❓ A parliamentary question regarding crime rates in Western Australia, focusing on reported decreases and their impact. The Attorney General provides detailed statistics and cost savings, highlighting government achievements.
AnsweredQoN 394Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CRIME RATES
Firstly, I wish to acknowledge the Carey Baptist College students from the member for Darling Range’s electorate who are in the public gallery today. Attorney, I am proud to be part of a government that is working to make our communities safer, rather than befriending criminals as the last government did and the current opposition continues to do. According to police statistics, there has been a massive 30 per cent decrease in recorded crime — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : Questions are not supposed to contain preamble or imputation, but that question quite clearly did in a gross and defamatory manner. I ask the member to ask the question in the normal way. The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, I take your point of order. I instruct the member for Carine to rephrase his question or put it again without the obvious imputation that everybody in this place knows is contained in the question. Mr A. KRSTICEVIC : Sorry, Mr Speaker. Mr P. Papalia : Is somebody going to explain what the imputation is? The SPEAKER : I do not need an explanation from you, member for Warnbro! Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A. KRSTICEVIC : According to police statistics, there has been a massive 30 per cent decrease in recorded crime in my electorate of Carine in the past year. Will the Attorney General please provide the house with the details of recent decreases in crime rates across the state? Mr C.C. PORTER
Firstly, I wish to acknowledge the Carey Baptist College students from the member for Darling Range’s electorate who are in the public gallery today. Attorney, I am proud to be part of a government that is working to make our communities safer, rather than befriending criminals as the last government did and the current opposition continues to do. According to police statistics, there has been a massive 30 per cent decrease in recorded crime — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : Questions are not supposed to contain preamble or imputation, but that question quite clearly did in a gross and defamatory manner. I ask the member to ask the question in the normal way. The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, I take your point of order. I instruct the member for Carine to rephrase his question or put it again without the obvious imputation that everybody in this place knows is contained in the question. Mr A. KRSTICEVIC : Sorry, Mr Speaker. Mr P. Papalia : Is somebody going to explain what the imputation is? The SPEAKER : I do not need an explanation from you, member for Warnbro! Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A. KRSTICEVIC : According to police statistics, there has been a massive 30 per cent decrease in recorded crime in my electorate of Carine in the past year. Will the Attorney General please provide the house with the details of recent decreases in crime rates across the state? Mr C.C. PORTER
AnswerView source ↗
Thank you, Mr Speaker. Indeed, the question was not quite in the terms that I had expected it to be. Nevertheless, I will endeavour to answer it in as accurate a fashion as possible. Mr E.S. Ripper : The answer is nevertheless predictable! Mr C.C. PORTER : That may be the case, but it is a good thing to be predictable when it comes to crime rates, as long as one can predict that they are going down, and that is what is happening here. All the reported crime rates are down across the measurable categories that the police collate to come up with an overall reported crime rate. We have them for the financial year just past, 2009–10, and we can compare them with the previous financial year. There has been a reduction of 12.7 per cent in overall reported crime based on the statistics that the police have been regularly using. That is a 5.25 per cent decrease in offences against the person and a 14.2 per cent decrease in offences against property. Obviously, when we talk about statistics, there is a tendency to get lost and not realise the individual impact. Of the seven categories, burglaries are down 11 per cent—that is 2 797 fewer burglaries this financial year than last financial year. Burglaries on non-dwellings—things like businesses—are down 27 per cent, which is 3 176 fewer victims this financial year than last. Property damage is down 12.7 per cent, which is 5 392 fewer instances of property damage. Theft is down 14.5 per cent. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : There is only one bad time for a Western Australian to get great news about crime, and that is when he is in opposition. I will continue and let the opposition know what the answers are. Theft is down 14.5 per cent, which is 11 465 fewer instances of theft. Non-domestic assault—that is public assaults—is down by 4.5 per cent, which is very significant; it represents 660 fewer Western Australians having been victims of a public assault. Robbery on businesses is down 23 per cent, and robbery on non-businesses is down five per cent; that is 132 fewer people robbed. Sexual assault is down 23 per cent, which is 541 fewer recent sexual assaults. The only unfortunate increase was in domestic assaults, for which there was a 1.5 per cent increase. Significantly, this government has had great success in driving down property offences. This is the first time in seven years that public assaults have decreased according to measurable statistics, which is a remarkable achievement. We have, over two years, effected a decrease in overall reported crime on those seven bases; it took the Labor Party the equivalent of eight years to achieve the same results. That is a significant achievement. The member for Warnbro and I argue at great length about the costs of imprisonment, but there are costs that attach to crime. The Australian Institute of Criminology has counted the cost of crime in Australia and has put a unit cost on each type of crime. It is $2 300 for a robbery; $2 900 for a burglary; $7 000 for vehicle theft; $400 for theft; and approximately $1 200 for property damage. Those costs are very modest estimates because they do not take into account psychological costs, the costs of devalued property and neighbourhoods, and many other factors. If we look at the decreases in costs that the Liberal–National government has driven into this community, we can see that the decrease in the costs for robberies is $3 300; burglaries, $17.32 million; vehicle theft, $6.65 million; theft, $4.59 million — Mr J.N. Hyde : But it’s increasing in the CBD, where everybody is going! Mr C.C. PORTER : It is $6.7 million for property damage. That means an overall saving to the Western Australian community of $35 million. To put this in its clearest context, there have been 24 163 fewer victims of crime in this financial year than in the previous financial year. That must be a fantastic thing for every member of the Western Australian community. What are the reasons for this? This is a complicated area. The Minister for Police says it is good government, and that is definitely part of it. I think there are about seven reasons. The first is clearly more police on the beat. The more police on the beat, the more crime that is apprehended, and the more offenders who are incapacitated. Secondly, there have been advances in police technology, such as the tasking and data information system and innovative policing strategies, including the expanded use of the priority and prolific offender strategy. Thirdly, there is no doubt that the continuing stringent approach to parole under this government is starting to have a very strong effect. Fourthly, there is a strong emphasis on the collaboration between police, the Department of Corrective Services and the Prisoners Review Board to identify and deal with parole violators and people who breach bail. We have great cooperation in this jurisdiction now, so that if someone is on bail with conditions, that person is routinely breath-tested at his house, sometimes at odd hours. If he breaches a bail condition to not consume alcohol, he is returned to court. The stringency is starting to have its effect. Fifthly, there is increased delivery of offender-based programs, which is having an effect on recidivism. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : These are very important matters for some people in the community. There is an increased compliance rate for community work from 51 per cent to 74 per cent. Those people are turning up to do their community work instead of doing whatever it was they were not doing under the previous government. Finally — Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is a fairly significant achievement, one would have thought—one that deserves a bit of time. I know that members opposition do not like it. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : If members like, we can help draft press releases for their constituents. Finally, in a conversation I recently had with the police commissioner, he conceded that we should not underscore the effect that the hoon legislation and impounding is having, because he took the view that it was having a serious effect on incapacitating and geographically immobilising people whom we know to be recidivist offenders. This is a great result for the state, but not so good for the opposition. I am very pleased to deliver that news.
Attorney, I am proud to be part of a government that is working to make our communities safer, rather than befriending criminals as the last government did and the current opposition continues to do. According to police statistics, there has been a massive 30 per cent decrease in recorded crime — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : Questions are not supposed to contain preamble or imputation, but that question quite clearly did in a gross and defamatory manner. I ask the member to ask the question in the normal way. The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, I take your point of order. I instruct the member for Carine to rephrase his question or put it again without the obvious imputation that everybody in this place knows is contained in the question. Mr A. KRSTICEVIC : Sorry, Mr Speaker. Mr P. Papalia : Is somebody going to explain what the imputation is? The SPEAKER : I do not need an explanation from you, member for Warnbro! Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A. KRSTICEVIC : According to police statistics, there has been a massive 30 per cent decrease in recorded crime in my electorate of Carine in the past year. Will the Attorney General please provide the house with the details of recent decreases in crime rates across the state? Mr C.C. PORTER replied: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Indeed, the question was not quite in the terms that I had expected it to be. Nevertheless, I will endeavour to answer it in as accurate a fashion as possible. Mr E.S. Ripper : The answer is nevertheless predictable! Mr C.C. PORTER : That may be the case, but it is a good thing to be predictable when it comes to crime rates, as long as one can predict that they are going down, and that is what is happening here. All the reported crime rates are down across the measurable categories that the police collate to come up with an overall reported crime rate. We have them for the financial year just past, 2009–10, and we can compare them with the previous financial year. There has been a reduction of 12.7 per cent in overall reported crime based on the statistics that the police have been regularly using. That is a 5.25 per cent decrease in offences against the person and a 14.2 per cent decrease in offences against property. Obviously, when we talk about statistics, there is a tendency to get lost and not realise the individual impact. Of the seven categories, burglaries are down 11 per cent—that is 2 797 fewer burglaries this financial year than last financial year. Burglaries on non-dwellings—things like businesses—are down 27 per cent, which is 3 176 fewer victims this financial year than last. Property damage is down 12.7 per cent, which is 5 392 fewer instances of property damage. Theft is down 14.5 per cent. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : There is only one bad time for a Western Australian to get great news about crime, and that is when he is in opposition. I will continue and let the opposition know what the answers are. Theft is down 14.5 per cent, which is 11 465 fewer instances of theft. Non-domestic assault—that is public assaults—is down by 4.5 per cent, which is very significant; it represents 660 fewer Western Australians having been victims of a public assault. Robbery on businesses is down 23 per cent, and robbery on non-businesses is down five per cent; that is 132 fewer people robbed. Sexual assault is down 23 per cent, which is 541 fewer recent sexual assaults. The only unfortunate increase was in domestic assaults, for which there was a 1.5 per cent increase. Significantly, this government has had great success in driving down property offences. This is the first time in seven years that public assaults have decreased according to measurable statistics, which is a remarkable achievement. We have, over two years, effected a decrease in overall reported crime on those seven bases; it took the Labor Party the equivalent of eight years to achieve the same results. That is a significant achievement. The member for Warnbro and I argue at great length about the costs of imprisonment, but there are costs that attach to crime. The Australian Institute of Criminology has counted the cost of crime in Australia and has put a unit cost on each type of crime. It is $2 300 for a robbery; $2 900 for a burglary; $7 000 for vehicle theft; $400 for theft; and approximately $1 200 for property damage. Those costs are very modest estimates because they do not take into account psychological costs, the costs of devalued property and neighbourhoods, and many other factors. If we look at the decreases in costs that the Liberal–National government has driven into this community, we can see that the decrease in the costs for robberies is $3 300; burglaries, $17.32 million; vehicle theft, $6.65 million; theft, $4.59 million — Mr J.N. Hyde : But it’s increasing in the CBD, where everybody is going! Mr C.C. PORTER : It is $6.7 million for property damage. That means an overall saving to the Western Australian community of $35 million. To put this in its clearest context, there have been 24 163 fewer victims of crime in this financial year than in the previous financial year. That must be a fantastic thing for every member of the Western Australian community. What are the reasons for this? This is a complicated area. The Minister for Police says it is good government, and that is definitely part of it. I think there are about seven reasons. The first is clearly more police on the beat. The more police on the beat, the more crime that is apprehended, and the more offenders who are incapacitated. Secondly, there have been advances in police technology, such as the tasking and data information system and innovative policing strategies, including the expanded use of the priority and prolific offender strategy. Thirdly, there is no doubt that the continuing stringent approach to parole under this government is starting to have a very strong effect. Fourthly, there is a strong emphasis on the collaboration between police, the Department of Corrective Services and the Prisoners Review Board to identify and deal with parole violators and people who breach bail. We have great cooperation in this jurisdiction now, so that if someone is on bail with conditions, that person is routinely breath-tested at his house, sometimes at odd hours. If he breaches a bail condition to not consume alcohol, he is returned to court. The stringency is starting to have its effect. Fifthly, there is increased delivery of offender-based programs, which is having an effect on recidivism. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : These are very important matters for some people in the community. There is an increased compliance rate for community work from 51 per cent to 74 per cent. Those people are turning up to do their community work instead of doing whatever it was they were not doing under the previous government. Finally — Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is a fairly significant achievement, one would have thought—one that deserves a bit of time. I know that members opposition do not like it. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : If members like, we can help draft press releases for their constituents. Finally, in a conversation I recently had with the police commissioner, he conceded that we should not underscore the effect that the hoon legislation and impounding is having, because he took the view that it was having a serious effect on incapacitating and geographically immobilising people whom we know to be recidivist offenders. This is a great result for the state, but not so good for the opposition. I am very pleased to deliver that news.
The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, I take your point of order. I instruct the member for Carine to rephrase his question or put it again without the obvious imputation that everybody in this place knows is contained in the question. Mr A. KRSTICEVIC : Sorry, Mr Speaker. Mr P. Papalia : Is somebody going to explain what the imputation is? The SPEAKER : I do not need an explanation from you, member for Warnbro! Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A. KRSTICEVIC : According to police statistics, there has been a massive 30 per cent decrease in recorded crime in my electorate of Carine in the past year. Will the Attorney General please provide the house with the details of recent decreases in crime rates across the state? Mr C.C. PORTER replied: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Indeed, the question was not quite in the terms that I had expected it to be. Nevertheless, I will endeavour to answer it in as accurate a fashion as possible. Mr E.S. Ripper : The answer is nevertheless predictable! Mr C.C. PORTER : That may be the case, but it is a good thing to be predictable when it comes to crime rates, as long as one can predict that they are going down, and that is what is happening here. All the reported crime rates are down across the measurable categories that the police collate to come up with an overall reported crime rate. We have them for the financial year just past, 2009–10, and we can compare them with the previous financial year. There has been a reduction of 12.7 per cent in overall reported crime based on the statistics that the police have been regularly using. That is a 5.25 per cent decrease in offences against the person and a 14.2 per cent decrease in offences against property. Obviously, when we talk about statistics, there is a tendency to get lost and not realise the individual impact. Of the seven categories, burglaries are down 11 per cent—that is 2 797 fewer burglaries this financial year than last financial year. Burglaries on non-dwellings—things like businesses—are down 27 per cent, which is 3 176 fewer victims this financial year than last. Property damage is down 12.7 per cent, which is 5 392 fewer instances of property damage. Theft is down 14.5 per cent. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : There is only one bad time for a Western Australian to get great news about crime, and that is when he is in opposition. I will continue and let the opposition know what the answers are. Theft is down 14.5 per cent, which is 11 465 fewer instances of theft. Non-domestic assault—that is public assaults—is down by 4.5 per cent, which is very significant; it represents 660 fewer Western Australians having been victims of a public assault. Robbery on businesses is down 23 per cent, and robbery on non-businesses is down five per cent; that is 132 fewer people robbed. Sexual assault is down 23 per cent, which is 541 fewer recent sexual assaults. The only unfortunate increase was in domestic assaults, for which there was a 1.5 per cent increase. Significantly, this government has had great success in driving down property offences. This is the first time in seven years that public assaults have decreased according to measurable statistics, which is a remarkable achievement. We have, over two years, effected a decrease in overall reported crime on those seven bases; it took the Labor Party the equivalent of eight years to achieve the same results. That is a significant achievement. The member for Warnbro and I argue at great length about the costs of imprisonment, but there are costs that attach to crime. The Australian Institute of Criminology has counted the cost of crime in Australia and has put a unit cost on each type of crime. It is $2 300 for a robbery; $2 900 for a burglary; $7 000 for vehicle theft; $400 for theft; and approximately $1 200 for property damage. Those costs are very modest estimates because they do not take into account psychological costs, the costs of devalued property and neighbourhoods, and many other factors. If we look at the decreases in costs that the Liberal–National government has driven into this community, we can see that the decrease in the costs for robberies is $3 300; burglaries, $17.32 million; vehicle theft, $6.65 million; theft, $4.59 million — Mr J.N. Hyde : But it’s increasing in the CBD, where everybody is going! Mr C.C. PORTER : It is $6.7 million for property damage. That means an overall saving to the Western Australian community of $35 million. To put this in its clearest context, there have been 24 163 fewer victims of crime in this financial year than in the previous financial year. That must be a fantastic thing for every member of the Western Australian community. What are the reasons for this? This is a complicated area. The Minister for Police says it is good government, and that is definitely part of it. I think there are about seven reasons. The first is clearly more police on the beat. The more police on the beat, the more crime that is apprehended, and the more offenders who are incapacitated. Secondly, there have been advances in police technology, such as the tasking and data information system and innovative policing strategies, including the expanded use of the priority and prolific offender strategy. Thirdly, there is no doubt that the continuing stringent approach to parole under this government is starting to have a very strong effect. Fourthly, there is a strong emphasis on the collaboration between police, the Department of Corrective Services and the Prisoners Review Board to identify and deal with parole violators and people who breach bail. We have great cooperation in this jurisdiction now, so that if someone is on bail with conditions, that person is routinely breath-tested at his house, sometimes at odd hours. If he breaches a bail condition to not consume alcohol, he is returned to court. The stringency is starting to have its effect. Fifthly, there is increased delivery of offender-based programs, which is having an effect on recidivism. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : These are very important matters for some people in the community. There is an increased compliance rate for community work from 51 per cent to 74 per cent. Those people are turning up to do their community work instead of doing whatever it was they were not doing under the previous government. Finally — Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is a fairly significant achievement, one would have thought—one that deserves a bit of time. I know that members opposition do not like it. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : If members like, we can help draft press releases for their constituents. Finally, in a conversation I recently had with the police commissioner, he conceded that we should not underscore the effect that the hoon legislation and impounding is having, because he took the view that it was having a serious effect on incapacitating and geographically immobilising people whom we know to be recidivist offenders. This is a great result for the state, but not so good for the opposition. I am very pleased to deliver that news.
Mr A. KRSTICEVIC : Sorry, Mr Speaker. Mr P. Papalia : Is somebody going to explain what the imputation is? The SPEAKER : I do not need an explanation from you, member for Warnbro! Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A. KRSTICEVIC : According to police statistics, there has been a massive 30 per cent decrease in recorded crime in my electorate of Carine in the past year. Will the Attorney General please provide the house with the details of recent decreases in crime rates across the state? Mr C.C. PORTER replied: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Indeed, the question was not quite in the terms that I had expected it to be. Nevertheless, I will endeavour to answer it in as accurate a fashion as possible. Mr E.S. Ripper : The answer is nevertheless predictable! Mr C.C. PORTER : That may be the case, but it is a good thing to be predictable when it comes to crime rates, as long as one can predict that they are going down, and that is what is happening here. All the reported crime rates are down across the measurable categories that the police collate to come up with an overall reported crime rate. We have them for the financial year just past, 2009–10, and we can compare them with the previous financial year. There has been a reduction of 12.7 per cent in overall reported crime based on the statistics that the police have been regularly using. That is a 5.25 per cent decrease in offences against the person and a 14.2 per cent decrease in offences against property. Obviously, when we talk about statistics, there is a tendency to get lost and not realise the individual impact. Of the seven categories, burglaries are down 11 per cent—that is 2 797 fewer burglaries this financial year than last financial year. Burglaries on non-dwellings—things like businesses—are down 27 per cent, which is 3 176 fewer victims this financial year than last. Property damage is down 12.7 per cent, which is 5 392 fewer instances of property damage. Theft is down 14.5 per cent. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : There is only one bad time for a Western Australian to get great news about crime, and that is when he is in opposition. I will continue and let the opposition know what the answers are. Theft is down 14.5 per cent, which is 11 465 fewer instances of theft. Non-domestic assault—that is public assaults—is down by 4.5 per cent, which is very significant; it represents 660 fewer Western Australians having been victims of a public assault. Robbery on businesses is down 23 per cent, and robbery on non-businesses is down five per cent; that is 132 fewer people robbed. Sexual assault is down 23 per cent, which is 541 fewer recent sexual assaults. The only unfortunate increase was in domestic assaults, for which there was a 1.5 per cent increase. Significantly, this government has had great success in driving down property offences. This is the first time in seven years that public assaults have decreased according to measurable statistics, which is a remarkable achievement. We have, over two years, effected a decrease in overall reported crime on those seven bases; it took the Labor Party the equivalent of eight years to achieve the same results. That is a significant achievement. The member for Warnbro and I argue at great length about the costs of imprisonment, but there are costs that attach to crime. The Australian Institute of Criminology has counted the cost of crime in Australia and has put a unit cost on each type of crime. It is $2 300 for a robbery; $2 900 for a burglary; $7 000 for vehicle theft; $400 for theft; and approximately $1 200 for property damage. Those costs are very modest estimates because they do not take into account psychological costs, the costs of devalued property and neighbourhoods, and many other factors. If we look at the decreases in costs that the Liberal–National government has driven into this community, we can see that the decrease in the costs for robberies is $3 300; burglaries, $17.32 million; vehicle theft, $6.65 million; theft, $4.59 million — Mr J.N. Hyde : But it’s increasing in the CBD, where everybody is going! Mr C.C. PORTER : It is $6.7 million for property damage. That means an overall saving to the Western Australian community of $35 million. To put this in its clearest context, there have been 24 163 fewer victims of crime in this financial year than in the previous financial year. That must be a fantastic thing for every member of the Western Australian community. What are the reasons for this? This is a complicated area. The Minister for Police says it is good government, and that is definitely part of it. I think there are about seven reasons. The first is clearly more police on the beat. The more police on the beat, the more crime that is apprehended, and the more offenders who are incapacitated. Secondly, there have been advances in police technology, such as the tasking and data information system and innovative policing strategies, including the expanded use of the priority and prolific offender strategy. Thirdly, there is no doubt that the continuing stringent approach to parole under this government is starting to have a very strong effect. Fourthly, there is a strong emphasis on the collaboration between police, the Department of Corrective Services and the Prisoners Review Board to identify and deal with parole violators and people who breach bail. We have great cooperation in this jurisdiction now, so that if someone is on bail with conditions, that person is routinely breath-tested at his house, sometimes at odd hours. If he breaches a bail condition to not consume alcohol, he is returned to court. The stringency is starting to have its effect. Fifthly, there is increased delivery of offender-based programs, which is having an effect on recidivism. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : These are very important matters for some people in the community. There is an increased compliance rate for community work from 51 per cent to 74 per cent. Those people are turning up to do their community work instead of doing whatever it was they were not doing under the previous government. Finally — Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is a fairly significant achievement, one would have thought—one that deserves a bit of time. I know that members opposition do not like it. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : If members like, we can help draft press releases for their constituents. Finally, in a conversation I recently had with the police commissioner, he conceded that we should not underscore the effect that the hoon legislation and impounding is having, because he took the view that it was having a serious effect on incapacitating and geographically immobilising people whom we know to be recidivist offenders. This is a great result for the state, but not so good for the opposition. I am very pleased to deliver that news.
Mr P. Papalia : Is somebody going to explain what the imputation is? The SPEAKER : I do not need an explanation from you, member for Warnbro! Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A. KRSTICEVIC : According to police statistics, there has been a massive 30 per cent decrease in recorded crime in my electorate of Carine in the past year. Will the Attorney General please provide the house with the details of recent decreases in crime rates across the state? Mr C.C. PORTER replied: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Indeed, the question was not quite in the terms that I had expected it to be. Nevertheless, I will endeavour to answer it in as accurate a fashion as possible. Mr E.S. Ripper : The answer is nevertheless predictable! Mr C.C. PORTER : That may be the case, but it is a good thing to be predictable when it comes to crime rates, as long as one can predict that they are going down, and that is what is happening here. All the reported crime rates are down across the measurable categories that the police collate to come up with an overall reported crime rate. We have them for the financial year just past, 2009–10, and we can compare them with the previous financial year. There has been a reduction of 12.7 per cent in overall reported crime based on the statistics that the police have been regularly using. That is a 5.25 per cent decrease in offences against the person and a 14.2 per cent decrease in offences against property. Obviously, when we talk about statistics, there is a tendency to get lost and not realise the individual impact. Of the seven categories, burglaries are down 11 per cent—that is 2 797 fewer burglaries this financial year than last financial year. Burglaries on non-dwellings—things like businesses—are down 27 per cent, which is 3 176 fewer victims this financial year than last. Property damage is down 12.7 per cent, which is 5 392 fewer instances of property damage. Theft is down 14.5 per cent. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : There is only one bad time for a Western Australian to get great news about crime, and that is when he is in opposition. I will continue and let the opposition know what the answers are. Theft is down 14.5 per cent, which is 11 465 fewer instances of theft. Non-domestic assault—that is public assaults—is down by 4.5 per cent, which is very significant; it represents 660 fewer Western Australians having been victims of a public assault. Robbery on businesses is down 23 per cent, and robbery on non-businesses is down five per cent; that is 132 fewer people robbed. Sexual assault is down 23 per cent, which is 541 fewer recent sexual assaults. The only unfortunate increase was in domestic assaults, for which there was a 1.5 per cent increase. Significantly, this government has had great success in driving down property offences. This is the first time in seven years that public assaults have decreased according to measurable statistics, which is a remarkable achievement. We have, over two years, effected a decrease in overall reported crime on those seven bases; it took the Labor Party the equivalent of eight years to achieve the same results. That is a significant achievement. The member for Warnbro and I argue at great length about the costs of imprisonment, but there are costs that attach to crime. The Australian Institute of Criminology has counted the cost of crime in Australia and has put a unit cost on each type of crime. It is $2 300 for a robbery; $2 900 for a burglary; $7 000 for vehicle theft; $400 for theft; and approximately $1 200 for property damage. Those costs are very modest estimates because they do not take into account psychological costs, the costs of devalued property and neighbourhoods, and many other factors. If we look at the decreases in costs that the Liberal–National government has driven into this community, we can see that the decrease in the costs for robberies is $3 300; burglaries, $17.32 million; vehicle theft, $6.65 million; theft, $4.59 million — Mr J.N. Hyde : But it’s increasing in the CBD, where everybody is going! Mr C.C. PORTER : It is $6.7 million for property damage. That means an overall saving to the Western Australian community of $35 million. To put this in its clearest context, there have been 24 163 fewer victims of crime in this financial year than in the previous financial year. That must be a fantastic thing for every member of the Western Australian community. What are the reasons for this? This is a complicated area. The Minister for Police says it is good government, and that is definitely part of it. I think there are about seven reasons. The first is clearly more police on the beat. The more police on the beat, the more crime that is apprehended, and the more offenders who are incapacitated. Secondly, there have been advances in police technology, such as the tasking and data information system and innovative policing strategies, including the expanded use of the priority and prolific offender strategy. Thirdly, there is no doubt that the continuing stringent approach to parole under this government is starting to have a very strong effect. Fourthly, there is a strong emphasis on the collaboration between police, the Department of Corrective Services and the Prisoners Review Board to identify and deal with parole violators and people who breach bail. We have great cooperation in this jurisdiction now, so that if someone is on bail with conditions, that person is routinely breath-tested at his house, sometimes at odd hours. If he breaches a bail condition to not consume alcohol, he is returned to court. The stringency is starting to have its effect. Fifthly, there is increased delivery of offender-based programs, which is having an effect on recidivism. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : These are very important matters for some people in the community. There is an increased compliance rate for community work from 51 per cent to 74 per cent. Those people are turning up to do their community work instead of doing whatever it was they were not doing under the previous government. Finally — Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is a fairly significant achievement, one would have thought—one that deserves a bit of time. I know that members opposition do not like it. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : If members like, we can help draft press releases for their constituents. Finally, in a conversation I recently had with the police commissioner, he conceded that we should not underscore the effect that the hoon legislation and impounding is having, because he took the view that it was having a serious effect on incapacitating and geographically immobilising people whom we know to be recidivist offenders. This is a great result for the state, but not so good for the opposition. I am very pleased to deliver that news.
The SPEAKER : I do not need an explanation from you, member for Warnbro! Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A. KRSTICEVIC : According to police statistics, there has been a massive 30 per cent decrease in recorded crime in my electorate of Carine in the past year. Will the Attorney General please provide the house with the details of recent decreases in crime rates across the state? Mr C.C. PORTER replied: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Indeed, the question was not quite in the terms that I had expected it to be. Nevertheless, I will endeavour to answer it in as accurate a fashion as possible. Mr E.S. Ripper : The answer is nevertheless predictable! Mr C.C. PORTER : That may be the case, but it is a good thing to be predictable when it comes to crime rates, as long as one can predict that they are going down, and that is what is happening here. All the reported crime rates are down across the measurable categories that the police collate to come up with an overall reported crime rate. We have them for the financial year just past, 2009–10, and we can compare them with the previous financial year. There has been a reduction of 12.7 per cent in overall reported crime based on the statistics that the police have been regularly using. That is a 5.25 per cent decrease in offences against the person and a 14.2 per cent decrease in offences against property. Obviously, when we talk about statistics, there is a tendency to get lost and not realise the individual impact. Of the seven categories, burglaries are down 11 per cent—that is 2 797 fewer burglaries this financial year than last financial year. Burglaries on non-dwellings—things like businesses—are down 27 per cent, which is 3 176 fewer victims this financial year than last. Property damage is down 12.7 per cent, which is 5 392 fewer instances of property damage. Theft is down 14.5 per cent. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : There is only one bad time for a Western Australian to get great news about crime, and that is when he is in opposition. I will continue and let the opposition know what the answers are. Theft is down 14.5 per cent, which is 11 465 fewer instances of theft. Non-domestic assault—that is public assaults—is down by 4.5 per cent, which is very significant; it represents 660 fewer Western Australians having been victims of a public assault. Robbery on businesses is down 23 per cent, and robbery on non-businesses is down five per cent; that is 132 fewer people robbed. Sexual assault is down 23 per cent, which is 541 fewer recent sexual assaults. The only unfortunate increase was in domestic assaults, for which there was a 1.5 per cent increase. Significantly, this government has had great success in driving down property offences. This is the first time in seven years that public assaults have decreased according to measurable statistics, which is a remarkable achievement. We have, over two years, effected a decrease in overall reported crime on those seven bases; it took the Labor Party the equivalent of eight years to achieve the same results. That is a significant achievement. The member for Warnbro and I argue at great length about the costs of imprisonment, but there are costs that attach to crime. The Australian Institute of Criminology has counted the cost of crime in Australia and has put a unit cost on each type of crime. It is $2 300 for a robbery; $2 900 for a burglary; $7 000 for vehicle theft; $400 for theft; and approximately $1 200 for property damage. Those costs are very modest estimates because they do not take into account psychological costs, the costs of devalued property and neighbourhoods, and many other factors. If we look at the decreases in costs that the Liberal–National government has driven into this community, we can see that the decrease in the costs for robberies is $3 300; burglaries, $17.32 million; vehicle theft, $6.65 million; theft, $4.59 million — Mr J.N. Hyde : But it’s increasing in the CBD, where everybody is going! Mr C.C. PORTER : It is $6.7 million for property damage. That means an overall saving to the Western Australian community of $35 million. To put this in its clearest context, there have been 24 163 fewer victims of crime in this financial year than in the previous financial year. That must be a fantastic thing for every member of the Western Australian community. What are the reasons for this? This is a complicated area. The Minister for Police says it is good government, and that is definitely part of it. I think there are about seven reasons. The first is clearly more police on the beat. The more police on the beat, the more crime that is apprehended, and the more offenders who are incapacitated. Secondly, there have been advances in police technology, such as the tasking and data information system and innovative policing strategies, including the expanded use of the priority and prolific offender strategy. Thirdly, there is no doubt that the continuing stringent approach to parole under this government is starting to have a very strong effect. Fourthly, there is a strong emphasis on the collaboration between police, the Department of Corrective Services and the Prisoners Review Board to identify and deal with parole violators and people who breach bail. We have great cooperation in this jurisdiction now, so that if someone is on bail with conditions, that person is routinely breath-tested at his house, sometimes at odd hours. If he breaches a bail condition to not consume alcohol, he is returned to court. The stringency is starting to have its effect. Fifthly, there is increased delivery of offender-based programs, which is having an effect on recidivism. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : These are very important matters for some people in the community. There is an increased compliance rate for community work from 51 per cent to 74 per cent. Those people are turning up to do their community work instead of doing whatever it was they were not doing under the previous government. Finally — Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is a fairly significant achievement, one would have thought—one that deserves a bit of time. I know that members opposition do not like it. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : If members like, we can help draft press releases for their constituents. Finally, in a conversation I recently had with the police commissioner, he conceded that we should not underscore the effect that the hoon legislation and impounding is having, because he took the view that it was having a serious effect on incapacitating and geographically immobilising people whom we know to be recidivist offenders. This is a great result for the state, but not so good for the opposition. I am very pleased to deliver that news.
Mr C.C. PORTER replied: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Indeed, the question was not quite in the terms that I had expected it to be. Nevertheless, I will endeavour to answer it in as accurate a fashion as possible. Mr E.S. Ripper : The answer is nevertheless predictable! Mr C.C. PORTER : That may be the case, but it is a good thing to be predictable when it comes to crime rates, as long as one can predict that they are going down, and that is what is happening here. All the reported crime rates are down across the measurable categories that the police collate to come up with an overall reported crime rate. We have them for the financial year just past, 2009–10, and we can compare them with the previous financial year. There has been a reduction of 12.7 per cent in overall reported crime based on the statistics that the police have been regularly using. That is a 5.25 per cent decrease in offences against the person and a 14.2 per cent decrease in offences against property. Obviously, when we talk about statistics, there is a tendency to get lost and not realise the individual impact. Of the seven categories, burglaries are down 11 per cent—that is 2 797 fewer burglaries this financial year than last financial year. Burglaries on non-dwellings—things like businesses—are down 27 per cent, which is 3 176 fewer victims this financial year than last. Property damage is down 12.7 per cent, which is 5 392 fewer instances of property damage. Theft is down 14.5 per cent. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : There is only one bad time for a Western Australian to get great news about crime, and that is when he is in opposition. I will continue and let the opposition know what the answers are. Theft is down 14.5 per cent, which is 11 465 fewer instances of theft. Non-domestic assault—that is public assaults—is down by 4.5 per cent, which is very significant; it represents 660 fewer Western Australians having been victims of a public assault. Robbery on businesses is down 23 per cent, and robbery on non-businesses is down five per cent; that is 132 fewer people robbed. Sexual assault is down 23 per cent, which is 541 fewer recent sexual assaults. The only unfortunate increase was in domestic assaults, for which there was a 1.5 per cent increase. Significantly, this government has had great success in driving down property offences. This is the first time in seven years that public assaults have decreased according to measurable statistics, which is a remarkable achievement. We have, over two years, effected a decrease in overall reported crime on those seven bases; it took the Labor Party the equivalent of eight years to achieve the same results. That is a significant achievement. The member for Warnbro and I argue at great length about the costs of imprisonment, but there are costs that attach to crime. The Australian Institute of Criminology has counted the cost of crime in Australia and has put a unit cost on each type of crime. It is $2 300 for a robbery; $2 900 for a burglary; $7 000 for vehicle theft; $400 for theft; and approximately $1 200 for property damage. Those costs are very modest estimates because they do not take into account psychological costs, the costs of devalued property and neighbourhoods, and many other factors. If we look at the decreases in costs that the Liberal–National government has driven into this community, we can see that the decrease in the costs for robberies is $3 300; burglaries, $17.32 million; vehicle theft, $6.65 million; theft, $4.59 million — Mr J.N. Hyde : But it’s increasing in the CBD, where everybody is going! Mr C.C. PORTER : It is $6.7 million for property damage. That means an overall saving to the Western Australian community of $35 million. To put this in its clearest context, there have been 24 163 fewer victims of crime in this financial year than in the previous financial year. That must be a fantastic thing for every member of the Western Australian community. What are the reasons for this? This is a complicated area. The Minister for Police says it is good government, and that is definitely part of it. I think there are about seven reasons. The first is clearly more police on the beat. The more police on the beat, the more crime that is apprehended, and the more offenders who are incapacitated. Secondly, there have been advances in police technology, such as the tasking and data information system and innovative policing strategies, including the expanded use of the priority and prolific offender strategy. Thirdly, there is no doubt that the continuing stringent approach to parole under this government is starting to have a very strong effect. Fourthly, there is a strong emphasis on the collaboration between police, the Department of Corrective Services and the Prisoners Review Board to identify and deal with parole violators and people who breach bail. We have great cooperation in this jurisdiction now, so that if someone is on bail with conditions, that person is routinely breath-tested at his house, sometimes at odd hours. If he breaches a bail condition to not consume alcohol, he is returned to court. The stringency is starting to have its effect. Fifthly, there is increased delivery of offender-based programs, which is having an effect on recidivism. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : These are very important matters for some people in the community. There is an increased compliance rate for community work from 51 per cent to 74 per cent. Those people are turning up to do their community work instead of doing whatever it was they were not doing under the previous government. Finally — Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is a fairly significant achievement, one would have thought—one that deserves a bit of time. I know that members opposition do not like it. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : If members like, we can help draft press releases for their constituents. Finally, in a conversation I recently had with the police commissioner, he conceded that we should not underscore the effect that the hoon legislation and impounding is having, because he took the view that it was having a serious effect on incapacitating and geographically immobilising people whom we know to be recidivist offenders. This is a great result for the state, but not so good for the opposition. I am very pleased to deliver that news.
Thank you, Mr Speaker. Indeed, the question was not quite in the terms that I had expected it to be. Nevertheless, I will endeavour to answer it in as accurate a fashion as possible. Mr E.S. Ripper : The answer is nevertheless predictable! Mr C.C. PORTER : That may be the case, but it is a good thing to be predictable when it comes to crime rates, as long as one can predict that they are going down, and that is what is happening here. All the reported crime rates are down across the measurable categories that the police collate to come up with an overall reported crime rate. We have them for the financial year just past, 2009–10, and we can compare them with the previous financial year. There has been a reduction of 12.7 per cent in overall reported crime based on the statistics that the police have been regularly using. That is a 5.25 per cent decrease in offences against the person and a 14.2 per cent decrease in offences against property. Obviously, when we talk about statistics, there is a tendency to get lost and not realise the individual impact. Of the seven categories, burglaries are down 11 per cent—that is 2 797 fewer burglaries this financial year than last financial year. Burglaries on non-dwellings—things like businesses—are down 27 per cent, which is 3 176 fewer victims this financial year than last. Property damage is down 12.7 per cent, which is 5 392 fewer instances of property damage. Theft is down 14.5 per cent. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : There is only one bad time for a Western Australian to get great news about crime, and that is when he is in opposition. I will continue and let the opposition know what the answers are. Theft is down 14.5 per cent, which is 11 465 fewer instances of theft. Non-domestic assault—that is public assaults—is down by 4.5 per cent, which is very significant; it represents 660 fewer Western Australians having been victims of a public assault. Robbery on businesses is down 23 per cent, and robbery on non-businesses is down five per cent; that is 132 fewer people robbed. Sexual assault is down 23 per cent, which is 541 fewer recent sexual assaults. The only unfortunate increase was in domestic assaults, for which there was a 1.5 per cent increase. Significantly, this government has had great success in driving down property offences. This is the first time in seven years that public assaults have decreased according to measurable statistics, which is a remarkable achievement. We have, over two years, effected a decrease in overall reported crime on those seven bases; it took the Labor Party the equivalent of eight years to achieve the same results. That is a significant achievement. The member for Warnbro and I argue at great length about the costs of imprisonment, but there are costs that attach to crime. The Australian Institute of Criminology has counted the cost of crime in Australia and has put a unit cost on each type of crime. It is $2 300 for a robbery; $2 900 for a burglary; $7 000 for vehicle theft; $400 for theft; and approximately $1 200 for property damage. Those costs are very modest estimates because they do not take into account psychological costs, the costs of devalued property and neighbourhoods, and many other factors. If we look at the decreases in costs that the Liberal–National government has driven into this community, we can see that the decrease in the costs for robberies is $3 300; burglaries, $17.32 million; vehicle theft, $6.65 million; theft, $4.59 million — Mr J.N. Hyde : But it’s increasing in the CBD, where everybody is going! Mr C.C. PORTER : It is $6.7 million for property damage. That means an overall saving to the Western Australian community of $35 million. To put this in its clearest context, there have been 24 163 fewer victims of crime in this financial year than in the previous financial year. That must be a fantastic thing for every member of the Western Australian community. What are the reasons for this? This is a complicated area. The Minister for Police says it is good government, and that is definitely part of it. I think there are about seven reasons. The first is clearly more police on the beat. The more police on the beat, the more crime that is apprehended, and the more offenders who are incapacitated. Secondly, there have been advances in police technology, such as the tasking and data information system and innovative policing strategies, including the expanded use of the priority and prolific offender strategy. Thirdly, there is no doubt that the continuing stringent approach to parole under this government is starting to have a very strong effect. Fourthly, there is a strong emphasis on the collaboration between police, the Department of Corrective Services and the Prisoners Review Board to identify and deal with parole violators and people who breach bail. We have great cooperation in this jurisdiction now, so that if someone is on bail with conditions, that person is routinely breath-tested at his house, sometimes at odd hours. If he breaches a bail condition to not consume alcohol, he is returned to court. The stringency is starting to have its effect. Fifthly, there is increased delivery of offender-based programs, which is having an effect on recidivism. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : These are very important matters for some people in the community. There is an increased compliance rate for community work from 51 per cent to 74 per cent. Those people are turning up to do their community work instead of doing whatever it was they were not doing under the previous government. Finally — Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is a fairly significant achievement, one would have thought—one that deserves a bit of time. I know that members opposition do not like it. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : If members like, we can help draft press releases for their constituents. Finally, in a conversation I recently had with the police commissioner, he conceded that we should not underscore the effect that the hoon legislation and impounding is having, because he took the view that it was having a serious effect on incapacitating and geographically immobilising people whom we know to be recidivist offenders. This is a great result for the state, but not so good for the opposition. I am very pleased to deliver that news.
Mr E.S. Ripper : The answer is nevertheless predictable! Mr C.C. PORTER : That may be the case, but it is a good thing to be predictable when it comes to crime rates, as long as one can predict that they are going down, and that is what is happening here. All the reported crime rates are down across the measurable categories that the police collate to come up with an overall reported crime rate. We have them for the financial year just past, 2009–10, and we can compare them with the previous financial year. There has been a reduction of 12.7 per cent in overall reported crime based on the statistics that the police have been regularly using. That is a 5.25 per cent decrease in offences against the person and a 14.2 per cent decrease in offences against property. Obviously, when we talk about statistics, there is a tendency to get lost and not realise the individual impact. Of the seven categories, burglaries are down 11 per cent—that is 2 797 fewer burglaries this financial year than last financial year. Burglaries on non-dwellings—things like businesses—are down 27 per cent, which is 3 176 fewer victims this financial year than last. Property damage is down 12.7 per cent, which is 5 392 fewer instances of property damage. Theft is down 14.5 per cent. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : There is only one bad time for a Western Australian to get great news about crime, and that is when he is in opposition. I will continue and let the opposition know what the answers are. Theft is down 14.5 per cent, which is 11 465 fewer instances of theft. Non-domestic assault—that is public assaults—is down by 4.5 per cent, which is very significant; it represents 660 fewer Western Australians having been victims of a public assault. Robbery on businesses is down 23 per cent, and robbery on non-businesses is down five per cent; that is 132 fewer people robbed. Sexual assault is down 23 per cent, which is 541 fewer recent sexual assaults. The only unfortunate increase was in domestic assaults, for which there was a 1.5 per cent increase. Significantly, this government has had great success in driving down property offences. This is the first time in seven years that public assaults have decreased according to measurable statistics, which is a remarkable achievement. We have, over two years, effected a decrease in overall reported crime on those seven bases; it took the Labor Party the equivalent of eight years to achieve the same results. That is a significant achievement. The member for Warnbro and I argue at great length about the costs of imprisonment, but there are costs that attach to crime. The Australian Institute of Criminology has counted the cost of crime in Australia and has put a unit cost on each type of crime. It is $2 300 for a robbery; $2 900 for a burglary; $7 000 for vehicle theft; $400 for theft; and approximately $1 200 for property damage. Those costs are very modest estimates because they do not take into account psychological costs, the costs of devalued property and neighbourhoods, and many other factors. If we look at the decreases in costs that the Liberal–National government has driven into this community, we can see that the decrease in the costs for robberies is $3 300; burglaries, $17.32 million; vehicle theft, $6.65 million; theft, $4.59 million — Mr J.N. Hyde : But it’s increasing in the CBD, where everybody is going! Mr C.C. PORTER : It is $6.7 million for property damage. That means an overall saving to the Western Australian community of $35 million. To put this in its clearest context, there have been 24 163 fewer victims of crime in this financial year than in the previous financial year. That must be a fantastic thing for every member of the Western Australian community. What are the reasons for this? This is a complicated area. The Minister for Police says it is good government, and that is definitely part of it. I think there are about seven reasons. The first is clearly more police on the beat. The more police on the beat, the more crime that is apprehended, and the more offenders who are incapacitated. Secondly, there have been advances in police technology, such as the tasking and data information system and innovative policing strategies, including the expanded use of the priority and prolific offender strategy. Thirdly, there is no doubt that the continuing stringent approach to parole under this government is starting to have a very strong effect. Fourthly, there is a strong emphasis on the collaboration between police, the Department of Corrective Services and the Prisoners Review Board to identify and deal with parole violators and people who breach bail. We have great cooperation in this jurisdiction now, so that if someone is on bail with conditions, that person is routinely breath-tested at his house, sometimes at odd hours. If he breaches a bail condition to not consume alcohol, he is returned to court. The stringency is starting to have its effect. Fifthly, there is increased delivery of offender-based programs, which is having an effect on recidivism. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : These are very important matters for some people in the community. There is an increased compliance rate for community work from 51 per cent to 74 per cent. Those people are turning up to do their community work instead of doing whatever it was they were not doing under the previous government. Finally — Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is a fairly significant achievement, one would have thought—one that deserves a bit of time. I know that members opposition do not like it. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : If members like, we can help draft press releases for their constituents. Finally, in a conversation I recently had with the police commissioner, he conceded that we should not underscore the effect that the hoon legislation and impounding is having, because he took the view that it was having a serious effect on incapacitating and geographically immobilising people whom we know to be recidivist offenders. This is a great result for the state, but not so good for the opposition. I am very pleased to deliver that news.
Mr C.C. PORTER : That may be the case, but it is a good thing to be predictable when it comes to crime rates, as long as one can predict that they are going down, and that is what is happening here. All the reported crime rates are down across the measurable categories that the police collate to come up with an overall reported crime rate. We have them for the financial year just past, 2009–10, and we can compare them with the previous financial year. There has been a reduction of 12.7 per cent in overall reported crime based on the statistics that the police have been regularly using. That is a 5.25 per cent decrease in offences against the person and a 14.2 per cent decrease in offences against property. Obviously, when we talk about statistics, there is a tendency to get lost and not realise the individual impact. Of the seven categories, burglaries are down 11 per cent—that is 2 797 fewer burglaries this financial year than last financial year. Burglaries on non-dwellings—things like businesses—are down 27 per cent, which is 3 176 fewer victims this financial year than last. Property damage is down 12.7 per cent, which is 5 392 fewer instances of property damage. Theft is down 14.5 per cent. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : There is only one bad time for a Western Australian to get great news about crime, and that is when he is in opposition. I will continue and let the opposition know what the answers are. Theft is down 14.5 per cent, which is 11 465 fewer instances of theft. Non-domestic assault—that is public assaults—is down by 4.5 per cent, which is very significant; it represents 660 fewer Western Australians having been victims of a public assault. Robbery on businesses is down 23 per cent, and robbery on non-businesses is down five per cent; that is 132 fewer people robbed. Sexual assault is down 23 per cent, which is 541 fewer recent sexual assaults. The only unfortunate increase was in domestic assaults, for which there was a 1.5 per cent increase. Significantly, this government has had great success in driving down property offences. This is the first time in seven years that public assaults have decreased according to measurable statistics, which is a remarkable achievement. We have, over two years, effected a decrease in overall reported crime on those seven bases; it took the Labor Party the equivalent of eight years to achieve the same results. That is a significant achievement. The member for Warnbro and I argue at great length about the costs of imprisonment, but there are costs that attach to crime. The Australian Institute of Criminology has counted the cost of crime in Australia and has put a unit cost on each type of crime. It is $2 300 for a robbery; $2 900 for a burglary; $7 000 for vehicle theft; $400 for theft; and approximately $1 200 for property damage. Those costs are very modest estimates because they do not take into account psychological costs, the costs of devalued property and neighbourhoods, and many other factors. If we look at the decreases in costs that the Liberal–National government has driven into this community, we can see that the decrease in the costs for robberies is $3 300; burglaries, $17.32 million; vehicle theft, $6.65 million; theft, $4.59 million — Mr J.N. Hyde : But it’s increasing in the CBD, where everybody is going! Mr C.C. PORTER : It is $6.7 million for property damage. That means an overall saving to the Western Australian community of $35 million. To put this in its clearest context, there have been 24 163 fewer victims of crime in this financial year than in the previous financial year. That must be a fantastic thing for every member of the Western Australian community. What are the reasons for this? This is a complicated area. The Minister for Police says it is good government, and that is definitely part of it. I think there are about seven reasons. The first is clearly more police on the beat. The more police on the beat, the more crime that is apprehended, and the more offenders who are incapacitated. Secondly, there have been advances in police technology, such as the tasking and data information system and innovative policing strategies, including the expanded use of the priority and prolific offender strategy. Thirdly, there is no doubt that the continuing stringent approach to parole under this government is starting to have a very strong effect. Fourthly, there is a strong emphasis on the collaboration between police, the Department of Corrective Services and the Prisoners Review Board to identify and deal with parole violators and people who breach bail. We have great cooperation in this jurisdiction now, so that if someone is on bail with conditions, that person is routinely breath-tested at his house, sometimes at odd hours. If he breaches a bail condition to not consume alcohol, he is returned to court. The stringency is starting to have its effect. Fifthly, there is increased delivery of offender-based programs, which is having an effect on recidivism. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : These are very important matters for some people in the community. There is an increased compliance rate for community work from 51 per cent to 74 per cent. Those people are turning up to do their community work instead of doing whatever it was they were not doing under the previous government. Finally — Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is a fairly significant achievement, one would have thought—one that deserves a bit of time. I know that members opposition do not like it. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : If members like, we can help draft press releases for their constituents. Finally, in a conversation I recently had with the police commissioner, he conceded that we should not underscore the effect that the hoon legislation and impounding is having, because he took the view that it was having a serious effect on incapacitating and geographically immobilising people whom we know to be recidivist offenders. This is a great result for the state, but not so good for the opposition. I am very pleased to deliver that news.
Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : There is only one bad time for a Western Australian to get great news about crime, and that is when he is in opposition. I will continue and let the opposition know what the answers are. Theft is down 14.5 per cent, which is 11 465 fewer instances of theft. Non-domestic assault—that is public assaults—is down by 4.5 per cent, which is very significant; it represents 660 fewer Western Australians having been victims of a public assault. Robbery on businesses is down 23 per cent, and robbery on non-businesses is down five per cent; that is 132 fewer people robbed. Sexual assault is down 23 per cent, which is 541 fewer recent sexual assaults. The only unfortunate increase was in domestic assaults, for which there was a 1.5 per cent increase. Significantly, this government has had great success in driving down property offences. This is the first time in seven years that public assaults have decreased according to measurable statistics, which is a remarkable achievement. We have, over two years, effected a decrease in overall reported crime on those seven bases; it took the Labor Party the equivalent of eight years to achieve the same results. That is a significant achievement. The member for Warnbro and I argue at great length about the costs of imprisonment, but there are costs that attach to crime. The Australian Institute of Criminology has counted the cost of crime in Australia and has put a unit cost on each type of crime. It is $2 300 for a robbery; $2 900 for a burglary; $7 000 for vehicle theft; $400 for theft; and approximately $1 200 for property damage. Those costs are very modest estimates because they do not take into account psychological costs, the costs of devalued property and neighbourhoods, and many other factors. If we look at the decreases in costs that the Liberal–National government has driven into this community, we can see that the decrease in the costs for robberies is $3 300; burglaries, $17.32 million; vehicle theft, $6.65 million; theft, $4.59 million — Mr J.N. Hyde : But it’s increasing in the CBD, where everybody is going! Mr C.C. PORTER : It is $6.7 million for property damage. That means an overall saving to the Western Australian community of $35 million. To put this in its clearest context, there have been 24 163 fewer victims of crime in this financial year than in the previous financial year. That must be a fantastic thing for every member of the Western Australian community. What are the reasons for this? This is a complicated area. The Minister for Police says it is good government, and that is definitely part of it. I think there are about seven reasons. The first is clearly more police on the beat. The more police on the beat, the more crime that is apprehended, and the more offenders who are incapacitated. Secondly, there have been advances in police technology, such as the tasking and data information system and innovative policing strategies, including the expanded use of the priority and prolific offender strategy. Thirdly, there is no doubt that the continuing stringent approach to parole under this government is starting to have a very strong effect. Fourthly, there is a strong emphasis on the collaboration between police, the Department of Corrective Services and the Prisoners Review Board to identify and deal with parole violators and people who breach bail. We have great cooperation in this jurisdiction now, so that if someone is on bail with conditions, that person is routinely breath-tested at his house, sometimes at odd hours. If he breaches a bail condition to not consume alcohol, he is returned to court. The stringency is starting to have its effect. Fifthly, there is increased delivery of offender-based programs, which is having an effect on recidivism. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : These are very important matters for some people in the community. There is an increased compliance rate for community work from 51 per cent to 74 per cent. Those people are turning up to do their community work instead of doing whatever it was they were not doing under the previous government. Finally — Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is a fairly significant achievement, one would have thought—one that deserves a bit of time. I know that members opposition do not like it. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : If members like, we can help draft press releases for their constituents. Finally, in a conversation I recently had with the police commissioner, he conceded that we should not underscore the effect that the hoon legislation and impounding is having, because he took the view that it was having a serious effect on incapacitating and geographically immobilising people whom we know to be recidivist offenders. This is a great result for the state, but not so good for the opposition. I am very pleased to deliver that news.
Mr C.C. PORTER : There is only one bad time for a Western Australian to get great news about crime, and that is when he is in opposition. I will continue and let the opposition know what the answers are. Theft is down 14.5 per cent, which is 11 465 fewer instances of theft. Non-domestic assault—that is public assaults—is down by 4.5 per cent, which is very significant; it represents 660 fewer Western Australians having been victims of a public assault. Robbery on businesses is down 23 per cent, and robbery on non-businesses is down five per cent; that is 132 fewer people robbed. Sexual assault is down 23 per cent, which is 541 fewer recent sexual assaults. The only unfortunate increase was in domestic assaults, for which there was a 1.5 per cent increase. Significantly, this government has had great success in driving down property offences. This is the first time in seven years that public assaults have decreased according to measurable statistics, which is a remarkable achievement. We have, over two years, effected a decrease in overall reported crime on those seven bases; it took the Labor Party the equivalent of eight years to achieve the same results. That is a significant achievement. The member for Warnbro and I argue at great length about the costs of imprisonment, but there are costs that attach to crime. The Australian Institute of Criminology has counted the cost of crime in Australia and has put a unit cost on each type of crime. It is $2 300 for a robbery; $2 900 for a burglary; $7 000 for vehicle theft; $400 for theft; and approximately $1 200 for property damage. Those costs are very modest estimates because they do not take into account psychological costs, the costs of devalued property and neighbourhoods, and many other factors. If we look at the decreases in costs that the Liberal–National government has driven into this community, we can see that the decrease in the costs for robberies is $3 300; burglaries, $17.32 million; vehicle theft, $6.65 million; theft, $4.59 million — Mr J.N. Hyde : But it’s increasing in the CBD, where everybody is going! Mr C.C. PORTER : It is $6.7 million for property damage. That means an overall saving to the Western Australian community of $35 million. To put this in its clearest context, there have been 24 163 fewer victims of crime in this financial year than in the previous financial year. That must be a fantastic thing for every member of the Western Australian community. What are the reasons for this? This is a complicated area. The Minister for Police says it is good government, and that is definitely part of it. I think there are about seven reasons. The first is clearly more police on the beat. The more police on the beat, the more crime that is apprehended, and the more offenders who are incapacitated. Secondly, there have been advances in police technology, such as the tasking and data information system and innovative policing strategies, including the expanded use of the priority and prolific offender strategy. Thirdly, there is no doubt that the continuing stringent approach to parole under this government is starting to have a very strong effect. Fourthly, there is a strong emphasis on the collaboration between police, the Department of Corrective Services and the Prisoners Review Board to identify and deal with parole violators and people who breach bail. We have great cooperation in this jurisdiction now, so that if someone is on bail with conditions, that person is routinely breath-tested at his house, sometimes at odd hours. If he breaches a bail condition to not consume alcohol, he is returned to court. The stringency is starting to have its effect. Fifthly, there is increased delivery of offender-based programs, which is having an effect on recidivism. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : These are very important matters for some people in the community. There is an increased compliance rate for community work from 51 per cent to 74 per cent. Those people are turning up to do their community work instead of doing whatever it was they were not doing under the previous government. Finally — Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is a fairly significant achievement, one would have thought—one that deserves a bit of time. I know that members opposition do not like it. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : If members like, we can help draft press releases for their constituents. Finally, in a conversation I recently had with the police commissioner, he conceded that we should not underscore the effect that the hoon legislation and impounding is having, because he took the view that it was having a serious effect on incapacitating and geographically immobilising people whom we know to be recidivist offenders. This is a great result for the state, but not so good for the opposition. I am very pleased to deliver that news.
Theft is down 14.5 per cent, which is 11 465 fewer instances of theft. Non-domestic assault—that is public assaults—is down by 4.5 per cent, which is very significant; it represents 660 fewer Western Australians having been victims of a public assault. Robbery on businesses is down 23 per cent, and robbery on non-businesses is down five per cent; that is 132 fewer people robbed. Sexual assault is down 23 per cent, which is 541 fewer recent sexual assaults. The only unfortunate increase was in domestic assaults, for which there was a 1.5 per cent increase. Significantly, this government has had great success in driving down property offences. This is the first time in seven years that public assaults have decreased according to measurable statistics, which is a remarkable achievement. We have, over two years, effected a decrease in overall reported crime on those seven bases; it took the Labor Party the equivalent of eight years to achieve the same results. That is a significant achievement. The member for Warnbro and I argue at great length about the costs of imprisonment, but there are costs that attach to crime. The Australian Institute of Criminology has counted the cost of crime in Australia and has put a unit cost on each type of crime. It is $2 300 for a robbery; $2 900 for a burglary; $7 000 for vehicle theft; $400 for theft; and approximately $1 200 for property damage. Those costs are very modest estimates because they do not take into account psychological costs, the costs of devalued property and neighbourhoods, and many other factors. If we look at the decreases in costs that the Liberal–National government has driven into this community, we can see that the decrease in the costs for robberies is $3 300; burglaries, $17.32 million; vehicle theft, $6.65 million; theft, $4.59 million — Mr J.N. Hyde : But it’s increasing in the CBD, where everybody is going! Mr C.C. PORTER : It is $6.7 million for property damage. That means an overall saving to the Western Australian community of $35 million. To put this in its clearest context, there have been 24 163 fewer victims of crime in this financial year than in the previous financial year. That must be a fantastic thing for every member of the Western Australian community. What are the reasons for this? This is a complicated area. The Minister for Police says it is good government, and that is definitely part of it. I think there are about seven reasons. The first is clearly more police on the beat. The more police on the beat, the more crime that is apprehended, and the more offenders who are incapacitated. Secondly, there have been advances in police technology, such as the tasking and data information system and innovative policing strategies, including the expanded use of the priority and prolific offender strategy. Thirdly, there is no doubt that the continuing stringent approach to parole under this government is starting to have a very strong effect. Fourthly, there is a strong emphasis on the collaboration between police, the Department of Corrective Services and the Prisoners Review Board to identify and deal with parole violators and people who breach bail. We have great cooperation in this jurisdiction now, so that if someone is on bail with conditions, that person is routinely breath-tested at his house, sometimes at odd hours. If he breaches a bail condition to not consume alcohol, he is returned to court. The stringency is starting to have its effect. Fifthly, there is increased delivery of offender-based programs, which is having an effect on recidivism. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : These are very important matters for some people in the community. There is an increased compliance rate for community work from 51 per cent to 74 per cent. Those people are turning up to do their community work instead of doing whatever it was they were not doing under the previous government. Finally — Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is a fairly significant achievement, one would have thought—one that deserves a bit of time. I know that members opposition do not like it. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : If members like, we can help draft press releases for their constituents. Finally, in a conversation I recently had with the police commissioner, he conceded that we should not underscore the effect that the hoon legislation and impounding is having, because he took the view that it was having a serious effect on incapacitating and geographically immobilising people whom we know to be recidivist offenders. This is a great result for the state, but not so good for the opposition. I am very pleased to deliver that news.
Significantly, this government has had great success in driving down property offences. This is the first time in seven years that public assaults have decreased according to measurable statistics, which is a remarkable achievement. We have, over two years, effected a decrease in overall reported crime on those seven bases; it took the Labor Party the equivalent of eight years to achieve the same results. That is a significant achievement. The member for Warnbro and I argue at great length about the costs of imprisonment, but there are costs that attach to crime. The Australian Institute of Criminology has counted the cost of crime in Australia and has put a unit cost on each type of crime. It is $2 300 for a robbery; $2 900 for a burglary; $7 000 for vehicle theft; $400 for theft; and approximately $1 200 for property damage. Those costs are very modest estimates because they do not take into account psychological costs, the costs of devalued property and neighbourhoods, and many other factors. If we look at the decreases in costs that the Liberal–National government has driven into this community, we can see that the decrease in the costs for robberies is $3 300; burglaries, $17.32 million; vehicle theft, $6.65 million; theft, $4.59 million — Mr J.N. Hyde : But it’s increasing in the CBD, where everybody is going! Mr C.C. PORTER : It is $6.7 million for property damage. That means an overall saving to the Western Australian community of $35 million. To put this in its clearest context, there have been 24 163 fewer victims of crime in this financial year than in the previous financial year. That must be a fantastic thing for every member of the Western Australian community. What are the reasons for this? This is a complicated area. The Minister for Police says it is good government, and that is definitely part of it. I think there are about seven reasons. The first is clearly more police on the beat. The more police on the beat, the more crime that is apprehended, and the more offenders who are incapacitated. Secondly, there have been advances in police technology, such as the tasking and data information system and innovative policing strategies, including the expanded use of the priority and prolific offender strategy. Thirdly, there is no doubt that the continuing stringent approach to parole under this government is starting to have a very strong effect. Fourthly, there is a strong emphasis on the collaboration between police, the Department of Corrective Services and the Prisoners Review Board to identify and deal with parole violators and people who breach bail. We have great cooperation in this jurisdiction now, so that if someone is on bail with conditions, that person is routinely breath-tested at his house, sometimes at odd hours. If he breaches a bail condition to not consume alcohol, he is returned to court. The stringency is starting to have its effect. Fifthly, there is increased delivery of offender-based programs, which is having an effect on recidivism. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : These are very important matters for some people in the community. There is an increased compliance rate for community work from 51 per cent to 74 per cent. Those people are turning up to do their community work instead of doing whatever it was they were not doing under the previous government. Finally — Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is a fairly significant achievement, one would have thought—one that deserves a bit of time. I know that members opposition do not like it. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : If members like, we can help draft press releases for their constituents. Finally, in a conversation I recently had with the police commissioner, he conceded that we should not underscore the effect that the hoon legislation and impounding is having, because he took the view that it was having a serious effect on incapacitating and geographically immobilising people whom we know to be recidivist offenders. This is a great result for the state, but not so good for the opposition. I am very pleased to deliver that news.
Mr J.N. Hyde : But it’s increasing in the CBD, where everybody is going! Mr C.C. PORTER : It is $6.7 million for property damage. That means an overall saving to the Western Australian community of $35 million. To put this in its clearest context, there have been 24 163 fewer victims of crime in this financial year than in the previous financial year. That must be a fantastic thing for every member of the Western Australian community. What are the reasons for this? This is a complicated area. The Minister for Police says it is good government, and that is definitely part of it. I think there are about seven reasons. The first is clearly more police on the beat. The more police on the beat, the more crime that is apprehended, and the more offenders who are incapacitated. Secondly, there have been advances in police technology, such as the tasking and data information system and innovative policing strategies, including the expanded use of the priority and prolific offender strategy. Thirdly, there is no doubt that the continuing stringent approach to parole under this government is starting to have a very strong effect. Fourthly, there is a strong emphasis on the collaboration between police, the Department of Corrective Services and the Prisoners Review Board to identify and deal with parole violators and people who breach bail. We have great cooperation in this jurisdiction now, so that if someone is on bail with conditions, that person is routinely breath-tested at his house, sometimes at odd hours. If he breaches a bail condition to not consume alcohol, he is returned to court. The stringency is starting to have its effect. Fifthly, there is increased delivery of offender-based programs, which is having an effect on recidivism. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : These are very important matters for some people in the community. There is an increased compliance rate for community work from 51 per cent to 74 per cent. Those people are turning up to do their community work instead of doing whatever it was they were not doing under the previous government. Finally — Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is a fairly significant achievement, one would have thought—one that deserves a bit of time. I know that members opposition do not like it. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : If members like, we can help draft press releases for their constituents. Finally, in a conversation I recently had with the police commissioner, he conceded that we should not underscore the effect that the hoon legislation and impounding is having, because he took the view that it was having a serious effect on incapacitating and geographically immobilising people whom we know to be recidivist offenders. This is a great result for the state, but not so good for the opposition. I am very pleased to deliver that news.
Mr C.C. PORTER : It is $6.7 million for property damage. That means an overall saving to the Western Australian community of $35 million. To put this in its clearest context, there have been 24 163 fewer victims of crime in this financial year than in the previous financial year. That must be a fantastic thing for every member of the Western Australian community. What are the reasons for this? This is a complicated area. The Minister for Police says it is good government, and that is definitely part of it. I think there are about seven reasons. The first is clearly more police on the beat. The more police on the beat, the more crime that is apprehended, and the more offenders who are incapacitated. Secondly, there have been advances in police technology, such as the tasking and data information system and innovative policing strategies, including the expanded use of the priority and prolific offender strategy. Thirdly, there is no doubt that the continuing stringent approach to parole under this government is starting to have a very strong effect. Fourthly, there is a strong emphasis on the collaboration between police, the Department of Corrective Services and the Prisoners Review Board to identify and deal with parole violators and people who breach bail. We have great cooperation in this jurisdiction now, so that if someone is on bail with conditions, that person is routinely breath-tested at his house, sometimes at odd hours. If he breaches a bail condition to not consume alcohol, he is returned to court. The stringency is starting to have its effect. Fifthly, there is increased delivery of offender-based programs, which is having an effect on recidivism. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : These are very important matters for some people in the community. There is an increased compliance rate for community work from 51 per cent to 74 per cent. Those people are turning up to do their community work instead of doing whatever it was they were not doing under the previous government. Finally — Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is a fairly significant achievement, one would have thought—one that deserves a bit of time. I know that members opposition do not like it. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : If members like, we can help draft press releases for their constituents. Finally, in a conversation I recently had with the police commissioner, he conceded that we should not underscore the effect that the hoon legislation and impounding is having, because he took the view that it was having a serious effect on incapacitating and geographically immobilising people whom we know to be recidivist offenders. This is a great result for the state, but not so good for the opposition. I am very pleased to deliver that news.
Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : These are very important matters for some people in the community. There is an increased compliance rate for community work from 51 per cent to 74 per cent. Those people are turning up to do their community work instead of doing whatever it was they were not doing under the previous government. Finally — Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is a fairly significant achievement, one would have thought—one that deserves a bit of time. I know that members opposition do not like it. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : If members like, we can help draft press releases for their constituents. Finally, in a conversation I recently had with the police commissioner, he conceded that we should not underscore the effect that the hoon legislation and impounding is having, because he took the view that it was having a serious effect on incapacitating and geographically immobilising people whom we know to be recidivist offenders. This is a great result for the state, but not so good for the opposition. I am very pleased to deliver that news.
Mr C.C. PORTER : These are very important matters for some people in the community. There is an increased compliance rate for community work from 51 per cent to 74 per cent. Those people are turning up to do their community work instead of doing whatever it was they were not doing under the previous government. Finally — Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is a fairly significant achievement, one would have thought—one that deserves a bit of time. I know that members opposition do not like it. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : If members like, we can help draft press releases for their constituents. Finally, in a conversation I recently had with the police commissioner, he conceded that we should not underscore the effect that the hoon legislation and impounding is having, because he took the view that it was having a serious effect on incapacitating and geographically immobilising people whom we know to be recidivist offenders. This is a great result for the state, but not so good for the opposition. I am very pleased to deliver that news.
There is an increased compliance rate for community work from 51 per cent to 74 per cent. Those people are turning up to do their community work instead of doing whatever it was they were not doing under the previous government. Finally — Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is a fairly significant achievement, one would have thought—one that deserves a bit of time. I know that members opposition do not like it. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : If members like, we can help draft press releases for their constituents. Finally, in a conversation I recently had with the police commissioner, he conceded that we should not underscore the effect that the hoon legislation and impounding is having, because he took the view that it was having a serious effect on incapacitating and geographically immobilising people whom we know to be recidivist offenders. This is a great result for the state, but not so good for the opposition. I am very pleased to deliver that news.
Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is a fairly significant achievement, one would have thought—one that deserves a bit of time. I know that members opposition do not like it. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : If members like, we can help draft press releases for their constituents. Finally, in a conversation I recently had with the police commissioner, he conceded that we should not underscore the effect that the hoon legislation and impounding is having, because he took the view that it was having a serious effect on incapacitating and geographically immobilising people whom we know to be recidivist offenders. This is a great result for the state, but not so good for the opposition. I am very pleased to deliver that news.
Mr C.C. PORTER : It is a fairly significant achievement, one would have thought—one that deserves a bit of time. I know that members opposition do not like it. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : If members like, we can help draft press releases for their constituents. Finally, in a conversation I recently had with the police commissioner, he conceded that we should not underscore the effect that the hoon legislation and impounding is having, because he took the view that it was having a serious effect on incapacitating and geographically immobilising people whom we know to be recidivist offenders. This is a great result for the state, but not so good for the opposition. I am very pleased to deliver that news.
Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : If members like, we can help draft press releases for their constituents. Finally, in a conversation I recently had with the police commissioner, he conceded that we should not underscore the effect that the hoon legislation and impounding is having, because he took the view that it was having a serious effect on incapacitating and geographically immobilising people whom we know to be recidivist offenders. This is a great result for the state, but not so good for the opposition. I am very pleased to deliver that news.
Mr C.C. PORTER : If members like, we can help draft press releases for their constituents. Finally, in a conversation I recently had with the police commissioner, he conceded that we should not underscore the effect that the hoon legislation and impounding is having, because he took the view that it was having a serious effect on incapacitating and geographically immobilising people whom we know to be recidivist offenders. This is a great result for the state, but not so good for the opposition. I am very pleased to deliver that news.
Finally, in a conversation I recently had with the police commissioner, he conceded that we should not underscore the effect that the hoon legislation and impounding is having, because he took the view that it was having a serious effect on incapacitating and geographically immobilising people whom we know to be recidivist offenders. This is a great result for the state, but not so good for the opposition. I am very pleased to deliver that news.
Attorney, I am proud to be part of a government that is working to make our communities safer, rather than befriending criminals as the last government did and the current opposition continues to do. According to police statistics, there has been a massive 30 per cent decrease in recorded crime — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : Questions are not supposed to contain preamble or imputation, but that question quite clearly did in a gross and defamatory manner. I ask the member to ask the question in the normal way. The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, I take your point of order. I instruct the member for Carine to rephrase his question or put it again without the obvious imputation that everybody in this place knows is contained in the question. Mr A. KRSTICEVIC : Sorry, Mr Speaker. Mr P. Papalia : Is somebody going to explain what the imputation is? The SPEAKER : I do not need an explanation from you, member for Warnbro! Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A. KRSTICEVIC : According to police statistics, there has been a massive 30 per cent decrease in recorded crime in my electorate of Carine in the past year. Will the Attorney General please provide the house with the details of recent decreases in crime rates across the state? Mr C.C. PORTER replied: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Indeed, the question was not quite in the terms that I had expected it to be. Nevertheless, I will endeavour to answer it in as accurate a fashion as possible. Mr E.S. Ripper : The answer is nevertheless predictable! Mr C.C. PORTER : That may be the case, but it is a good thing to be predictable when it comes to crime rates, as long as one can predict that they are going down, and that is what is happening here. All the reported crime rates are down across the measurable categories that the police collate to come up with an overall reported crime rate. We have them for the financial year just past, 2009–10, and we can compare them with the previous financial year. There has been a reduction of 12.7 per cent in overall reported crime based on the statistics that the police have been regularly using. That is a 5.25 per cent decrease in offences against the person and a 14.2 per cent decrease in offences against property. Obviously, when we talk about statistics, there is a tendency to get lost and not realise the individual impact. Of the seven categories, burglaries are down 11 per cent—that is 2 797 fewer burglaries this financial year than last financial year. Burglaries on non-dwellings—things like businesses—are down 27 per cent, which is 3 176 fewer victims this financial year than last. Property damage is down 12.7 per cent, which is 5 392 fewer instances of property damage. Theft is down 14.5 per cent. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : There is only one bad time for a Western Australian to get great news about crime, and that is when he is in opposition. I will continue and let the opposition know what the answers are. Theft is down 14.5 per cent, which is 11 465 fewer instances of theft. Non-domestic assault—that is public assaults—is down by 4.5 per cent, which is very significant; it represents 660 fewer Western Australians having been victims of a public assault. Robbery on businesses is down 23 per cent, and robbery on non-businesses is down five per cent; that is 132 fewer people robbed. Sexual assault is down 23 per cent, which is 541 fewer recent sexual assaults. The only unfortunate increase was in domestic assaults, for which there was a 1.5 per cent increase. Significantly, this government has had great success in driving down property offences. This is the first time in seven years that public assaults have decreased according to measurable statistics, which is a remarkable achievement. We have, over two years, effected a decrease in overall reported crime on those seven bases; it took the Labor Party the equivalent of eight years to achieve the same results. That is a significant achievement. The member for Warnbro and I argue at great length about the costs of imprisonment, but there are costs that attach to crime. The Australian Institute of Criminology has counted the cost of crime in Australia and has put a unit cost on each type of crime. It is $2 300 for a robbery; $2 900 for a burglary; $7 000 for vehicle theft; $400 for theft; and approximately $1 200 for property damage. Those costs are very modest estimates because they do not take into account psychological costs, the costs of devalued property and neighbourhoods, and many other factors. If we look at the decreases in costs that the Liberal–National government has driven into this community, we can see that the decrease in the costs for robberies is $3 300; burglaries, $17.32 million; vehicle theft, $6.65 million; theft, $4.59 million — Mr J.N. Hyde : But it’s increasing in the CBD, where everybody is going! Mr C.C. PORTER : It is $6.7 million for property damage. That means an overall saving to the Western Australian community of $35 million. To put this in its clearest context, there have been 24 163 fewer victims of crime in this financial year than in the previous financial year. That must be a fantastic thing for every member of the Western Australian community. What are the reasons for this? This is a complicated area. The Minister for Police says it is good government, and that is definitely part of it. I think there are about seven reasons. The first is clearly more police on the beat. The more police on the beat, the more crime that is apprehended, and the more offenders who are incapacitated. Secondly, there have been advances in police technology, such as the tasking and data information system and innovative policing strategies, including the expanded use of the priority and prolific offender strategy. Thirdly, there is no doubt that the continuing stringent approach to parole under this government is starting to have a very strong effect. Fourthly, there is a strong emphasis on the collaboration between police, the Department of Corrective Services and the Prisoners Review Board to identify and deal with parole violators and people who breach bail. We have great cooperation in this jurisdiction now, so that if someone is on bail with conditions, that person is routinely breath-tested at his house, sometimes at odd hours. If he breaches a bail condition to not consume alcohol, he is returned to court. The stringency is starting to have its effect. Fifthly, there is increased delivery of offender-based programs, which is having an effect on recidivism. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : These are very important matters for some people in the community. There is an increased compliance rate for community work from 51 per cent to 74 per cent. Those people are turning up to do their community work instead of doing whatever it was they were not doing under the previous government. Finally — Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is a fairly significant achievement, one would have thought—one that deserves a bit of time. I know that members opposition do not like it. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : If members like, we can help draft press releases for their constituents. Finally, in a conversation I recently had with the police commissioner, he conceded that we should not underscore the effect that the hoon legislation and impounding is having, because he took the view that it was having a serious effect on incapacitating and geographically immobilising people whom we know to be recidivist offenders. This is a great result for the state, but not so good for the opposition. I am very pleased to deliver that news.
The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, I take your point of order. I instruct the member for Carine to rephrase his question or put it again without the obvious imputation that everybody in this place knows is contained in the question. Mr A. KRSTICEVIC : Sorry, Mr Speaker. Mr P. Papalia : Is somebody going to explain what the imputation is? The SPEAKER : I do not need an explanation from you, member for Warnbro! Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A. KRSTICEVIC : According to police statistics, there has been a massive 30 per cent decrease in recorded crime in my electorate of Carine in the past year. Will the Attorney General please provide the house with the details of recent decreases in crime rates across the state? Mr C.C. PORTER replied: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Indeed, the question was not quite in the terms that I had expected it to be. Nevertheless, I will endeavour to answer it in as accurate a fashion as possible. Mr E.S. Ripper : The answer is nevertheless predictable! Mr C.C. PORTER : That may be the case, but it is a good thing to be predictable when it comes to crime rates, as long as one can predict that they are going down, and that is what is happening here. All the reported crime rates are down across the measurable categories that the police collate to come up with an overall reported crime rate. We have them for the financial year just past, 2009–10, and we can compare them with the previous financial year. There has been a reduction of 12.7 per cent in overall reported crime based on the statistics that the police have been regularly using. That is a 5.25 per cent decrease in offences against the person and a 14.2 per cent decrease in offences against property. Obviously, when we talk about statistics, there is a tendency to get lost and not realise the individual impact. Of the seven categories, burglaries are down 11 per cent—that is 2 797 fewer burglaries this financial year than last financial year. Burglaries on non-dwellings—things like businesses—are down 27 per cent, which is 3 176 fewer victims this financial year than last. Property damage is down 12.7 per cent, which is 5 392 fewer instances of property damage. Theft is down 14.5 per cent. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : There is only one bad time for a Western Australian to get great news about crime, and that is when he is in opposition. I will continue and let the opposition know what the answers are. Theft is down 14.5 per cent, which is 11 465 fewer instances of theft. Non-domestic assault—that is public assaults—is down by 4.5 per cent, which is very significant; it represents 660 fewer Western Australians having been victims of a public assault. Robbery on businesses is down 23 per cent, and robbery on non-businesses is down five per cent; that is 132 fewer people robbed. Sexual assault is down 23 per cent, which is 541 fewer recent sexual assaults. The only unfortunate increase was in domestic assaults, for which there was a 1.5 per cent increase. Significantly, this government has had great success in driving down property offences. This is the first time in seven years that public assaults have decreased according to measurable statistics, which is a remarkable achievement. We have, over two years, effected a decrease in overall reported crime on those seven bases; it took the Labor Party the equivalent of eight years to achieve the same results. That is a significant achievement. The member for Warnbro and I argue at great length about the costs of imprisonment, but there are costs that attach to crime. The Australian Institute of Criminology has counted the cost of crime in Australia and has put a unit cost on each type of crime. It is $2 300 for a robbery; $2 900 for a burglary; $7 000 for vehicle theft; $400 for theft; and approximately $1 200 for property damage. Those costs are very modest estimates because they do not take into account psychological costs, the costs of devalued property and neighbourhoods, and many other factors. If we look at the decreases in costs that the Liberal–National government has driven into this community, we can see that the decrease in the costs for robberies is $3 300; burglaries, $17.32 million; vehicle theft, $6.65 million; theft, $4.59 million — Mr J.N. Hyde : But it’s increasing in the CBD, where everybody is going! Mr C.C. PORTER : It is $6.7 million for property damage. That means an overall saving to the Western Australian community of $35 million. To put this in its clearest context, there have been 24 163 fewer victims of crime in this financial year than in the previous financial year. That must be a fantastic thing for every member of the Western Australian community. What are the reasons for this? This is a complicated area. The Minister for Police says it is good government, and that is definitely part of it. I think there are about seven reasons. The first is clearly more police on the beat. The more police on the beat, the more crime that is apprehended, and the more offenders who are incapacitated. Secondly, there have been advances in police technology, such as the tasking and data information system and innovative policing strategies, including the expanded use of the priority and prolific offender strategy. Thirdly, there is no doubt that the continuing stringent approach to parole under this government is starting to have a very strong effect. Fourthly, there is a strong emphasis on the collaboration between police, the Department of Corrective Services and the Prisoners Review Board to identify and deal with parole violators and people who breach bail. We have great cooperation in this jurisdiction now, so that if someone is on bail with conditions, that person is routinely breath-tested at his house, sometimes at odd hours. If he breaches a bail condition to not consume alcohol, he is returned to court. The stringency is starting to have its effect. Fifthly, there is increased delivery of offender-based programs, which is having an effect on recidivism. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : These are very important matters for some people in the community. There is an increased compliance rate for community work from 51 per cent to 74 per cent. Those people are turning up to do their community work instead of doing whatever it was they were not doing under the previous government. Finally — Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is a fairly significant achievement, one would have thought—one that deserves a bit of time. I know that members opposition do not like it. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : If members like, we can help draft press releases for their constituents. Finally, in a conversation I recently had with the police commissioner, he conceded that we should not underscore the effect that the hoon legislation and impounding is having, because he took the view that it was having a serious effect on incapacitating and geographically immobilising people whom we know to be recidivist offenders. This is a great result for the state, but not so good for the opposition. I am very pleased to deliver that news.
Mr A. KRSTICEVIC : Sorry, Mr Speaker. Mr P. Papalia : Is somebody going to explain what the imputation is? The SPEAKER : I do not need an explanation from you, member for Warnbro! Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A. KRSTICEVIC : According to police statistics, there has been a massive 30 per cent decrease in recorded crime in my electorate of Carine in the past year. Will the Attorney General please provide the house with the details of recent decreases in crime rates across the state? Mr C.C. PORTER replied: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Indeed, the question was not quite in the terms that I had expected it to be. Nevertheless, I will endeavour to answer it in as accurate a fashion as possible. Mr E.S. Ripper : The answer is nevertheless predictable! Mr C.C. PORTER : That may be the case, but it is a good thing to be predictable when it comes to crime rates, as long as one can predict that they are going down, and that is what is happening here. All the reported crime rates are down across the measurable categories that the police collate to come up with an overall reported crime rate. We have them for the financial year just past, 2009–10, and we can compare them with the previous financial year. There has been a reduction of 12.7 per cent in overall reported crime based on the statistics that the police have been regularly using. That is a 5.25 per cent decrease in offences against the person and a 14.2 per cent decrease in offences against property. Obviously, when we talk about statistics, there is a tendency to get lost and not realise the individual impact. Of the seven categories, burglaries are down 11 per cent—that is 2 797 fewer burglaries this financial year than last financial year. Burglaries on non-dwellings—things like businesses—are down 27 per cent, which is 3 176 fewer victims this financial year than last. Property damage is down 12.7 per cent, which is 5 392 fewer instances of property damage. Theft is down 14.5 per cent. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : There is only one bad time for a Western Australian to get great news about crime, and that is when he is in opposition. I will continue and let the opposition know what the answers are. Theft is down 14.5 per cent, which is 11 465 fewer instances of theft. Non-domestic assault—that is public assaults—is down by 4.5 per cent, which is very significant; it represents 660 fewer Western Australians having been victims of a public assault. Robbery on businesses is down 23 per cent, and robbery on non-businesses is down five per cent; that is 132 fewer people robbed. Sexual assault is down 23 per cent, which is 541 fewer recent sexual assaults. The only unfortunate increase was in domestic assaults, for which there was a 1.5 per cent increase. Significantly, this government has had great success in driving down property offences. This is the first time in seven years that public assaults have decreased according to measurable statistics, which is a remarkable achievement. We have, over two years, effected a decrease in overall reported crime on those seven bases; it took the Labor Party the equivalent of eight years to achieve the same results. That is a significant achievement. The member for Warnbro and I argue at great length about the costs of imprisonment, but there are costs that attach to crime. The Australian Institute of Criminology has counted the cost of crime in Australia and has put a unit cost on each type of crime. It is $2 300 for a robbery; $2 900 for a burglary; $7 000 for vehicle theft; $400 for theft; and approximately $1 200 for property damage. Those costs are very modest estimates because they do not take into account psychological costs, the costs of devalued property and neighbourhoods, and many other factors. If we look at the decreases in costs that the Liberal–National government has driven into this community, we can see that the decrease in the costs for robberies is $3 300; burglaries, $17.32 million; vehicle theft, $6.65 million; theft, $4.59 million — Mr J.N. Hyde : But it’s increasing in the CBD, where everybody is going! Mr C.C. PORTER : It is $6.7 million for property damage. That means an overall saving to the Western Australian community of $35 million. To put this in its clearest context, there have been 24 163 fewer victims of crime in this financial year than in the previous financial year. That must be a fantastic thing for every member of the Western Australian community. What are the reasons for this? This is a complicated area. The Minister for Police says it is good government, and that is definitely part of it. I think there are about seven reasons. The first is clearly more police on the beat. The more police on the beat, the more crime that is apprehended, and the more offenders who are incapacitated. Secondly, there have been advances in police technology, such as the tasking and data information system and innovative policing strategies, including the expanded use of the priority and prolific offender strategy. Thirdly, there is no doubt that the continuing stringent approach to parole under this government is starting to have a very strong effect. Fourthly, there is a strong emphasis on the collaboration between police, the Department of Corrective Services and the Prisoners Review Board to identify and deal with parole violators and people who breach bail. We have great cooperation in this jurisdiction now, so that if someone is on bail with conditions, that person is routinely breath-tested at his house, sometimes at odd hours. If he breaches a bail condition to not consume alcohol, he is returned to court. The stringency is starting to have its effect. Fifthly, there is increased delivery of offender-based programs, which is having an effect on recidivism. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : These are very important matters for some people in the community. There is an increased compliance rate for community work from 51 per cent to 74 per cent. Those people are turning up to do their community work instead of doing whatever it was they were not doing under the previous government. Finally — Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is a fairly significant achievement, one would have thought—one that deserves a bit of time. I know that members opposition do not like it. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : If members like, we can help draft press releases for their constituents. Finally, in a conversation I recently had with the police commissioner, he conceded that we should not underscore the effect that the hoon legislation and impounding is having, because he took the view that it was having a serious effect on incapacitating and geographically immobilising people whom we know to be recidivist offenders. This is a great result for the state, but not so good for the opposition. I am very pleased to deliver that news.
Mr P. Papalia : Is somebody going to explain what the imputation is? The SPEAKER : I do not need an explanation from you, member for Warnbro! Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A. KRSTICEVIC : According to police statistics, there has been a massive 30 per cent decrease in recorded crime in my electorate of Carine in the past year. Will the Attorney General please provide the house with the details of recent decreases in crime rates across the state? Mr C.C. PORTER replied: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Indeed, the question was not quite in the terms that I had expected it to be. Nevertheless, I will endeavour to answer it in as accurate a fashion as possible. Mr E.S. Ripper : The answer is nevertheless predictable! Mr C.C. PORTER : That may be the case, but it is a good thing to be predictable when it comes to crime rates, as long as one can predict that they are going down, and that is what is happening here. All the reported crime rates are down across the measurable categories that the police collate to come up with an overall reported crime rate. We have them for the financial year just past, 2009–10, and we can compare them with the previous financial year. There has been a reduction of 12.7 per cent in overall reported crime based on the statistics that the police have been regularly using. That is a 5.25 per cent decrease in offences against the person and a 14.2 per cent decrease in offences against property. Obviously, when we talk about statistics, there is a tendency to get lost and not realise the individual impact. Of the seven categories, burglaries are down 11 per cent—that is 2 797 fewer burglaries this financial year than last financial year. Burglaries on non-dwellings—things like businesses—are down 27 per cent, which is 3 176 fewer victims this financial year than last. Property damage is down 12.7 per cent, which is 5 392 fewer instances of property damage. Theft is down 14.5 per cent. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : There is only one bad time for a Western Australian to get great news about crime, and that is when he is in opposition. I will continue and let the opposition know what the answers are. Theft is down 14.5 per cent, which is 11 465 fewer instances of theft. Non-domestic assault—that is public assaults—is down by 4.5 per cent, which is very significant; it represents 660 fewer Western Australians having been victims of a public assault. Robbery on businesses is down 23 per cent, and robbery on non-businesses is down five per cent; that is 132 fewer people robbed. Sexual assault is down 23 per cent, which is 541 fewer recent sexual assaults. The only unfortunate increase was in domestic assaults, for which there was a 1.5 per cent increase. Significantly, this government has had great success in driving down property offences. This is the first time in seven years that public assaults have decreased according to measurable statistics, which is a remarkable achievement. We have, over two years, effected a decrease in overall reported crime on those seven bases; it took the Labor Party the equivalent of eight years to achieve the same results. That is a significant achievement. The member for Warnbro and I argue at great length about the costs of imprisonment, but there are costs that attach to crime. The Australian Institute of Criminology has counted the cost of crime in Australia and has put a unit cost on each type of crime. It is $2 300 for a robbery; $2 900 for a burglary; $7 000 for vehicle theft; $400 for theft; and approximately $1 200 for property damage. Those costs are very modest estimates because they do not take into account psychological costs, the costs of devalued property and neighbourhoods, and many other factors. If we look at the decreases in costs that the Liberal–National government has driven into this community, we can see that the decrease in the costs for robberies is $3 300; burglaries, $17.32 million; vehicle theft, $6.65 million; theft, $4.59 million — Mr J.N. Hyde : But it’s increasing in the CBD, where everybody is going! Mr C.C. PORTER : It is $6.7 million for property damage. That means an overall saving to the Western Australian community of $35 million. To put this in its clearest context, there have been 24 163 fewer victims of crime in this financial year than in the previous financial year. That must be a fantastic thing for every member of the Western Australian community. What are the reasons for this? This is a complicated area. The Minister for Police says it is good government, and that is definitely part of it. I think there are about seven reasons. The first is clearly more police on the beat. The more police on the beat, the more crime that is apprehended, and the more offenders who are incapacitated. Secondly, there have been advances in police technology, such as the tasking and data information system and innovative policing strategies, including the expanded use of the priority and prolific offender strategy. Thirdly, there is no doubt that the continuing stringent approach to parole under this government is starting to have a very strong effect. Fourthly, there is a strong emphasis on the collaboration between police, the Department of Corrective Services and the Prisoners Review Board to identify and deal with parole violators and people who breach bail. We have great cooperation in this jurisdiction now, so that if someone is on bail with conditions, that person is routinely breath-tested at his house, sometimes at odd hours. If he breaches a bail condition to not consume alcohol, he is returned to court. The stringency is starting to have its effect. Fifthly, there is increased delivery of offender-based programs, which is having an effect on recidivism. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : These are very important matters for some people in the community. There is an increased compliance rate for community work from 51 per cent to 74 per cent. Those people are turning up to do their community work instead of doing whatever it was they were not doing under the previous government. Finally — Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is a fairly significant achievement, one would have thought—one that deserves a bit of time. I know that members opposition do not like it. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : If members like, we can help draft press releases for their constituents. Finally, in a conversation I recently had with the police commissioner, he conceded that we should not underscore the effect that the hoon legislation and impounding is having, because he took the view that it was having a serious effect on incapacitating and geographically immobilising people whom we know to be recidivist offenders. This is a great result for the state, but not so good for the opposition. I am very pleased to deliver that news.
The SPEAKER : I do not need an explanation from you, member for Warnbro! Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A. KRSTICEVIC : According to police statistics, there has been a massive 30 per cent decrease in recorded crime in my electorate of Carine in the past year. Will the Attorney General please provide the house with the details of recent decreases in crime rates across the state? Mr C.C. PORTER replied: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Indeed, the question was not quite in the terms that I had expected it to be. Nevertheless, I will endeavour to answer it in as accurate a fashion as possible. Mr E.S. Ripper : The answer is nevertheless predictable! Mr C.C. PORTER : That may be the case, but it is a good thing to be predictable when it comes to crime rates, as long as one can predict that they are going down, and that is what is happening here. All the reported crime rates are down across the measurable categories that the police collate to come up with an overall reported crime rate. We have them for the financial year just past, 2009–10, and we can compare them with the previous financial year. There has been a reduction of 12.7 per cent in overall reported crime based on the statistics that the police have been regularly using. That is a 5.25 per cent decrease in offences against the person and a 14.2 per cent decrease in offences against property. Obviously, when we talk about statistics, there is a tendency to get lost and not realise the individual impact. Of the seven categories, burglaries are down 11 per cent—that is 2 797 fewer burglaries this financial year than last financial year. Burglaries on non-dwellings—things like businesses—are down 27 per cent, which is 3 176 fewer victims this financial year than last. Property damage is down 12.7 per cent, which is 5 392 fewer instances of property damage. Theft is down 14.5 per cent. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : There is only one bad time for a Western Australian to get great news about crime, and that is when he is in opposition. I will continue and let the opposition know what the answers are. Theft is down 14.5 per cent, which is 11 465 fewer instances of theft. Non-domestic assault—that is public assaults—is down by 4.5 per cent, which is very significant; it represents 660 fewer Western Australians having been victims of a public assault. Robbery on businesses is down 23 per cent, and robbery on non-businesses is down five per cent; that is 132 fewer people robbed. Sexual assault is down 23 per cent, which is 541 fewer recent sexual assaults. The only unfortunate increase was in domestic assaults, for which there was a 1.5 per cent increase. Significantly, this government has had great success in driving down property offences. This is the first time in seven years that public assaults have decreased according to measurable statistics, which is a remarkable achievement. We have, over two years, effected a decrease in overall reported crime on those seven bases; it took the Labor Party the equivalent of eight years to achieve the same results. That is a significant achievement. The member for Warnbro and I argue at great length about the costs of imprisonment, but there are costs that attach to crime. The Australian Institute of Criminology has counted the cost of crime in Australia and has put a unit cost on each type of crime. It is $2 300 for a robbery; $2 900 for a burglary; $7 000 for vehicle theft; $400 for theft; and approximately $1 200 for property damage. Those costs are very modest estimates because they do not take into account psychological costs, the costs of devalued property and neighbourhoods, and many other factors. If we look at the decreases in costs that the Liberal–National government has driven into this community, we can see that the decrease in the costs for robberies is $3 300; burglaries, $17.32 million; vehicle theft, $6.65 million; theft, $4.59 million — Mr J.N. Hyde : But it’s increasing in the CBD, where everybody is going! Mr C.C. PORTER : It is $6.7 million for property damage. That means an overall saving to the Western Australian community of $35 million. To put this in its clearest context, there have been 24 163 fewer victims of crime in this financial year than in the previous financial year. That must be a fantastic thing for every member of the Western Australian community. What are the reasons for this? This is a complicated area. The Minister for Police says it is good government, and that is definitely part of it. I think there are about seven reasons. The first is clearly more police on the beat. The more police on the beat, the more crime that is apprehended, and the more offenders who are incapacitated. Secondly, there have been advances in police technology, such as the tasking and data information system and innovative policing strategies, including the expanded use of the priority and prolific offender strategy. Thirdly, there is no doubt that the continuing stringent approach to parole under this government is starting to have a very strong effect. Fourthly, there is a strong emphasis on the collaboration between police, the Department of Corrective Services and the Prisoners Review Board to identify and deal with parole violators and people who breach bail. We have great cooperation in this jurisdiction now, so that if someone is on bail with conditions, that person is routinely breath-tested at his house, sometimes at odd hours. If he breaches a bail condition to not consume alcohol, he is returned to court. The stringency is starting to have its effect. Fifthly, there is increased delivery of offender-based programs, which is having an effect on recidivism. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : These are very important matters for some people in the community. There is an increased compliance rate for community work from 51 per cent to 74 per cent. Those people are turning up to do their community work instead of doing whatever it was they were not doing under the previous government. Finally — Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is a fairly significant achievement, one would have thought—one that deserves a bit of time. I know that members opposition do not like it. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : If members like, we can help draft press releases for their constituents. Finally, in a conversation I recently had with the police commissioner, he conceded that we should not underscore the effect that the hoon legislation and impounding is having, because he took the view that it was having a serious effect on incapacitating and geographically immobilising people whom we know to be recidivist offenders. This is a great result for the state, but not so good for the opposition. I am very pleased to deliver that news.
Mr C.C. PORTER replied: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Indeed, the question was not quite in the terms that I had expected it to be. Nevertheless, I will endeavour to answer it in as accurate a fashion as possible. Mr E.S. Ripper : The answer is nevertheless predictable! Mr C.C. PORTER : That may be the case, but it is a good thing to be predictable when it comes to crime rates, as long as one can predict that they are going down, and that is what is happening here. All the reported crime rates are down across the measurable categories that the police collate to come up with an overall reported crime rate. We have them for the financial year just past, 2009–10, and we can compare them with the previous financial year. There has been a reduction of 12.7 per cent in overall reported crime based on the statistics that the police have been regularly using. That is a 5.25 per cent decrease in offences against the person and a 14.2 per cent decrease in offences against property. Obviously, when we talk about statistics, there is a tendency to get lost and not realise the individual impact. Of the seven categories, burglaries are down 11 per cent—that is 2 797 fewer burglaries this financial year than last financial year. Burglaries on non-dwellings—things like businesses—are down 27 per cent, which is 3 176 fewer victims this financial year than last. Property damage is down 12.7 per cent, which is 5 392 fewer instances of property damage. Theft is down 14.5 per cent. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : There is only one bad time for a Western Australian to get great news about crime, and that is when he is in opposition. I will continue and let the opposition know what the answers are. Theft is down 14.5 per cent, which is 11 465 fewer instances of theft. Non-domestic assault—that is public assaults—is down by 4.5 per cent, which is very significant; it represents 660 fewer Western Australians having been victims of a public assault. Robbery on businesses is down 23 per cent, and robbery on non-businesses is down five per cent; that is 132 fewer people robbed. Sexual assault is down 23 per cent, which is 541 fewer recent sexual assaults. The only unfortunate increase was in domestic assaults, for which there was a 1.5 per cent increase. Significantly, this government has had great success in driving down property offences. This is the first time in seven years that public assaults have decreased according to measurable statistics, which is a remarkable achievement. We have, over two years, effected a decrease in overall reported crime on those seven bases; it took the Labor Party the equivalent of eight years to achieve the same results. That is a significant achievement. The member for Warnbro and I argue at great length about the costs of imprisonment, but there are costs that attach to crime. The Australian Institute of Criminology has counted the cost of crime in Australia and has put a unit cost on each type of crime. It is $2 300 for a robbery; $2 900 for a burglary; $7 000 for vehicle theft; $400 for theft; and approximately $1 200 for property damage. Those costs are very modest estimates because they do not take into account psychological costs, the costs of devalued property and neighbourhoods, and many other factors. If we look at the decreases in costs that the Liberal–National government has driven into this community, we can see that the decrease in the costs for robberies is $3 300; burglaries, $17.32 million; vehicle theft, $6.65 million; theft, $4.59 million — Mr J.N. Hyde : But it’s increasing in the CBD, where everybody is going! Mr C.C. PORTER : It is $6.7 million for property damage. That means an overall saving to the Western Australian community of $35 million. To put this in its clearest context, there have been 24 163 fewer victims of crime in this financial year than in the previous financial year. That must be a fantastic thing for every member of the Western Australian community. What are the reasons for this? This is a complicated area. The Minister for Police says it is good government, and that is definitely part of it. I think there are about seven reasons. The first is clearly more police on the beat. The more police on the beat, the more crime that is apprehended, and the more offenders who are incapacitated. Secondly, there have been advances in police technology, such as the tasking and data information system and innovative policing strategies, including the expanded use of the priority and prolific offender strategy. Thirdly, there is no doubt that the continuing stringent approach to parole under this government is starting to have a very strong effect. Fourthly, there is a strong emphasis on the collaboration between police, the Department of Corrective Services and the Prisoners Review Board to identify and deal with parole violators and people who breach bail. We have great cooperation in this jurisdiction now, so that if someone is on bail with conditions, that person is routinely breath-tested at his house, sometimes at odd hours. If he breaches a bail condition to not consume alcohol, he is returned to court. The stringency is starting to have its effect. Fifthly, there is increased delivery of offender-based programs, which is having an effect on recidivism. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : These are very important matters for some people in the community. There is an increased compliance rate for community work from 51 per cent to 74 per cent. Those people are turning up to do their community work instead of doing whatever it was they were not doing under the previous government. Finally — Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is a fairly significant achievement, one would have thought—one that deserves a bit of time. I know that members opposition do not like it. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : If members like, we can help draft press releases for their constituents. Finally, in a conversation I recently had with the police commissioner, he conceded that we should not underscore the effect that the hoon legislation and impounding is having, because he took the view that it was having a serious effect on incapacitating and geographically immobilising people whom we know to be recidivist offenders. This is a great result for the state, but not so good for the opposition. I am very pleased to deliver that news.
Thank you, Mr Speaker. Indeed, the question was not quite in the terms that I had expected it to be. Nevertheless, I will endeavour to answer it in as accurate a fashion as possible. Mr E.S. Ripper : The answer is nevertheless predictable! Mr C.C. PORTER : That may be the case, but it is a good thing to be predictable when it comes to crime rates, as long as one can predict that they are going down, and that is what is happening here. All the reported crime rates are down across the measurable categories that the police collate to come up with an overall reported crime rate. We have them for the financial year just past, 2009–10, and we can compare them with the previous financial year. There has been a reduction of 12.7 per cent in overall reported crime based on the statistics that the police have been regularly using. That is a 5.25 per cent decrease in offences against the person and a 14.2 per cent decrease in offences against property. Obviously, when we talk about statistics, there is a tendency to get lost and not realise the individual impact. Of the seven categories, burglaries are down 11 per cent—that is 2 797 fewer burglaries this financial year than last financial year. Burglaries on non-dwellings—things like businesses—are down 27 per cent, which is 3 176 fewer victims this financial year than last. Property damage is down 12.7 per cent, which is 5 392 fewer instances of property damage. Theft is down 14.5 per cent. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : There is only one bad time for a Western Australian to get great news about crime, and that is when he is in opposition. I will continue and let the opposition know what the answers are. Theft is down 14.5 per cent, which is 11 465 fewer instances of theft. Non-domestic assault—that is public assaults—is down by 4.5 per cent, which is very significant; it represents 660 fewer Western Australians having been victims of a public assault. Robbery on businesses is down 23 per cent, and robbery on non-businesses is down five per cent; that is 132 fewer people robbed. Sexual assault is down 23 per cent, which is 541 fewer recent sexual assaults. The only unfortunate increase was in domestic assaults, for which there was a 1.5 per cent increase. Significantly, this government has had great success in driving down property offences. This is the first time in seven years that public assaults have decreased according to measurable statistics, which is a remarkable achievement. We have, over two years, effected a decrease in overall reported crime on those seven bases; it took the Labor Party the equivalent of eight years to achieve the same results. That is a significant achievement. The member for Warnbro and I argue at great length about the costs of imprisonment, but there are costs that attach to crime. The Australian Institute of Criminology has counted the cost of crime in Australia and has put a unit cost on each type of crime. It is $2 300 for a robbery; $2 900 for a burglary; $7 000 for vehicle theft; $400 for theft; and approximately $1 200 for property damage. Those costs are very modest estimates because they do not take into account psychological costs, the costs of devalued property and neighbourhoods, and many other factors. If we look at the decreases in costs that the Liberal–National government has driven into this community, we can see that the decrease in the costs for robberies is $3 300; burglaries, $17.32 million; vehicle theft, $6.65 million; theft, $4.59 million — Mr J.N. Hyde : But it’s increasing in the CBD, where everybody is going! Mr C.C. PORTER : It is $6.7 million for property damage. That means an overall saving to the Western Australian community of $35 million. To put this in its clearest context, there have been 24 163 fewer victims of crime in this financial year than in the previous financial year. That must be a fantastic thing for every member of the Western Australian community. What are the reasons for this? This is a complicated area. The Minister for Police says it is good government, and that is definitely part of it. I think there are about seven reasons. The first is clearly more police on the beat. The more police on the beat, the more crime that is apprehended, and the more offenders who are incapacitated. Secondly, there have been advances in police technology, such as the tasking and data information system and innovative policing strategies, including the expanded use of the priority and prolific offender strategy. Thirdly, there is no doubt that the continuing stringent approach to parole under this government is starting to have a very strong effect. Fourthly, there is a strong emphasis on the collaboration between police, the Department of Corrective Services and the Prisoners Review Board to identify and deal with parole violators and people who breach bail. We have great cooperation in this jurisdiction now, so that if someone is on bail with conditions, that person is routinely breath-tested at his house, sometimes at odd hours. If he breaches a bail condition to not consume alcohol, he is returned to court. The stringency is starting to have its effect. Fifthly, there is increased delivery of offender-based programs, which is having an effect on recidivism. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : These are very important matters for some people in the community. There is an increased compliance rate for community work from 51 per cent to 74 per cent. Those people are turning up to do their community work instead of doing whatever it was they were not doing under the previous government. Finally — Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is a fairly significant achievement, one would have thought—one that deserves a bit of time. I know that members opposition do not like it. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : If members like, we can help draft press releases for their constituents. Finally, in a conversation I recently had with the police commissioner, he conceded that we should not underscore the effect that the hoon legislation and impounding is having, because he took the view that it was having a serious effect on incapacitating and geographically immobilising people whom we know to be recidivist offenders. This is a great result for the state, but not so good for the opposition. I am very pleased to deliver that news.
Mr E.S. Ripper : The answer is nevertheless predictable! Mr C.C. PORTER : That may be the case, but it is a good thing to be predictable when it comes to crime rates, as long as one can predict that they are going down, and that is what is happening here. All the reported crime rates are down across the measurable categories that the police collate to come up with an overall reported crime rate. We have them for the financial year just past, 2009–10, and we can compare them with the previous financial year. There has been a reduction of 12.7 per cent in overall reported crime based on the statistics that the police have been regularly using. That is a 5.25 per cent decrease in offences against the person and a 14.2 per cent decrease in offences against property. Obviously, when we talk about statistics, there is a tendency to get lost and not realise the individual impact. Of the seven categories, burglaries are down 11 per cent—that is 2 797 fewer burglaries this financial year than last financial year. Burglaries on non-dwellings—things like businesses—are down 27 per cent, which is 3 176 fewer victims this financial year than last. Property damage is down 12.7 per cent, which is 5 392 fewer instances of property damage. Theft is down 14.5 per cent. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : There is only one bad time for a Western Australian to get great news about crime, and that is when he is in opposition. I will continue and let the opposition know what the answers are. Theft is down 14.5 per cent, which is 11 465 fewer instances of theft. Non-domestic assault—that is public assaults—is down by 4.5 per cent, which is very significant; it represents 660 fewer Western Australians having been victims of a public assault. Robbery on businesses is down 23 per cent, and robbery on non-businesses is down five per cent; that is 132 fewer people robbed. Sexual assault is down 23 per cent, which is 541 fewer recent sexual assaults. The only unfortunate increase was in domestic assaults, for which there was a 1.5 per cent increase. Significantly, this government has had great success in driving down property offences. This is the first time in seven years that public assaults have decreased according to measurable statistics, which is a remarkable achievement. We have, over two years, effected a decrease in overall reported crime on those seven bases; it took the Labor Party the equivalent of eight years to achieve the same results. That is a significant achievement. The member for Warnbro and I argue at great length about the costs of imprisonment, but there are costs that attach to crime. The Australian Institute of Criminology has counted the cost of crime in Australia and has put a unit cost on each type of crime. It is $2 300 for a robbery; $2 900 for a burglary; $7 000 for vehicle theft; $400 for theft; and approximately $1 200 for property damage. Those costs are very modest estimates because they do not take into account psychological costs, the costs of devalued property and neighbourhoods, and many other factors. If we look at the decreases in costs that the Liberal–National government has driven into this community, we can see that the decrease in the costs for robberies is $3 300; burglaries, $17.32 million; vehicle theft, $6.65 million; theft, $4.59 million — Mr J.N. Hyde : But it’s increasing in the CBD, where everybody is going! Mr C.C. PORTER : It is $6.7 million for property damage. That means an overall saving to the Western Australian community of $35 million. To put this in its clearest context, there have been 24 163 fewer victims of crime in this financial year than in the previous financial year. That must be a fantastic thing for every member of the Western Australian community. What are the reasons for this? This is a complicated area. The Minister for Police says it is good government, and that is definitely part of it. I think there are about seven reasons. The first is clearly more police on the beat. The more police on the beat, the more crime that is apprehended, and the more offenders who are incapacitated. Secondly, there have been advances in police technology, such as the tasking and data information system and innovative policing strategies, including the expanded use of the priority and prolific offender strategy. Thirdly, there is no doubt that the continuing stringent approach to parole under this government is starting to have a very strong effect. Fourthly, there is a strong emphasis on the collaboration between police, the Department of Corrective Services and the Prisoners Review Board to identify and deal with parole violators and people who breach bail. We have great cooperation in this jurisdiction now, so that if someone is on bail with conditions, that person is routinely breath-tested at his house, sometimes at odd hours. If he breaches a bail condition to not consume alcohol, he is returned to court. The stringency is starting to have its effect. Fifthly, there is increased delivery of offender-based programs, which is having an effect on recidivism. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : These are very important matters for some people in the community. There is an increased compliance rate for community work from 51 per cent to 74 per cent. Those people are turning up to do their community work instead of doing whatever it was they were not doing under the previous government. Finally — Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is a fairly significant achievement, one would have thought—one that deserves a bit of time. I know that members opposition do not like it. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : If members like, we can help draft press releases for their constituents. Finally, in a conversation I recently had with the police commissioner, he conceded that we should not underscore the effect that the hoon legislation and impounding is having, because he took the view that it was having a serious effect on incapacitating and geographically immobilising people whom we know to be recidivist offenders. This is a great result for the state, but not so good for the opposition. I am very pleased to deliver that news.
Mr C.C. PORTER : That may be the case, but it is a good thing to be predictable when it comes to crime rates, as long as one can predict that they are going down, and that is what is happening here. All the reported crime rates are down across the measurable categories that the police collate to come up with an overall reported crime rate. We have them for the financial year just past, 2009–10, and we can compare them with the previous financial year. There has been a reduction of 12.7 per cent in overall reported crime based on the statistics that the police have been regularly using. That is a 5.25 per cent decrease in offences against the person and a 14.2 per cent decrease in offences against property. Obviously, when we talk about statistics, there is a tendency to get lost and not realise the individual impact. Of the seven categories, burglaries are down 11 per cent—that is 2 797 fewer burglaries this financial year than last financial year. Burglaries on non-dwellings—things like businesses—are down 27 per cent, which is 3 176 fewer victims this financial year than last. Property damage is down 12.7 per cent, which is 5 392 fewer instances of property damage. Theft is down 14.5 per cent. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : There is only one bad time for a Western Australian to get great news about crime, and that is when he is in opposition. I will continue and let the opposition know what the answers are. Theft is down 14.5 per cent, which is 11 465 fewer instances of theft. Non-domestic assault—that is public assaults—is down by 4.5 per cent, which is very significant; it represents 660 fewer Western Australians having been victims of a public assault. Robbery on businesses is down 23 per cent, and robbery on non-businesses is down five per cent; that is 132 fewer people robbed. Sexual assault is down 23 per cent, which is 541 fewer recent sexual assaults. The only unfortunate increase was in domestic assaults, for which there was a 1.5 per cent increase. Significantly, this government has had great success in driving down property offences. This is the first time in seven years that public assaults have decreased according to measurable statistics, which is a remarkable achievement. We have, over two years, effected a decrease in overall reported crime on those seven bases; it took the Labor Party the equivalent of eight years to achieve the same results. That is a significant achievement. The member for Warnbro and I argue at great length about the costs of imprisonment, but there are costs that attach to crime. The Australian Institute of Criminology has counted the cost of crime in Australia and has put a unit cost on each type of crime. It is $2 300 for a robbery; $2 900 for a burglary; $7 000 for vehicle theft; $400 for theft; and approximately $1 200 for property damage. Those costs are very modest estimates because they do not take into account psychological costs, the costs of devalued property and neighbourhoods, and many other factors. If we look at the decreases in costs that the Liberal–National government has driven into this community, we can see that the decrease in the costs for robberies is $3 300; burglaries, $17.32 million; vehicle theft, $6.65 million; theft, $4.59 million — Mr J.N. Hyde : But it’s increasing in the CBD, where everybody is going! Mr C.C. PORTER : It is $6.7 million for property damage. That means an overall saving to the Western Australian community of $35 million. To put this in its clearest context, there have been 24 163 fewer victims of crime in this financial year than in the previous financial year. That must be a fantastic thing for every member of the Western Australian community. What are the reasons for this? This is a complicated area. The Minister for Police says it is good government, and that is definitely part of it. I think there are about seven reasons. The first is clearly more police on the beat. The more police on the beat, the more crime that is apprehended, and the more offenders who are incapacitated. Secondly, there have been advances in police technology, such as the tasking and data information system and innovative policing strategies, including the expanded use of the priority and prolific offender strategy. Thirdly, there is no doubt that the continuing stringent approach to parole under this government is starting to have a very strong effect. Fourthly, there is a strong emphasis on the collaboration between police, the Department of Corrective Services and the Prisoners Review Board to identify and deal with parole violators and people who breach bail. We have great cooperation in this jurisdiction now, so that if someone is on bail with conditions, that person is routinely breath-tested at his house, sometimes at odd hours. If he breaches a bail condition to not consume alcohol, he is returned to court. The stringency is starting to have its effect. Fifthly, there is increased delivery of offender-based programs, which is having an effect on recidivism. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : These are very important matters for some people in the community. There is an increased compliance rate for community work from 51 per cent to 74 per cent. Those people are turning up to do their community work instead of doing whatever it was they were not doing under the previous government. Finally — Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is a fairly significant achievement, one would have thought—one that deserves a bit of time. I know that members opposition do not like it. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : If members like, we can help draft press releases for their constituents. Finally, in a conversation I recently had with the police commissioner, he conceded that we should not underscore the effect that the hoon legislation and impounding is having, because he took the view that it was having a serious effect on incapacitating and geographically immobilising people whom we know to be recidivist offenders. This is a great result for the state, but not so good for the opposition. I am very pleased to deliver that news.
Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : There is only one bad time for a Western Australian to get great news about crime, and that is when he is in opposition. I will continue and let the opposition know what the answers are. Theft is down 14.5 per cent, which is 11 465 fewer instances of theft. Non-domestic assault—that is public assaults—is down by 4.5 per cent, which is very significant; it represents 660 fewer Western Australians having been victims of a public assault. Robbery on businesses is down 23 per cent, and robbery on non-businesses is down five per cent; that is 132 fewer people robbed. Sexual assault is down 23 per cent, which is 541 fewer recent sexual assaults. The only unfortunate increase was in domestic assaults, for which there was a 1.5 per cent increase. Significantly, this government has had great success in driving down property offences. This is the first time in seven years that public assaults have decreased according to measurable statistics, which is a remarkable achievement. We have, over two years, effected a decrease in overall reported crime on those seven bases; it took the Labor Party the equivalent of eight years to achieve the same results. That is a significant achievement. The member for Warnbro and I argue at great length about the costs of imprisonment, but there are costs that attach to crime. The Australian Institute of Criminology has counted the cost of crime in Australia and has put a unit cost on each type of crime. It is $2 300 for a robbery; $2 900 for a burglary; $7 000 for vehicle theft; $400 for theft; and approximately $1 200 for property damage. Those costs are very modest estimates because they do not take into account psychological costs, the costs of devalued property and neighbourhoods, and many other factors. If we look at the decreases in costs that the Liberal–National government has driven into this community, we can see that the decrease in the costs for robberies is $3 300; burglaries, $17.32 million; vehicle theft, $6.65 million; theft, $4.59 million — Mr J.N. Hyde : But it’s increasing in the CBD, where everybody is going! Mr C.C. PORTER : It is $6.7 million for property damage. That means an overall saving to the Western Australian community of $35 million. To put this in its clearest context, there have been 24 163 fewer victims of crime in this financial year than in the previous financial year. That must be a fantastic thing for every member of the Western Australian community. What are the reasons for this? This is a complicated area. The Minister for Police says it is good government, and that is definitely part of it. I think there are about seven reasons. The first is clearly more police on the beat. The more police on the beat, the more crime that is apprehended, and the more offenders who are incapacitated. Secondly, there have been advances in police technology, such as the tasking and data information system and innovative policing strategies, including the expanded use of the priority and prolific offender strategy. Thirdly, there is no doubt that the continuing stringent approach to parole under this government is starting to have a very strong effect. Fourthly, there is a strong emphasis on the collaboration between police, the Department of Corrective Services and the Prisoners Review Board to identify and deal with parole violators and people who breach bail. We have great cooperation in this jurisdiction now, so that if someone is on bail with conditions, that person is routinely breath-tested at his house, sometimes at odd hours. If he breaches a bail condition to not consume alcohol, he is returned to court. The stringency is starting to have its effect. Fifthly, there is increased delivery of offender-based programs, which is having an effect on recidivism. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : These are very important matters for some people in the community. There is an increased compliance rate for community work from 51 per cent to 74 per cent. Those people are turning up to do their community work instead of doing whatever it was they were not doing under the previous government. Finally — Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is a fairly significant achievement, one would have thought—one that deserves a bit of time. I know that members opposition do not like it. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : If members like, we can help draft press releases for their constituents. Finally, in a conversation I recently had with the police commissioner, he conceded that we should not underscore the effect that the hoon legislation and impounding is having, because he took the view that it was having a serious effect on incapacitating and geographically immobilising people whom we know to be recidivist offenders. This is a great result for the state, but not so good for the opposition. I am very pleased to deliver that news.
Mr C.C. PORTER : There is only one bad time for a Western Australian to get great news about crime, and that is when he is in opposition. I will continue and let the opposition know what the answers are. Theft is down 14.5 per cent, which is 11 465 fewer instances of theft. Non-domestic assault—that is public assaults—is down by 4.5 per cent, which is very significant; it represents 660 fewer Western Australians having been victims of a public assault. Robbery on businesses is down 23 per cent, and robbery on non-businesses is down five per cent; that is 132 fewer people robbed. Sexual assault is down 23 per cent, which is 541 fewer recent sexual assaults. The only unfortunate increase was in domestic assaults, for which there was a 1.5 per cent increase. Significantly, this government has had great success in driving down property offences. This is the first time in seven years that public assaults have decreased according to measurable statistics, which is a remarkable achievement. We have, over two years, effected a decrease in overall reported crime on those seven bases; it took the Labor Party the equivalent of eight years to achieve the same results. That is a significant achievement. The member for Warnbro and I argue at great length about the costs of imprisonment, but there are costs that attach to crime. The Australian Institute of Criminology has counted the cost of crime in Australia and has put a unit cost on each type of crime. It is $2 300 for a robbery; $2 900 for a burglary; $7 000 for vehicle theft; $400 for theft; and approximately $1 200 for property damage. Those costs are very modest estimates because they do not take into account psychological costs, the costs of devalued property and neighbourhoods, and many other factors. If we look at the decreases in costs that the Liberal–National government has driven into this community, we can see that the decrease in the costs for robberies is $3 300; burglaries, $17.32 million; vehicle theft, $6.65 million; theft, $4.59 million — Mr J.N. Hyde : But it’s increasing in the CBD, where everybody is going! Mr C.C. PORTER : It is $6.7 million for property damage. That means an overall saving to the Western Australian community of $35 million. To put this in its clearest context, there have been 24 163 fewer victims of crime in this financial year than in the previous financial year. That must be a fantastic thing for every member of the Western Australian community. What are the reasons for this? This is a complicated area. The Minister for Police says it is good government, and that is definitely part of it. I think there are about seven reasons. The first is clearly more police on the beat. The more police on the beat, the more crime that is apprehended, and the more offenders who are incapacitated. Secondly, there have been advances in police technology, such as the tasking and data information system and innovative policing strategies, including the expanded use of the priority and prolific offender strategy. Thirdly, there is no doubt that the continuing stringent approach to parole under this government is starting to have a very strong effect. Fourthly, there is a strong emphasis on the collaboration between police, the Department of Corrective Services and the Prisoners Review Board to identify and deal with parole violators and people who breach bail. We have great cooperation in this jurisdiction now, so that if someone is on bail with conditions, that person is routinely breath-tested at his house, sometimes at odd hours. If he breaches a bail condition to not consume alcohol, he is returned to court. The stringency is starting to have its effect. Fifthly, there is increased delivery of offender-based programs, which is having an effect on recidivism. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : These are very important matters for some people in the community. There is an increased compliance rate for community work from 51 per cent to 74 per cent. Those people are turning up to do their community work instead of doing whatever it was they were not doing under the previous government. Finally — Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is a fairly significant achievement, one would have thought—one that deserves a bit of time. I know that members opposition do not like it. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : If members like, we can help draft press releases for their constituents. Finally, in a conversation I recently had with the police commissioner, he conceded that we should not underscore the effect that the hoon legislation and impounding is having, because he took the view that it was having a serious effect on incapacitating and geographically immobilising people whom we know to be recidivist offenders. This is a great result for the state, but not so good for the opposition. I am very pleased to deliver that news.
Theft is down 14.5 per cent, which is 11 465 fewer instances of theft. Non-domestic assault—that is public assaults—is down by 4.5 per cent, which is very significant; it represents 660 fewer Western Australians having been victims of a public assault. Robbery on businesses is down 23 per cent, and robbery on non-businesses is down five per cent; that is 132 fewer people robbed. Sexual assault is down 23 per cent, which is 541 fewer recent sexual assaults. The only unfortunate increase was in domestic assaults, for which there was a 1.5 per cent increase. Significantly, this government has had great success in driving down property offences. This is the first time in seven years that public assaults have decreased according to measurable statistics, which is a remarkable achievement. We have, over two years, effected a decrease in overall reported crime on those seven bases; it took the Labor Party the equivalent of eight years to achieve the same results. That is a significant achievement. The member for Warnbro and I argue at great length about the costs of imprisonment, but there are costs that attach to crime. The Australian Institute of Criminology has counted the cost of crime in Australia and has put a unit cost on each type of crime. It is $2 300 for a robbery; $2 900 for a burglary; $7 000 for vehicle theft; $400 for theft; and approximately $1 200 for property damage. Those costs are very modest estimates because they do not take into account psychological costs, the costs of devalued property and neighbourhoods, and many other factors. If we look at the decreases in costs that the Liberal–National government has driven into this community, we can see that the decrease in the costs for robberies is $3 300; burglaries, $17.32 million; vehicle theft, $6.65 million; theft, $4.59 million — Mr J.N. Hyde : But it’s increasing in the CBD, where everybody is going! Mr C.C. PORTER : It is $6.7 million for property damage. That means an overall saving to the Western Australian community of $35 million. To put this in its clearest context, there have been 24 163 fewer victims of crime in this financial year than in the previous financial year. That must be a fantastic thing for every member of the Western Australian community. What are the reasons for this? This is a complicated area. The Minister for Police says it is good government, and that is definitely part of it. I think there are about seven reasons. The first is clearly more police on the beat. The more police on the beat, the more crime that is apprehended, and the more offenders who are incapacitated. Secondly, there have been advances in police technology, such as the tasking and data information system and innovative policing strategies, including the expanded use of the priority and prolific offender strategy. Thirdly, there is no doubt that the continuing stringent approach to parole under this government is starting to have a very strong effect. Fourthly, there is a strong emphasis on the collaboration between police, the Department of Corrective Services and the Prisoners Review Board to identify and deal with parole violators and people who breach bail. We have great cooperation in this jurisdiction now, so that if someone is on bail with conditions, that person is routinely breath-tested at his house, sometimes at odd hours. If he breaches a bail condition to not consume alcohol, he is returned to court. The stringency is starting to have its effect. Fifthly, there is increased delivery of offender-based programs, which is having an effect on recidivism. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : These are very important matters for some people in the community. There is an increased compliance rate for community work from 51 per cent to 74 per cent. Those people are turning up to do their community work instead of doing whatever it was they were not doing under the previous government. Finally — Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is a fairly significant achievement, one would have thought—one that deserves a bit of time. I know that members opposition do not like it. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : If members like, we can help draft press releases for their constituents. Finally, in a conversation I recently had with the police commissioner, he conceded that we should not underscore the effect that the hoon legislation and impounding is having, because he took the view that it was having a serious effect on incapacitating and geographically immobilising people whom we know to be recidivist offenders. This is a great result for the state, but not so good for the opposition. I am very pleased to deliver that news.
Significantly, this government has had great success in driving down property offences. This is the first time in seven years that public assaults have decreased according to measurable statistics, which is a remarkable achievement. We have, over two years, effected a decrease in overall reported crime on those seven bases; it took the Labor Party the equivalent of eight years to achieve the same results. That is a significant achievement. The member for Warnbro and I argue at great length about the costs of imprisonment, but there are costs that attach to crime. The Australian Institute of Criminology has counted the cost of crime in Australia and has put a unit cost on each type of crime. It is $2 300 for a robbery; $2 900 for a burglary; $7 000 for vehicle theft; $400 for theft; and approximately $1 200 for property damage. Those costs are very modest estimates because they do not take into account psychological costs, the costs of devalued property and neighbourhoods, and many other factors. If we look at the decreases in costs that the Liberal–National government has driven into this community, we can see that the decrease in the costs for robberies is $3 300; burglaries, $17.32 million; vehicle theft, $6.65 million; theft, $4.59 million — Mr J.N. Hyde : But it’s increasing in the CBD, where everybody is going! Mr C.C. PORTER : It is $6.7 million for property damage. That means an overall saving to the Western Australian community of $35 million. To put this in its clearest context, there have been 24 163 fewer victims of crime in this financial year than in the previous financial year. That must be a fantastic thing for every member of the Western Australian community. What are the reasons for this? This is a complicated area. The Minister for Police says it is good government, and that is definitely part of it. I think there are about seven reasons. The first is clearly more police on the beat. The more police on the beat, the more crime that is apprehended, and the more offenders who are incapacitated. Secondly, there have been advances in police technology, such as the tasking and data information system and innovative policing strategies, including the expanded use of the priority and prolific offender strategy. Thirdly, there is no doubt that the continuing stringent approach to parole under this government is starting to have a very strong effect. Fourthly, there is a strong emphasis on the collaboration between police, the Department of Corrective Services and the Prisoners Review Board to identify and deal with parole violators and people who breach bail. We have great cooperation in this jurisdiction now, so that if someone is on bail with conditions, that person is routinely breath-tested at his house, sometimes at odd hours. If he breaches a bail condition to not consume alcohol, he is returned to court. The stringency is starting to have its effect. Fifthly, there is increased delivery of offender-based programs, which is having an effect on recidivism. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : These are very important matters for some people in the community. There is an increased compliance rate for community work from 51 per cent to 74 per cent. Those people are turning up to do their community work instead of doing whatever it was they were not doing under the previous government. Finally — Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is a fairly significant achievement, one would have thought—one that deserves a bit of time. I know that members opposition do not like it. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : If members like, we can help draft press releases for their constituents. Finally, in a conversation I recently had with the police commissioner, he conceded that we should not underscore the effect that the hoon legislation and impounding is having, because he took the view that it was having a serious effect on incapacitating and geographically immobilising people whom we know to be recidivist offenders. This is a great result for the state, but not so good for the opposition. I am very pleased to deliver that news.
Mr J.N. Hyde : But it’s increasing in the CBD, where everybody is going! Mr C.C. PORTER : It is $6.7 million for property damage. That means an overall saving to the Western Australian community of $35 million. To put this in its clearest context, there have been 24 163 fewer victims of crime in this financial year than in the previous financial year. That must be a fantastic thing for every member of the Western Australian community. What are the reasons for this? This is a complicated area. The Minister for Police says it is good government, and that is definitely part of it. I think there are about seven reasons. The first is clearly more police on the beat. The more police on the beat, the more crime that is apprehended, and the more offenders who are incapacitated. Secondly, there have been advances in police technology, such as the tasking and data information system and innovative policing strategies, including the expanded use of the priority and prolific offender strategy. Thirdly, there is no doubt that the continuing stringent approach to parole under this government is starting to have a very strong effect. Fourthly, there is a strong emphasis on the collaboration between police, the Department of Corrective Services and the Prisoners Review Board to identify and deal with parole violators and people who breach bail. We have great cooperation in this jurisdiction now, so that if someone is on bail with conditions, that person is routinely breath-tested at his house, sometimes at odd hours. If he breaches a bail condition to not consume alcohol, he is returned to court. The stringency is starting to have its effect. Fifthly, there is increased delivery of offender-based programs, which is having an effect on recidivism. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : These are very important matters for some people in the community. There is an increased compliance rate for community work from 51 per cent to 74 per cent. Those people are turning up to do their community work instead of doing whatever it was they were not doing under the previous government. Finally — Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is a fairly significant achievement, one would have thought—one that deserves a bit of time. I know that members opposition do not like it. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : If members like, we can help draft press releases for their constituents. Finally, in a conversation I recently had with the police commissioner, he conceded that we should not underscore the effect that the hoon legislation and impounding is having, because he took the view that it was having a serious effect on incapacitating and geographically immobilising people whom we know to be recidivist offenders. This is a great result for the state, but not so good for the opposition. I am very pleased to deliver that news.
Mr C.C. PORTER : It is $6.7 million for property damage. That means an overall saving to the Western Australian community of $35 million. To put this in its clearest context, there have been 24 163 fewer victims of crime in this financial year than in the previous financial year. That must be a fantastic thing for every member of the Western Australian community. What are the reasons for this? This is a complicated area. The Minister for Police says it is good government, and that is definitely part of it. I think there are about seven reasons. The first is clearly more police on the beat. The more police on the beat, the more crime that is apprehended, and the more offenders who are incapacitated. Secondly, there have been advances in police technology, such as the tasking and data information system and innovative policing strategies, including the expanded use of the priority and prolific offender strategy. Thirdly, there is no doubt that the continuing stringent approach to parole under this government is starting to have a very strong effect. Fourthly, there is a strong emphasis on the collaboration between police, the Department of Corrective Services and the Prisoners Review Board to identify and deal with parole violators and people who breach bail. We have great cooperation in this jurisdiction now, so that if someone is on bail with conditions, that person is routinely breath-tested at his house, sometimes at odd hours. If he breaches a bail condition to not consume alcohol, he is returned to court. The stringency is starting to have its effect. Fifthly, there is increased delivery of offender-based programs, which is having an effect on recidivism. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : These are very important matters for some people in the community. There is an increased compliance rate for community work from 51 per cent to 74 per cent. Those people are turning up to do their community work instead of doing whatever it was they were not doing under the previous government. Finally — Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is a fairly significant achievement, one would have thought—one that deserves a bit of time. I know that members opposition do not like it. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : If members like, we can help draft press releases for their constituents. Finally, in a conversation I recently had with the police commissioner, he conceded that we should not underscore the effect that the hoon legislation and impounding is having, because he took the view that it was having a serious effect on incapacitating and geographically immobilising people whom we know to be recidivist offenders. This is a great result for the state, but not so good for the opposition. I am very pleased to deliver that news.
Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : These are very important matters for some people in the community. There is an increased compliance rate for community work from 51 per cent to 74 per cent. Those people are turning up to do their community work instead of doing whatever it was they were not doing under the previous government. Finally — Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is a fairly significant achievement, one would have thought—one that deserves a bit of time. I know that members opposition do not like it. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : If members like, we can help draft press releases for their constituents. Finally, in a conversation I recently had with the police commissioner, he conceded that we should not underscore the effect that the hoon legislation and impounding is having, because he took the view that it was having a serious effect on incapacitating and geographically immobilising people whom we know to be recidivist offenders. This is a great result for the state, but not so good for the opposition. I am very pleased to deliver that news.
Mr C.C. PORTER : These are very important matters for some people in the community. There is an increased compliance rate for community work from 51 per cent to 74 per cent. Those people are turning up to do their community work instead of doing whatever it was they were not doing under the previous government. Finally — Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is a fairly significant achievement, one would have thought—one that deserves a bit of time. I know that members opposition do not like it. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : If members like, we can help draft press releases for their constituents. Finally, in a conversation I recently had with the police commissioner, he conceded that we should not underscore the effect that the hoon legislation and impounding is having, because he took the view that it was having a serious effect on incapacitating and geographically immobilising people whom we know to be recidivist offenders. This is a great result for the state, but not so good for the opposition. I am very pleased to deliver that news.
There is an increased compliance rate for community work from 51 per cent to 74 per cent. Those people are turning up to do their community work instead of doing whatever it was they were not doing under the previous government. Finally — Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is a fairly significant achievement, one would have thought—one that deserves a bit of time. I know that members opposition do not like it. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : If members like, we can help draft press releases for their constituents. Finally, in a conversation I recently had with the police commissioner, he conceded that we should not underscore the effect that the hoon legislation and impounding is having, because he took the view that it was having a serious effect on incapacitating and geographically immobilising people whom we know to be recidivist offenders. This is a great result for the state, but not so good for the opposition. I am very pleased to deliver that news.
Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is a fairly significant achievement, one would have thought—one that deserves a bit of time. I know that members opposition do not like it. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : If members like, we can help draft press releases for their constituents. Finally, in a conversation I recently had with the police commissioner, he conceded that we should not underscore the effect that the hoon legislation and impounding is having, because he took the view that it was having a serious effect on incapacitating and geographically immobilising people whom we know to be recidivist offenders. This is a great result for the state, but not so good for the opposition. I am very pleased to deliver that news.
Mr C.C. PORTER : It is a fairly significant achievement, one would have thought—one that deserves a bit of time. I know that members opposition do not like it. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : If members like, we can help draft press releases for their constituents. Finally, in a conversation I recently had with the police commissioner, he conceded that we should not underscore the effect that the hoon legislation and impounding is having, because he took the view that it was having a serious effect on incapacitating and geographically immobilising people whom we know to be recidivist offenders. This is a great result for the state, but not so good for the opposition. I am very pleased to deliver that news.
Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : If members like, we can help draft press releases for their constituents. Finally, in a conversation I recently had with the police commissioner, he conceded that we should not underscore the effect that the hoon legislation and impounding is having, because he took the view that it was having a serious effect on incapacitating and geographically immobilising people whom we know to be recidivist offenders. This is a great result for the state, but not so good for the opposition. I am very pleased to deliver that news.
Mr C.C. PORTER : If members like, we can help draft press releases for their constituents. Finally, in a conversation I recently had with the police commissioner, he conceded that we should not underscore the effect that the hoon legislation and impounding is having, because he took the view that it was having a serious effect on incapacitating and geographically immobilising people whom we know to be recidivist offenders. This is a great result for the state, but not so good for the opposition. I am very pleased to deliver that news.
Finally, in a conversation I recently had with the police commissioner, he conceded that we should not underscore the effect that the hoon legislation and impounding is having, because he took the view that it was having a serious effect on incapacitating and geographically immobilising people whom we know to be recidivist offenders. This is a great result for the state, but not so good for the opposition. I am very pleased to deliver that news.
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