❓ Mr. Johnson questions the Minister for Police about rising crime in Hillarys, particularly Kallaroo. The Minister deflects, citing broader crime statistics and requesting the question be put on notice.
AnsweredQoN 585Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
POLICE — CRIME RATES — INCREASE
585. Mr R.F. JOHNSON to the Minister for
Police:
Last weekend we saw the tragic
stabbing of a 75-year-old grandfather in the Sorrento marina carpark, followed
by an innocent tradesperson being viciously attacked outside his Sorrento home
and having his head stamped on. On Tuesday, there was the attempted abduction
of three young boys by a predator in Hillarys. With recent figures showing
crime spiralling out of control in the suburbs, including an unacceptable
increase of 37 per cent in the suburb of Kallaroo alone, why has the government
neglected the electorate of Hillarys; and will the minister ensure there are
adequate police officers to deal with this increase in crime and the safety of
visitors to such a vital tourist facility?
585. Mr R.F. JOHNSON to the Minister for
Police:
Last weekend we saw the tragic
stabbing of a 75-year-old grandfather in the Sorrento marina carpark, followed
by an innocent tradesperson being viciously attacked outside his Sorrento home
and having his head stamped on. On Tuesday, there was the attempted abduction
of three young boys by a predator in Hillarys. With recent figures showing
crime spiralling out of control in the suburbs, including an unacceptable
increase of 37 per cent in the suburb of Kallaroo alone, why has the government
neglected the electorate of Hillarys; and will the minister ensure there are
adequate police officers to deal with this increase in crime and the safety of
visitors to such a vital tourist facility?
AnswerView source ↗
I think the member is working for
our side. This sounds like a dorothy dixer to me.
The member for Hillarys has raised
some very serious issues with respect to a number of incidents that appear to
be linked, but those matters are currently before the court. Some of them are
still being investigated by police so I will not go into specific issues. We
have a very interesting story to tell about crime because I have recently to
hand the 10-year trends for crime statistics, including the 2015–16
crime statistics corrected for population. Obviously, as the population
increases, certain areas of crime increase, but the proportionate —
Mr
P.B. Watson interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Albany, I call you to order for the second time.
Point of Order
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : My question was
very specific. It was about crime spiralling out of control in my electorate,
and in particular the 37 per cent increase in Kallaroo. I would like the
minister to address that and not to talk a lot of baloney about the last 10
years.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : When we look at some of the crime figures over the last 10
years, we see that in 2005–06 there were 103 dwelling burglary offences
per 100 000 of population. Last year, 1 094 offences were committed. Home
burglary offences across the state are down by 16 per cent over 10 years.
Several members interjected.
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : I know that members opposite do not like it. They do not want
to hear about it, but we have been in government for eight of the last 10 years
and we have seen a 16 per cent decrease—when we correct for population—in
home-dwelling burglaries.
Mr
P. Papalia interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro! I have some good news and some bad news for
you. The good news is that I said you were on three calls; you are only on two.
Now you are on three. If you shout out again, you are having a rest.
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : A non-dwelling burglary is a break-in of a place other than
where people reside. That figure is down 40 per cent on the 10-year average.
Property damage offences are down by 27 per cent.
Point of Order
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Mr Speaker, the
minister is not taking any direction from you. The question was specifically
about the increase by 37 per cent of crime in Kallaroo and the electorate of
Hillarys. It has nothing to do with the hyperbole she is coming out with now.
The SPEAKER : Minister, you are
talking about general crime trends. If you cannot address this Kallaroo
question, you might want to take it on notice, but I do not know how else you
can address it.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : I was coming to that. I am actually quite flattered that the
member for Hillarys would think I know precisely the increases in every aspect
of crime, every area of reported verifiable crime, for every suburb in the
state. That is a great compliment to me from the member for Hillarys, but if he
wants to know the specifics about Kallaroo, can he please put the question on
notice and I will provide him with the information.
Point of Order
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : In that answer
the minister just gave, she said she had some interesting figures to hand and
she held an official document in her hand and quoted from it. I call upon her
to table that document.
Mrs
L.M. Harvey : That is my document. Is that official?
Ms
R. Saffioti interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan!
I call you now to order for the fourth time! If you want to have a rest —
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : That is the only document, the minister's handwritten
notes. That is not an official document. Member for West Swan, please relax.
our side. This sounds like a dorothy dixer to me.
The member for Hillarys has raised
some very serious issues with respect to a number of incidents that appear to
be linked, but those matters are currently before the court. Some of them are
still being investigated by police so I will not go into specific issues. We
have a very interesting story to tell about crime because I have recently to
hand the 10-year trends for crime statistics, including the 2015–16
crime statistics corrected for population. Obviously, as the population
increases, certain areas of crime increase, but the proportionate —
Mr
P.B. Watson interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Albany, I call you to order for the second time.
Point of Order
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : My question was
very specific. It was about crime spiralling out of control in my electorate,
and in particular the 37 per cent increase in Kallaroo. I would like the
minister to address that and not to talk a lot of baloney about the last 10
years.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : When we look at some of the crime figures over the last 10
years, we see that in 2005–06 there were 103 dwelling burglary offences
per 100 000 of population. Last year, 1 094 offences were committed. Home
burglary offences across the state are down by 16 per cent over 10 years.
Several members interjected.
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : I know that members opposite do not like it. They do not want
to hear about it, but we have been in government for eight of the last 10 years
and we have seen a 16 per cent decrease—when we correct for population—in
home-dwelling burglaries.
Mr
P. Papalia interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro! I have some good news and some bad news for
you. The good news is that I said you were on three calls; you are only on two.
Now you are on three. If you shout out again, you are having a rest.
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : A non-dwelling burglary is a break-in of a place other than
where people reside. That figure is down 40 per cent on the 10-year average.
Property damage offences are down by 27 per cent.
Point of Order
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Mr Speaker, the
minister is not taking any direction from you. The question was specifically
about the increase by 37 per cent of crime in Kallaroo and the electorate of
Hillarys. It has nothing to do with the hyperbole she is coming out with now.
The SPEAKER : Minister, you are
talking about general crime trends. If you cannot address this Kallaroo
question, you might want to take it on notice, but I do not know how else you
can address it.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : I was coming to that. I am actually quite flattered that the
member for Hillarys would think I know precisely the increases in every aspect
of crime, every area of reported verifiable crime, for every suburb in the
state. That is a great compliment to me from the member for Hillarys, but if he
wants to know the specifics about Kallaroo, can he please put the question on
notice and I will provide him with the information.
Point of Order
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : In that answer
the minister just gave, she said she had some interesting figures to hand and
she held an official document in her hand and quoted from it. I call upon her
to table that document.
Mrs
L.M. Harvey : That is my document. Is that official?
Ms
R. Saffioti interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan!
I call you now to order for the fourth time! If you want to have a rest —
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : That is the only document, the minister's handwritten
notes. That is not an official document. Member for West Swan, please relax.
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