❓ Question regarding crime reduction in the South West, with the Minister highlighting a decrease in non-domestic assaults and accusing the opposition of misusing crime statistics for political gain.
AnsweredQoN 79Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CRIME AND POLICING — SOUTH WEST
Given the minister’s statement last week on the positive reduction in crime being achieved in the great southern, does he have any information on how the fight against crime in the south west is progressing? Mr J.C. KOBELKE
Given the minister’s statement last week on the positive reduction in crime being achieved in the great southern, does he have any information on how the fight against crime in the south west is progressing? Mr J.C. KOBELKE
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question. Clearly, it is very rewarding when we see the improved results that police officers right throughout Western Australia are achieving through their very hard work, dedication and commitment to protecting the communities they serve. It is very pleasing to see that within the south west district non-domestic assaults have fallen by four per cent from 2001 to 2007 when measured per 100 000 population. In the Bunbury subdistrict we see that non-domestic assaults have fallen by 28 per cent when measured per 100 000 population. We saw in some respects an absolute drop, and some rose slightly, but measured against the increased population they have been reduced. The Leader of the Opposition finds this amusing because he has been caught out putting out a media statement — Mr T. Buswell : Have you been to Bunbury and asked them what they think about your ability to cut crime in the south west? Mr J.C. KOBELKE : I just gave the Leader of the Opposition the figures. For the Bunbury subdistrict, non-domestic assaults have gone down by 28 per cent. The Leader of the Opposition is not very sophisticated, except when it comes to saying things that are not true, as the member for Kalgoorlie well knows. It is quite abysmal that the Leader of the Opposition should try to create false fear among people in the Bunbury central business district. He put out a media statement about the CBD violence in Bunbury. The statistics he used showed an increase in assaults because he counted domestic assaults. He was talking about CBD violence but actually used domestic violence figures. Of course domestic violence figures have gone up because, since 2004, under this government, the police have been proactively prosecuting domestic violence offenders, whereas under the Liberal government they were happy to turn a blind eye to it. In fact, the previous member for Ningaloo pointed out in this place that when the now Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party was advised of sexual abuse and domestic violence, he, as the minister, turned a blind eye to it. This is not just me saying it; a former Liberal member said in this place that under the coalition government, the Liberal government would not do a single thing about sexual assaults and domestic violence. It ran an advertising campaign. Under this government, the law has changed and the police are proactively pursuing domestic violence so, of course, the number of recorded assaults has gone up. However, when we look at non-domestic violence figures—that is, the assaults that occur on our streets—there is a downward trend, yet the Leader of the Opposition has sought to abuse and misuse those figures to create the fear that crime is worse in Bunbury than it was when the coalition was in government. The facts clearly show that is not true.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. Clearly, it is very rewarding when we see the improved results that police officers right throughout Western Australia are achieving through their very hard work, dedication and commitment to protecting the communities they serve. It is very pleasing to see that within the south west district non-domestic assaults have fallen by four per cent from 2001 to 2007 when measured per 100 000 population. In the Bunbury subdistrict we see that non-domestic assaults have fallen by 28 per cent when measured per 100 000 population. We saw in some respects an absolute drop, and some rose slightly, but measured against the increased population they have been reduced. The Leader of the Opposition finds this amusing because he has been caught out putting out a media statement — Mr T. Buswell : Have you been to Bunbury and asked them what they think about your ability to cut crime in the south west? Mr J.C. KOBELKE : I just gave the Leader of the Opposition the figures. For the Bunbury subdistrict, non-domestic assaults have gone down by 28 per cent. The Leader of the Opposition is not very sophisticated, except when it comes to saying things that are not true, as the member for Kalgoorlie well knows. It is quite abysmal that the Leader of the Opposition should try to create false fear among people in the Bunbury central business district. He put out a media statement about the CBD violence in Bunbury. The statistics he used showed an increase in assaults because he counted domestic assaults. He was talking about CBD violence but actually used domestic violence figures. Of course domestic violence figures have gone up because, since 2004, under this government, the police have been proactively prosecuting domestic violence offenders, whereas under the Liberal government they were happy to turn a blind eye to it. In fact, the previous member for Ningaloo pointed out in this place that when the now Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party was advised of sexual abuse and domestic violence, he, as the minister, turned a blind eye to it. This is not just me saying it; a former Liberal member said in this place that under the coalition government, the Liberal government would not do a single thing about sexual assaults and domestic violence. It ran an advertising campaign. Under this government, the law has changed and the police are proactively pursuing domestic violence so, of course, the number of recorded assaults has gone up. However, when we look at non-domestic violence figures—that is, the assaults that occur on our streets—there is a downward trend, yet the Leader of the Opposition has sought to abuse and misuse those figures to create the fear that crime is worse in Bunbury than it was when the coalition was in government. The facts clearly show that is not true.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. Clearly, it is very rewarding when we see the improved results that police officers right throughout Western Australia are achieving through their very hard work, dedication and commitment to protecting the communities they serve. It is very pleasing to see that within the south west district non-domestic assaults have fallen by four per cent from 2001 to 2007 when measured per 100 000 population. In the Bunbury subdistrict we see that non-domestic assaults have fallen by 28 per cent when measured per 100 000 population. We saw in some respects an absolute drop, and some rose slightly, but measured against the increased population they have been reduced. The Leader of the Opposition finds this amusing because he has been caught out putting out a media statement — Mr T. Buswell : Have you been to Bunbury and asked them what they think about your ability to cut crime in the south west? Mr J.C. KOBELKE : I just gave the Leader of the Opposition the figures. For the Bunbury subdistrict, non-domestic assaults have gone down by 28 per cent. The Leader of the Opposition is not very sophisticated, except when it comes to saying things that are not true, as the member for Kalgoorlie well knows. It is quite abysmal that the Leader of the Opposition should try to create false fear among people in the Bunbury central business district. He put out a media statement about the CBD violence in Bunbury. The statistics he used showed an increase in assaults because he counted domestic assaults. He was talking about CBD violence but actually used domestic violence figures. Of course domestic violence figures have gone up because, since 2004, under this government, the police have been proactively prosecuting domestic violence offenders, whereas under the Liberal government they were happy to turn a blind eye to it. In fact, the previous member for Ningaloo pointed out in this place that when the now Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party was advised of sexual abuse and domestic violence, he, as the minister, turned a blind eye to it. This is not just me saying it; a former Liberal member said in this place that under the coalition government, the Liberal government would not do a single thing about sexual assaults and domestic violence. It ran an advertising campaign. Under this government, the law has changed and the police are proactively pursuing domestic violence so, of course, the number of recorded assaults has gone up. However, when we look at non-domestic violence figures—that is, the assaults that occur on our streets—there is a downward trend, yet the Leader of the Opposition has sought to abuse and misuse those figures to create the fear that crime is worse in Bunbury than it was when the coalition was in government. The facts clearly show that is not true.
The Leader of the Opposition finds this amusing because he has been caught out putting out a media statement — Mr T. Buswell : Have you been to Bunbury and asked them what they think about your ability to cut crime in the south west? Mr J.C. KOBELKE : I just gave the Leader of the Opposition the figures. For the Bunbury subdistrict, non-domestic assaults have gone down by 28 per cent. The Leader of the Opposition is not very sophisticated, except when it comes to saying things that are not true, as the member for Kalgoorlie well knows. It is quite abysmal that the Leader of the Opposition should try to create false fear among people in the Bunbury central business district. He put out a media statement about the CBD violence in Bunbury. The statistics he used showed an increase in assaults because he counted domestic assaults. He was talking about CBD violence but actually used domestic violence figures. Of course domestic violence figures have gone up because, since 2004, under this government, the police have been proactively prosecuting domestic violence offenders, whereas under the Liberal government they were happy to turn a blind eye to it. In fact, the previous member for Ningaloo pointed out in this place that when the now Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party was advised of sexual abuse and domestic violence, he, as the minister, turned a blind eye to it. This is not just me saying it; a former Liberal member said in this place that under the coalition government, the Liberal government would not do a single thing about sexual assaults and domestic violence. It ran an advertising campaign. Under this government, the law has changed and the police are proactively pursuing domestic violence so, of course, the number of recorded assaults has gone up. However, when we look at non-domestic violence figures—that is, the assaults that occur on our streets—there is a downward trend, yet the Leader of the Opposition has sought to abuse and misuse those figures to create the fear that crime is worse in Bunbury than it was when the coalition was in government. The facts clearly show that is not true.
Mr T. Buswell : Have you been to Bunbury and asked them what they think about your ability to cut crime in the south west? Mr J.C. KOBELKE : I just gave the Leader of the Opposition the figures. For the Bunbury subdistrict, non-domestic assaults have gone down by 28 per cent. The Leader of the Opposition is not very sophisticated, except when it comes to saying things that are not true, as the member for Kalgoorlie well knows. It is quite abysmal that the Leader of the Opposition should try to create false fear among people in the Bunbury central business district. He put out a media statement about the CBD violence in Bunbury. The statistics he used showed an increase in assaults because he counted domestic assaults. He was talking about CBD violence but actually used domestic violence figures. Of course domestic violence figures have gone up because, since 2004, under this government, the police have been proactively prosecuting domestic violence offenders, whereas under the Liberal government they were happy to turn a blind eye to it. In fact, the previous member for Ningaloo pointed out in this place that when the now Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party was advised of sexual abuse and domestic violence, he, as the minister, turned a blind eye to it. This is not just me saying it; a former Liberal member said in this place that under the coalition government, the Liberal government would not do a single thing about sexual assaults and domestic violence. It ran an advertising campaign. Under this government, the law has changed and the police are proactively pursuing domestic violence so, of course, the number of recorded assaults has gone up. However, when we look at non-domestic violence figures—that is, the assaults that occur on our streets—there is a downward trend, yet the Leader of the Opposition has sought to abuse and misuse those figures to create the fear that crime is worse in Bunbury than it was when the coalition was in government. The facts clearly show that is not true.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE : I just gave the Leader of the Opposition the figures. For the Bunbury subdistrict, non-domestic assaults have gone down by 28 per cent. The Leader of the Opposition is not very sophisticated, except when it comes to saying things that are not true, as the member for Kalgoorlie well knows. It is quite abysmal that the Leader of the Opposition should try to create false fear among people in the Bunbury central business district. He put out a media statement about the CBD violence in Bunbury. The statistics he used showed an increase in assaults because he counted domestic assaults. He was talking about CBD violence but actually used domestic violence figures. Of course domestic violence figures have gone up because, since 2004, under this government, the police have been proactively prosecuting domestic violence offenders, whereas under the Liberal government they were happy to turn a blind eye to it. In fact, the previous member for Ningaloo pointed out in this place that when the now Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party was advised of sexual abuse and domestic violence, he, as the minister, turned a blind eye to it. This is not just me saying it; a former Liberal member said in this place that under the coalition government, the Liberal government would not do a single thing about sexual assaults and domestic violence. It ran an advertising campaign. Under this government, the law has changed and the police are proactively pursuing domestic violence so, of course, the number of recorded assaults has gone up. However, when we look at non-domestic violence figures—that is, the assaults that occur on our streets—there is a downward trend, yet the Leader of the Opposition has sought to abuse and misuse those figures to create the fear that crime is worse in Bunbury than it was when the coalition was in government. The facts clearly show that is not true.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. Clearly, it is very rewarding when we see the improved results that police officers right throughout Western Australia are achieving through their very hard work, dedication and commitment to protecting the communities they serve. It is very pleasing to see that within the south west district non-domestic assaults have fallen by four per cent from 2001 to 2007 when measured per 100 000 population. In the Bunbury subdistrict we see that non-domestic assaults have fallen by 28 per cent when measured per 100 000 population. We saw in some respects an absolute drop, and some rose slightly, but measured against the increased population they have been reduced. The Leader of the Opposition finds this amusing because he has been caught out putting out a media statement — Mr T. Buswell : Have you been to Bunbury and asked them what they think about your ability to cut crime in the south west? Mr J.C. KOBELKE : I just gave the Leader of the Opposition the figures. For the Bunbury subdistrict, non-domestic assaults have gone down by 28 per cent. The Leader of the Opposition is not very sophisticated, except when it comes to saying things that are not true, as the member for Kalgoorlie well knows. It is quite abysmal that the Leader of the Opposition should try to create false fear among people in the Bunbury central business district. He put out a media statement about the CBD violence in Bunbury. The statistics he used showed an increase in assaults because he counted domestic assaults. He was talking about CBD violence but actually used domestic violence figures. Of course domestic violence figures have gone up because, since 2004, under this government, the police have been proactively prosecuting domestic violence offenders, whereas under the Liberal government they were happy to turn a blind eye to it. In fact, the previous member for Ningaloo pointed out in this place that when the now Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party was advised of sexual abuse and domestic violence, he, as the minister, turned a blind eye to it. This is not just me saying it; a former Liberal member said in this place that under the coalition government, the Liberal government would not do a single thing about sexual assaults and domestic violence. It ran an advertising campaign. Under this government, the law has changed and the police are proactively pursuing domestic violence so, of course, the number of recorded assaults has gone up. However, when we look at non-domestic violence figures—that is, the assaults that occur on our streets—there is a downward trend, yet the Leader of the Opposition has sought to abuse and misuse those figures to create the fear that crime is worse in Bunbury than it was when the coalition was in government. The facts clearly show that is not true.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. Clearly, it is very rewarding when we see the improved results that police officers right throughout Western Australia are achieving through their very hard work, dedication and commitment to protecting the communities they serve. It is very pleasing to see that within the south west district non-domestic assaults have fallen by four per cent from 2001 to 2007 when measured per 100 000 population. In the Bunbury subdistrict we see that non-domestic assaults have fallen by 28 per cent when measured per 100 000 population. We saw in some respects an absolute drop, and some rose slightly, but measured against the increased population they have been reduced. The Leader of the Opposition finds this amusing because he has been caught out putting out a media statement — Mr T. Buswell : Have you been to Bunbury and asked them what they think about your ability to cut crime in the south west? Mr J.C. KOBELKE : I just gave the Leader of the Opposition the figures. For the Bunbury subdistrict, non-domestic assaults have gone down by 28 per cent. The Leader of the Opposition is not very sophisticated, except when it comes to saying things that are not true, as the member for Kalgoorlie well knows. It is quite abysmal that the Leader of the Opposition should try to create false fear among people in the Bunbury central business district. He put out a media statement about the CBD violence in Bunbury. The statistics he used showed an increase in assaults because he counted domestic assaults. He was talking about CBD violence but actually used domestic violence figures. Of course domestic violence figures have gone up because, since 2004, under this government, the police have been proactively prosecuting domestic violence offenders, whereas under the Liberal government they were happy to turn a blind eye to it. In fact, the previous member for Ningaloo pointed out in this place that when the now Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party was advised of sexual abuse and domestic violence, he, as the minister, turned a blind eye to it. This is not just me saying it; a former Liberal member said in this place that under the coalition government, the Liberal government would not do a single thing about sexual assaults and domestic violence. It ran an advertising campaign. Under this government, the law has changed and the police are proactively pursuing domestic violence so, of course, the number of recorded assaults has gone up. However, when we look at non-domestic violence figures—that is, the assaults that occur on our streets—there is a downward trend, yet the Leader of the Opposition has sought to abuse and misuse those figures to create the fear that crime is worse in Bunbury than it was when the coalition was in government. The facts clearly show that is not true.
The Leader of the Opposition finds this amusing because he has been caught out putting out a media statement — Mr T. Buswell : Have you been to Bunbury and asked them what they think about your ability to cut crime in the south west? Mr J.C. KOBELKE : I just gave the Leader of the Opposition the figures. For the Bunbury subdistrict, non-domestic assaults have gone down by 28 per cent. The Leader of the Opposition is not very sophisticated, except when it comes to saying things that are not true, as the member for Kalgoorlie well knows. It is quite abysmal that the Leader of the Opposition should try to create false fear among people in the Bunbury central business district. He put out a media statement about the CBD violence in Bunbury. The statistics he used showed an increase in assaults because he counted domestic assaults. He was talking about CBD violence but actually used domestic violence figures. Of course domestic violence figures have gone up because, since 2004, under this government, the police have been proactively prosecuting domestic violence offenders, whereas under the Liberal government they were happy to turn a blind eye to it. In fact, the previous member for Ningaloo pointed out in this place that when the now Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party was advised of sexual abuse and domestic violence, he, as the minister, turned a blind eye to it. This is not just me saying it; a former Liberal member said in this place that under the coalition government, the Liberal government would not do a single thing about sexual assaults and domestic violence. It ran an advertising campaign. Under this government, the law has changed and the police are proactively pursuing domestic violence so, of course, the number of recorded assaults has gone up. However, when we look at non-domestic violence figures—that is, the assaults that occur on our streets—there is a downward trend, yet the Leader of the Opposition has sought to abuse and misuse those figures to create the fear that crime is worse in Bunbury than it was when the coalition was in government. The facts clearly show that is not true.
Mr T. Buswell : Have you been to Bunbury and asked them what they think about your ability to cut crime in the south west? Mr J.C. KOBELKE : I just gave the Leader of the Opposition the figures. For the Bunbury subdistrict, non-domestic assaults have gone down by 28 per cent. The Leader of the Opposition is not very sophisticated, except when it comes to saying things that are not true, as the member for Kalgoorlie well knows. It is quite abysmal that the Leader of the Opposition should try to create false fear among people in the Bunbury central business district. He put out a media statement about the CBD violence in Bunbury. The statistics he used showed an increase in assaults because he counted domestic assaults. He was talking about CBD violence but actually used domestic violence figures. Of course domestic violence figures have gone up because, since 2004, under this government, the police have been proactively prosecuting domestic violence offenders, whereas under the Liberal government they were happy to turn a blind eye to it. In fact, the previous member for Ningaloo pointed out in this place that when the now Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party was advised of sexual abuse and domestic violence, he, as the minister, turned a blind eye to it. This is not just me saying it; a former Liberal member said in this place that under the coalition government, the Liberal government would not do a single thing about sexual assaults and domestic violence. It ran an advertising campaign. Under this government, the law has changed and the police are proactively pursuing domestic violence so, of course, the number of recorded assaults has gone up. However, when we look at non-domestic violence figures—that is, the assaults that occur on our streets—there is a downward trend, yet the Leader of the Opposition has sought to abuse and misuse those figures to create the fear that crime is worse in Bunbury than it was when the coalition was in government. The facts clearly show that is not true.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE : I just gave the Leader of the Opposition the figures. For the Bunbury subdistrict, non-domestic assaults have gone down by 28 per cent. The Leader of the Opposition is not very sophisticated, except when it comes to saying things that are not true, as the member for Kalgoorlie well knows. It is quite abysmal that the Leader of the Opposition should try to create false fear among people in the Bunbury central business district. He put out a media statement about the CBD violence in Bunbury. The statistics he used showed an increase in assaults because he counted domestic assaults. He was talking about CBD violence but actually used domestic violence figures. Of course domestic violence figures have gone up because, since 2004, under this government, the police have been proactively prosecuting domestic violence offenders, whereas under the Liberal government they were happy to turn a blind eye to it. In fact, the previous member for Ningaloo pointed out in this place that when the now Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party was advised of sexual abuse and domestic violence, he, as the minister, turned a blind eye to it. This is not just me saying it; a former Liberal member said in this place that under the coalition government, the Liberal government would not do a single thing about sexual assaults and domestic violence. It ran an advertising campaign. Under this government, the law has changed and the police are proactively pursuing domestic violence so, of course, the number of recorded assaults has gone up. However, when we look at non-domestic violence figures—that is, the assaults that occur on our streets—there is a downward trend, yet the Leader of the Opposition has sought to abuse and misuse those figures to create the fear that crime is worse in Bunbury than it was when the coalition was in government. The facts clearly show that is not true.
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