❓ A WA parliamentary question regarding the Cook Labor government's community safety reforms and the public's response. The Minister details various initiatives, equipment upgrades, legislative changes, and crime reduction outcomes, citing positive feedback from community leaders.
AnsweredQoN 533Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
POLICE — COMMUNITY SAFETY
533. Mrs R.M.J. CLARKE to the Minister for Police:
I
refer to the Cook Labor government's commitment to keeping the Western Australian
community safe. Can the minister update the house on the reforms that
this government has put in place to make our community safe, and advise the house how community leaders and
members of the public have responded to these important safety reforms?
533. Mrs R.M.J. CLARKE to the Minister for Police:
I
refer to the Cook Labor government's commitment to keeping the Western Australian
community safe. Can the minister update the house on the reforms that
this government has put in place to make our community safe, and advise the house how community leaders and
members of the public have responded to these important safety reforms?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for her question
and for her unwavering support for the Western Australia Police Force,
particularly those officers who serve in her electorate.
The McGowan and Cook governments
have implemented an incredible range of initiatives and reforms to support the Western
Australia Police Force and make our community safer. I will briefly reflect on
the complete transformation of the
operational equipment provided to our police officers. They have new body
armour and state- of-the-art body-worn cameras. They have digital
connectivity, with mobile phones, to the State Operations Command Centre. We
have satellite communications being rolled out to all police vehicles and
police stations in the regions. They have CarPlay in their vehicles, new
helicopters and new rigid-hull inflatable boats. There are new armoured police
vehicles for the tactical response group. They are among the many initiatives
that have made our police officers better equipped than any in the nation,
really.
There are more police officers now
than ever before in history. We have 7 148 police officers—and growing.
There are far more police officers now than under our predecessors. We have a range
of legislative initiatives that help and support our police to ensure public
safety, including the current firearms reform and the buyback scheme that has
so far seen more than 23 000 firearms taken off the streets. New knife laws
have been implemented. The Community Protection (Offender Reporting) Amendment
Bill 2024 I just read in will crack down on dangerous sex offenders and help
protect the community against those child sex offenders when they are released
into the community under reporting obligations. There is the Criminal Law
(Unlawful Consorting and Prohibited Insignia) Act 2021 to tackle bikies. We
have the toughest bikie laws in the country. They are being emulated not only
in Australia but across the ocean in New Zealand because of their
effectiveness. The Evidence Act will be completely rewritten, including to
elevate body-worn camera imagery to evidence-in-chief. That is an extraordinary
initiative. The Misuse of Drugs amendment created border search areas and the
banned drinkers register and takeaway alcohol management system have been
implemented across much of the regions.
Speaking of which, coupled with
Operation Regional Shield's focus on juvenile crime in the regions, it
has resulted in some extraordinary outcomes in the reduction of crime in the
regions. Last month, some of us were in Kununurra and heard firsthand from the
community that there has been a 27 per cent reduction in juvenile crime. That
is an extraordinary outcome in Kununurra. Right across the Kimberley, juvenile
crime is down by more than 15 per cent. We were in the Pilbara last weekend,
where we heard that crime in Newman, for instance, is down by 21 per cent in
total. Juvenile crime in Port Hedland and in Newman is down by over 18 per cent.
It is incredible to witness the effectiveness of policing, the support of
communities, the many other initiatives of this government and the resulting
incredible outcomes.
In response to the member's
question, I would like to add the sorts of feedback we have had from
communities. In the Kimberley, we heard positive feedback about juvenile crime
reduction. In the Pilbara, we heard positive feedback about juvenile crime
reduction. I have a letter from an exceptional community leader in Carnarvon,
Eddie Smith. It was written to me and is dated 1 August. I feel obligated to
read part of it into the Parliament. Noting that the member for North West Central
frequently laments the state of her community and talks it down, I would like
to read in a letter to me acknowledging the government's efforts to
support his community. He says —
I
am writing to personally, and on behalf of our community, to thank you and the
WAPOL team in Carnarvon.
Our previous conversations have
centred around the issue's that were impacting Carnarvon.
As a result of the changes brought
about by you we are now enjoying a much-improved environment with a significant
reduction in anti-social behaviour and crime.
That is pretty generous, but he goes
on to say —
It is not perfect and I think we must
all accept that it will never be perfect. The best measure I can give you is, I
was getting numerous daily complaints, now it is one or two a week.
That is probably emanating from the
member for North West Central's office; I do not know. He said —
There are spikes especially in
stealing and anti-social behaviour but once again that is getting dealt with in
a timely fashion.
He goes on to talk about a quad bike
that was stolen, but it was recovered and back in his possession by 8.30 am. He
said —
Please accept my, and our community's
gratitude and forward onto the Carnarvon Team please.
I absolutely will, Eddie. I will forward that on to the
Carnarvon team. In fact, that is why I have read it into the Parliament so they
can read in Hansard the gratitude being expressed by the shire president
on behalf of the community. It is mirrored in a lot of places we go to in the
regions, particularly in recent times. It is wonderful to have that feedback,
thank you.
and for her unwavering support for the Western Australia Police Force,
particularly those officers who serve in her electorate.
The McGowan and Cook governments
have implemented an incredible range of initiatives and reforms to support the Western
Australia Police Force and make our community safer. I will briefly reflect on
the complete transformation of the
operational equipment provided to our police officers. They have new body
armour and state- of-the-art body-worn cameras. They have digital
connectivity, with mobile phones, to the State Operations Command Centre. We
have satellite communications being rolled out to all police vehicles and
police stations in the regions. They have CarPlay in their vehicles, new
helicopters and new rigid-hull inflatable boats. There are new armoured police
vehicles for the tactical response group. They are among the many initiatives
that have made our police officers better equipped than any in the nation,
really.
There are more police officers now
than ever before in history. We have 7 148 police officers—and growing.
There are far more police officers now than under our predecessors. We have a range
of legislative initiatives that help and support our police to ensure public
safety, including the current firearms reform and the buyback scheme that has
so far seen more than 23 000 firearms taken off the streets. New knife laws
have been implemented. The Community Protection (Offender Reporting) Amendment
Bill 2024 I just read in will crack down on dangerous sex offenders and help
protect the community against those child sex offenders when they are released
into the community under reporting obligations. There is the Criminal Law
(Unlawful Consorting and Prohibited Insignia) Act 2021 to tackle bikies. We
have the toughest bikie laws in the country. They are being emulated not only
in Australia but across the ocean in New Zealand because of their
effectiveness. The Evidence Act will be completely rewritten, including to
elevate body-worn camera imagery to evidence-in-chief. That is an extraordinary
initiative. The Misuse of Drugs amendment created border search areas and the
banned drinkers register and takeaway alcohol management system have been
implemented across much of the regions.
Speaking of which, coupled with
Operation Regional Shield's focus on juvenile crime in the regions, it
has resulted in some extraordinary outcomes in the reduction of crime in the
regions. Last month, some of us were in Kununurra and heard firsthand from the
community that there has been a 27 per cent reduction in juvenile crime. That
is an extraordinary outcome in Kununurra. Right across the Kimberley, juvenile
crime is down by more than 15 per cent. We were in the Pilbara last weekend,
where we heard that crime in Newman, for instance, is down by 21 per cent in
total. Juvenile crime in Port Hedland and in Newman is down by over 18 per cent.
It is incredible to witness the effectiveness of policing, the support of
communities, the many other initiatives of this government and the resulting
incredible outcomes.
In response to the member's
question, I would like to add the sorts of feedback we have had from
communities. In the Kimberley, we heard positive feedback about juvenile crime
reduction. In the Pilbara, we heard positive feedback about juvenile crime
reduction. I have a letter from an exceptional community leader in Carnarvon,
Eddie Smith. It was written to me and is dated 1 August. I feel obligated to
read part of it into the Parliament. Noting that the member for North West Central
frequently laments the state of her community and talks it down, I would like
to read in a letter to me acknowledging the government's efforts to
support his community. He says —
I
am writing to personally, and on behalf of our community, to thank you and the
WAPOL team in Carnarvon.
Our previous conversations have
centred around the issue's that were impacting Carnarvon.
As a result of the changes brought
about by you we are now enjoying a much-improved environment with a significant
reduction in anti-social behaviour and crime.
That is pretty generous, but he goes
on to say —
It is not perfect and I think we must
all accept that it will never be perfect. The best measure I can give you is, I
was getting numerous daily complaints, now it is one or two a week.
That is probably emanating from the
member for North West Central's office; I do not know. He said —
There are spikes especially in
stealing and anti-social behaviour but once again that is getting dealt with in
a timely fashion.
He goes on to talk about a quad bike
that was stolen, but it was recovered and back in his possession by 8.30 am. He
said —
Please accept my, and our community's
gratitude and forward onto the Carnarvon Team please.
I absolutely will, Eddie. I will forward that on to the
Carnarvon team. In fact, that is why I have read it into the Parliament so they
can read in Hansard the gratitude being expressed by the shire president
on behalf of the community. It is mirrored in a lot of places we go to in the
regions, particularly in recent times. It is wonderful to have that feedback,
thank you.
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