homicide, sexual assault, assault, threatening behaviour, deprivation of liberty, robbery, burglary, motor vehicle theft, arson and property damage. Why can the opposition not be happy for the people of Western Australia that 18 000 fewer offences occurred in 2009 than occurred in 2008? Why can it not be happy about that? It cannot be happy about that because it could not achieve that result when it was in government. How has that result been achieved? It has been achieved because of, firstly, and most importantly, the change of government, and what a good thing that was; secondly, the removal of the one-third automatic truth-in-sentencing reduction system; thirdly, complete changes to the breach policy for community work, under which people who fail to attend community work are returned to court and re-sentenced; fourthly, a change in focus at the Prisoners Review Board of Western Australia, which is the agency that makes parole determinations; fifthly, a complete change in the focus of policing under our excellent Minister for Police, which has resulted in prolific and priority offender programs through which prolific offenders, whilst on parole and on bail, are scrutinised to ensure that they are meeting their conditions—National Party members might like to know that targeting these offenders has resulted in a decrease in crime in some regional areas in the vicinity of 30 per cent—and, sixthly, a focus on program delivery. We have had a lot of high-minded talk from the opposition about assisting people in prison. This government last year increased the number of programs delivered to prisoners by 45 per cent, and the increase for this year is predicted to be 65 per cent within the same budget. That means that more people are coming out of prison with a better chance of not reoffending and returning to prison. It was interesting to hear the member for Victoria Park talk about the extra costs associated with keeping extra prisoners in the prison system. Yes, there are extra costs, but the Australian Institute of Criminology figures—which are actually very conservative—show what it costs a member of the community against whom an offence has been carried out. For instance, the cost of each burglary is about $2 900. What happens when we multiply that by the 4 507 fewer burglaries we had in Western Australia this year? That is a cost saving to the people of Western Australia of more than $13 million. The opposition is quiet because it failed where the government has succeeded. It is a success from which every Western Australian will benefit in due course.
It was interesting to hear the member for Victoria Park talk about the extra costs associated with keeping extra prisoners in the prison system. Yes, there are extra costs, but the Australian Institute of Criminology figures—which are actually very conservative—show what it costs a member of the community against whom an offence has been carried out. For instance, the cost of each burglary is about $2 900. What happens when we multiply that by the 4 507 fewer burglaries we had in Western Australia this year? That is a cost saving to the people of Western Australia of more than $13 million. The opposition is quiet because it failed where the government has succeeded. It is a success from which every Western Australian will benefit in due course.
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