Mr. Love questions the Premier about state government investment in regional areas to combat rising crime, given perceived lack of federal funding. The Premier outlines existing initiatives and suggests further regulatory measures, particularly regarding alcohol abuse in Carnarvon.

AnsweredQoN 68Legislative Assembly
Asked
22 February 2023
Portfolio
Premier

QuestionView source ↗

CRIME — FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RESPONSE
68. Mr R.S. LOVE to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question. If
the Premier's colleagues in the federal government will not put up the
funds to help our communities that are in
such distress, will his government be investing further into regional areas to
ensure that communities are able to combat the rising crime situation?

AnswerView source ↗

We announced recently the extension
of the Target 120 program to another eight or nine communities. We also
announced the intensive family support team initiative specifically in
Carnarvon. We have funded an additional 1 100 police officers across Western Australia,
many of whom are in regional WA. In fact, the other day the shire president was
telling me how welcome the additional police officers are in Carnarvon and what
a great job they are doing in Carnarvon.
It is not all about money, though;
sometimes it is about the initiatives that we take that might be legislatively
or regulatory. As I outlined to the house
yesterday, on the alcohol problem, in particular in Carnarvon, which has been an issue, we are looking at what else we can do to reduce the prevalence of
alcohol-related violence in Carnarvon. That will be uncomfortable for some
people. Some people who make money out of it in particular will not like it. We
need to look at what measures we can put in place for that community, which has
not had measures in place in the past. Having measures in place when there is a
funeral is not ongoing measures to curb alcohol abuse; it is not. It is
commonplace across regional Western Australia that curbs are put in place when
a major funeral is taking place. We will look at what other regulations can be
put in place. Some people will not like it. I think that some of the people who
complain about crime in a community like Carnarvon need to understand that when
they complain a lot about it, governments sometimes will take action that they
might not like.

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