❓ Mrs. Roberts questions the Minister for Police about rising break-in rates in WA compared to national averages. The Minister defends the government's record on crime, citing improvements in other areas and blaming the previous Labor government.
AnsweredQoN 94Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CRIME
STATISTICS — BREAK-IN INCIDENTS
94. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS to the
Minister for Police:
Thank you, Mr Speaker. My question without —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : This
time it is the member for Albany. Members for Albany and Warnbro, the member
for Midland is trying to speak.
Mrs
M.H. ROBERTS : My question without notice is to the Minister for Police. I
again refer to the Australian Bureau of Statistics crime victimisation
statistics, which were released last week.
(1) Is the minister aware that
Western Australia is number one among the states for break-ins?
(2) Is the
minister aware that the rate of break-ins in Western Australia increased from
4.4 per cent of population in 2012‑13 to 4.8 per cent of population in
2013‑14?
(3) Can the
minister explain why break-ins in Western Australia are almost double the
national average and increasing under her watch?
STATISTICS — BREAK-IN INCIDENTS
94. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS to the
Minister for Police:
Thank you, Mr Speaker. My question without —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : This
time it is the member for Albany. Members for Albany and Warnbro, the member
for Midland is trying to speak.
Mrs
M.H. ROBERTS : My question without notice is to the Minister for Police. I
again refer to the Australian Bureau of Statistics crime victimisation
statistics, which were released last week.
(1) Is the minister aware that
Western Australia is number one among the states for break-ins?
(2) Is the
minister aware that the rate of break-ins in Western Australia increased from
4.4 per cent of population in 2012‑13 to 4.8 per cent of population in
2013‑14?
(3) Can the
minister explain why break-ins in Western Australia are almost double the
national average and increasing under her watch?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3) I
am surprised that the member for Midland is persisting with this particular
line of questioning. Members in the house would probably be interested to know
that Western Australia has a very good report in making up ground for the
previous Labor administration, which let law and order go to hell in a
handcart. Referring to recent sexual assault in Western Australia, in 2007‑08
there were 100.3 victims per 100 000. In 2013–14, there were 88.8 per
100 000. Let us go to dwelling burglary. What was the rate under the member for
Midland's watch? It was 1 209.1 victims per 100 000. That is actually
break-ins to houses, so more victims. The number of total offences against the
person under the watch of our government with our law and order agenda is down
7.6 per cent and the total offences against property are down 33 per cent. The member
for Midland is being selective in the parts of the ABS statistics to which she
referred.
Mrs
M.H. Roberts : You haven't read it! What would you know?
The
SPEAKER : I call the member for Midland to order for the second time.
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : I said that I was aware of the report, but I have not
memorised every category of offence. Let us look at domestic assault in Western
Australia. According to the report we are down 28 per cent from 2013. Let us
look at victims —
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Butler, I call you to order for the second time. Member
for Warnbro —
Mrs
M.H. Roberts interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Midland, I am on my feet.
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : The number of victims of armed robbery is down from 47 400 per
100 000 to 26 600 on our watch, member for Midland. I think we are doing pretty
well in that area. The member is not asking me a question about that data. We
have the lowest youth offender rate in the country because of the work of this
government. I am proud of our record on fighting crime.
Mr
P. Papalia interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I call you to order for the first time.
Minister, wind it up, please.
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : I will be having a look at the ABS report for when members
opposite were in government, and I will be looking to see exactly where we sit
with respect to their performance in that law and order space.
I am proud of our performance. We
have an additional 550 police and police auxiliary officers coming into the
system, on top of the 500 from 2008. We have a new policing model that we have
rolled out throughout metropolitan Perth, which has seen us drive down crime in
south east metro significantly, and we have increased the number of
prosecutions as a result of that new policing model in south east metro by 16.3
per cent. We are heading in the right direction in this state. Members opposite
cannot stand it. But I am proud of it, our team is proud of it, and we are
going to maintain the rage.
am surprised that the member for Midland is persisting with this particular
line of questioning. Members in the house would probably be interested to know
that Western Australia has a very good report in making up ground for the
previous Labor administration, which let law and order go to hell in a
handcart. Referring to recent sexual assault in Western Australia, in 2007‑08
there were 100.3 victims per 100 000. In 2013–14, there were 88.8 per
100 000. Let us go to dwelling burglary. What was the rate under the member for
Midland's watch? It was 1 209.1 victims per 100 000. That is actually
break-ins to houses, so more victims. The number of total offences against the
person under the watch of our government with our law and order agenda is down
7.6 per cent and the total offences against property are down 33 per cent. The member
for Midland is being selective in the parts of the ABS statistics to which she
referred.
Mrs
M.H. Roberts : You haven't read it! What would you know?
The
SPEAKER : I call the member for Midland to order for the second time.
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : I said that I was aware of the report, but I have not
memorised every category of offence. Let us look at domestic assault in Western
Australia. According to the report we are down 28 per cent from 2013. Let us
look at victims —
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Butler, I call you to order for the second time. Member
for Warnbro —
Mrs
M.H. Roberts interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Midland, I am on my feet.
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : The number of victims of armed robbery is down from 47 400 per
100 000 to 26 600 on our watch, member for Midland. I think we are doing pretty
well in that area. The member is not asking me a question about that data. We
have the lowest youth offender rate in the country because of the work of this
government. I am proud of our record on fighting crime.
Mr
P. Papalia interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I call you to order for the first time.
Minister, wind it up, please.
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : I will be having a look at the ABS report for when members
opposite were in government, and I will be looking to see exactly where we sit
with respect to their performance in that law and order space.
I am proud of our performance. We
have an additional 550 police and police auxiliary officers coming into the
system, on top of the 500 from 2008. We have a new policing model that we have
rolled out throughout metropolitan Perth, which has seen us drive down crime in
south east metro significantly, and we have increased the number of
prosecutions as a result of that new policing model in south east metro by 16.3
per cent. We are heading in the right direction in this state. Members opposite
cannot stand it. But I am proud of it, our team is proud of it, and we are
going to maintain the rage.
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