❓ A parliamentary question regarding claims made by the Leader of the Opposition about WA's crime rates. The Minister refutes the claims, citing statistics showing a decrease in crime and criticising the Opposition's fear campaign.
AnsweredQoN 388Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
crime statistics, opposition claims
On 31 October 2000, the Leader of the Opposition addressed the WA Division of the Association for Independent Retirees. In the address he stated that Western Australia has the reputation of being the crime capital of the nation and the elderly are bearing the brunt of crime. Would the minister like to comment on the statements? Mr PRINCE
On 31 October 2000, the Leader of the Opposition addressed the WA Division of the Association for Independent Retirees. In the address he stated that Western Australia has the reputation of being the crime capital of the nation and the elderly are bearing the brunt of crime. Would the minister like to comment on the statements? Mr PRINCE
AnswerView source ↗
I am informed that the Leader of the Opposition said that Western Australia was the crime capital that had the highest rates of victimisation, home break-ins, motor vehicle theft and sexual assault, and that it was the elderly who bore the brunt of those offences. Any offence against the elderly is to be deplored because they are, generally speaking, more vulnerable than others. What the Leader of the Opposition said is incorrect and he ought not to peddle such untruths. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the crime rate has decreased by 5.8 per cent. Indeed, there were 7 260 fewer victims of crime in 1999 than in the previous year. The decrease is undoubtedly as a result of a number of factors, such as better information being given to the police, particularly from Crime Stoppers, targeting intelligence-based policing and things of that nature. The figures across Australia show that motor vehicle theft in Western Australia has reduced by 8.1 per cent. It leads the nation in the reduction in car theft. The highest victimisation rates are found in South Australia and New South Wales, which have much higher rates per 1 000 population than WA. The claims made by the Leader of the Opposition about the victimisation rate for sexual assault in WA are incorrect; South Australia and Queensland have higher rates. Sexual assault in WA has decreased by 28.5 per cent and the clearance rate is 99.1 per cent. To say that the elderly bear the brunt of crime is untrue. For some time the Leader of the Opposition has been running an ambulance-chasing fear campaign about elderly people. Less than 7 per cent of robbery victims are over 65 and less than 2 per cent of assault victims are over 65. Although that is deplorable, they are not bearing the brunt. If the Opposition gets back into power, this is what we will see. I have held up this graph before. The red line is the 100 per cent or more increase in crime when the Opposition was in power and the blue line represents what has been done during this Government’s term of office. As if that was not bad enough, according to its Audit Office, not only does New South Wales have the most expensive health system in the country, it also has the highest crime rates, the slowest court system and the New South Wales police are ranked below the national average in solving crime. The New South Wales Ombudsman has received an 18 per cent increase in complaints against police officers. In Western Australia there has been a 7 per cent reduction in allegations against police officers. The Ombudsman's report shows a significant reduction from one year to the next. Why? Because there has been reform and the Police Service is working well. Safer WA and other initiatives are working and the crime rate is decreasing. If the Labor Party gets back into power, crime will increase again. The Leader of the Opposition is doing what his predecessor - who is sitting in the wings waiting to take over - did; that is, run an administration devoted to stunts and gimmicks aimed at getting cheap media coverage. The Leader of the Opposition could do better, but it is nearly too late for the member to try.
Mr PRINCE replied: I am informed that the Leader of the Opposition said that Western Australia was the crime capital that had the highest rates of victimisation, home break-ins, motor vehicle theft and sexual assault, and that it was the elderly who bore the brunt of those offences. Any offence against the elderly is to be deplored because they are, generally speaking, more vulnerable than others. What the Leader of the Opposition said is incorrect and he ought not to peddle such untruths. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the crime rate has decreased by 5.8 per cent. Indeed, there were 7 260 fewer victims of crime in 1999 than in the previous year. The decrease is undoubtedly as a result of a number of factors, such as better information being given to the police, particularly from Crime Stoppers, targeting intelligence-based policing and things of that nature. The figures across Australia show that motor vehicle theft in Western Australia has reduced by 8.1 per cent. It leads the nation in the reduction in car theft. The highest victimisation rates are found in South Australia and New South Wales, which have much higher rates per 1 000 population than WA. The claims made by the Leader of the Opposition about the victimisation rate for sexual assault in WA are incorrect; South Australia and Queensland have higher rates. Sexual assault in WA has decreased by 28.5 per cent and the clearance rate is 99.1 per cent. To say that the elderly bear the brunt of crime is untrue. For some time the Leader of the Opposition has been running an ambulance-chasing fear campaign about elderly people. Less than 7 per cent of robbery victims are over 65 and less than 2 per cent of assault victims are over 65. Although that is deplorable, they are not bearing the brunt. If the Opposition gets back into power, this is what we will see. I have held up this graph before. The red line is the 100 per cent or more increase in crime when the Opposition was in power and the blue line represents what has been done during this Government’s term of office. As if that was not bad enough, according to its Audit Office, not only does New South Wales have the most expensive health system in the country, it also has the highest crime rates, the slowest court system and the New South Wales police are ranked below the national average in solving crime. The New South Wales Ombudsman has received an 18 per cent increase in complaints against police officers. In Western Australia there has been a 7 per cent reduction in allegations against police officers. The Ombudsman's report shows a significant reduction from one year to the next. Why? Because there has been reform and the Police Service is working well. Safer WA and other initiatives are working and the crime rate is decreasing. If the Labor Party gets back into power, crime will increase again. The Leader of the Opposition is doing what his predecessor - who is sitting in the wings waiting to take over - did; that is, run an administration devoted to stunts and gimmicks aimed at getting cheap media coverage. The Leader of the Opposition could do better, but it is nearly too late for the member to try.
I am informed that the Leader of the Opposition said that Western Australia was the crime capital that had the highest rates of victimisation, home break-ins, motor vehicle theft and sexual assault, and that it was the elderly who bore the brunt of those offences. Any offence against the elderly is to be deplored because they are, generally speaking, more vulnerable than others. What the Leader of the Opposition said is incorrect and he ought not to peddle such untruths. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the crime rate has decreased by 5.8 per cent. Indeed, there were 7 260 fewer victims of crime in 1999 than in the previous year. The decrease is undoubtedly as a result of a number of factors, such as better information being given to the police, particularly from Crime Stoppers, targeting intelligence-based policing and things of that nature. The figures across Australia show that motor vehicle theft in Western Australia has reduced by 8.1 per cent. It leads the nation in the reduction in car theft. The highest victimisation rates are found in South Australia and New South Wales, which have much higher rates per 1 000 population than WA. The claims made by the Leader of the Opposition about the victimisation rate for sexual assault in WA are incorrect; South Australia and Queensland have higher rates. Sexual assault in WA has decreased by 28.5 per cent and the clearance rate is 99.1 per cent. To say that the elderly bear the brunt of crime is untrue. For some time the Leader of the Opposition has been running an ambulance-chasing fear campaign about elderly people. Less than 7 per cent of robbery victims are over 65 and less than 2 per cent of assault victims are over 65. Although that is deplorable, they are not bearing the brunt. If the Opposition gets back into power, this is what we will see. I have held up this graph before. The red line is the 100 per cent or more increase in crime when the Opposition was in power and the blue line represents what has been done during this Government’s term of office. As if that was not bad enough, according to its Audit Office, not only does New South Wales have the most expensive health system in the country, it also has the highest crime rates, the slowest court system and the New South Wales police are ranked below the national average in solving crime. The New South Wales Ombudsman has received an 18 per cent increase in complaints against police officers. In Western Australia there has been a 7 per cent reduction in allegations against police officers. The Ombudsman's report shows a significant reduction from one year to the next. Why? Because there has been reform and the Police Service is working well. Safer WA and other initiatives are working and the crime rate is decreasing. If the Labor Party gets back into power, crime will increase again. The Leader of the Opposition is doing what his predecessor - who is sitting in the wings waiting to take over - did; that is, run an administration devoted to stunts and gimmicks aimed at getting cheap media coverage. The Leader of the Opposition could do better, but it is nearly too late for the member to try.
The figures across Australia show that motor vehicle theft in Western Australia has reduced by 8.1 per cent. It leads the nation in the reduction in car theft. The highest victimisation rates are found in South Australia and New South Wales, which have much higher rates per 1 000 population than WA. The claims made by the Leader of the Opposition about the victimisation rate for sexual assault in WA are incorrect; South Australia and Queensland have higher rates. Sexual assault in WA has decreased by 28.5 per cent and the clearance rate is 99.1 per cent. To say that the elderly bear the brunt of crime is untrue. For some time the Leader of the Opposition has been running an ambulance-chasing fear campaign about elderly people. Less than 7 per cent of robbery victims are over 65 and less than 2 per cent of assault victims are over 65. Although that is deplorable, they are not bearing the brunt. If the Opposition gets back into power, this is what we will see. I have held up this graph before. The red line is the 100 per cent or more increase in crime when the Opposition was in power and the blue line represents what has been done during this Government’s term of office. As if that was not bad enough, according to its Audit Office, not only does New South Wales have the most expensive health system in the country, it also has the highest crime rates, the slowest court system and the New South Wales police are ranked below the national average in solving crime. The New South Wales Ombudsman has received an 18 per cent increase in complaints against police officers. In Western Australia there has been a 7 per cent reduction in allegations against police officers. The Ombudsman's report shows a significant reduction from one year to the next. Why? Because there has been reform and the Police Service is working well. Safer WA and other initiatives are working and the crime rate is decreasing. If the Labor Party gets back into power, crime will increase again. The Leader of the Opposition is doing what his predecessor - who is sitting in the wings waiting to take over - did; that is, run an administration devoted to stunts and gimmicks aimed at getting cheap media coverage. The Leader of the Opposition could do better, but it is nearly too late for the member to try.
If the Opposition gets back into power, this is what we will see. I have held up this graph before. The red line is the 100 per cent or more increase in crime when the Opposition was in power and the blue line represents what has been done during this Government’s term of office. As if that was not bad enough, according to its Audit Office, not only does New South Wales have the most expensive health system in the country, it also has the highest crime rates, the slowest court system and the New South Wales police are ranked below the national average in solving crime. The New South Wales Ombudsman has received an 18 per cent increase in complaints against police officers. In Western Australia there has been a 7 per cent reduction in allegations against police officers. The Ombudsman's report shows a significant reduction from one year to the next. Why? Because there has been reform and the Police Service is working well. Safer WA and other initiatives are working and the crime rate is decreasing. If the Labor Party gets back into power, crime will increase again. The Leader of the Opposition is doing what his predecessor - who is sitting in the wings waiting to take over - did; that is, run an administration devoted to stunts and gimmicks aimed at getting cheap media coverage. The Leader of the Opposition could do better, but it is nearly too late for the member to try.
Mr PRINCE replied: I am informed that the Leader of the Opposition said that Western Australia was the crime capital that had the highest rates of victimisation, home break-ins, motor vehicle theft and sexual assault, and that it was the elderly who bore the brunt of those offences. Any offence against the elderly is to be deplored because they are, generally speaking, more vulnerable than others. What the Leader of the Opposition said is incorrect and he ought not to peddle such untruths. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the crime rate has decreased by 5.8 per cent. Indeed, there were 7 260 fewer victims of crime in 1999 than in the previous year. The decrease is undoubtedly as a result of a number of factors, such as better information being given to the police, particularly from Crime Stoppers, targeting intelligence-based policing and things of that nature. The figures across Australia show that motor vehicle theft in Western Australia has reduced by 8.1 per cent. It leads the nation in the reduction in car theft. The highest victimisation rates are found in South Australia and New South Wales, which have much higher rates per 1 000 population than WA. The claims made by the Leader of the Opposition about the victimisation rate for sexual assault in WA are incorrect; South Australia and Queensland have higher rates. Sexual assault in WA has decreased by 28.5 per cent and the clearance rate is 99.1 per cent. To say that the elderly bear the brunt of crime is untrue. For some time the Leader of the Opposition has been running an ambulance-chasing fear campaign about elderly people. Less than 7 per cent of robbery victims are over 65 and less than 2 per cent of assault victims are over 65. Although that is deplorable, they are not bearing the brunt. If the Opposition gets back into power, this is what we will see. I have held up this graph before. The red line is the 100 per cent or more increase in crime when the Opposition was in power and the blue line represents what has been done during this Government’s term of office. As if that was not bad enough, according to its Audit Office, not only does New South Wales have the most expensive health system in the country, it also has the highest crime rates, the slowest court system and the New South Wales police are ranked below the national average in solving crime. The New South Wales Ombudsman has received an 18 per cent increase in complaints against police officers. In Western Australia there has been a 7 per cent reduction in allegations against police officers. The Ombudsman's report shows a significant reduction from one year to the next. Why? Because there has been reform and the Police Service is working well. Safer WA and other initiatives are working and the crime rate is decreasing. If the Labor Party gets back into power, crime will increase again. The Leader of the Opposition is doing what his predecessor - who is sitting in the wings waiting to take over - did; that is, run an administration devoted to stunts and gimmicks aimed at getting cheap media coverage. The Leader of the Opposition could do better, but it is nearly too late for the member to try.
I am informed that the Leader of the Opposition said that Western Australia was the crime capital that had the highest rates of victimisation, home break-ins, motor vehicle theft and sexual assault, and that it was the elderly who bore the brunt of those offences. Any offence against the elderly is to be deplored because they are, generally speaking, more vulnerable than others. What the Leader of the Opposition said is incorrect and he ought not to peddle such untruths. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the crime rate has decreased by 5.8 per cent. Indeed, there were 7 260 fewer victims of crime in 1999 than in the previous year. The decrease is undoubtedly as a result of a number of factors, such as better information being given to the police, particularly from Crime Stoppers, targeting intelligence-based policing and things of that nature. The figures across Australia show that motor vehicle theft in Western Australia has reduced by 8.1 per cent. It leads the nation in the reduction in car theft. The highest victimisation rates are found in South Australia and New South Wales, which have much higher rates per 1 000 population than WA. The claims made by the Leader of the Opposition about the victimisation rate for sexual assault in WA are incorrect; South Australia and Queensland have higher rates. Sexual assault in WA has decreased by 28.5 per cent and the clearance rate is 99.1 per cent. To say that the elderly bear the brunt of crime is untrue. For some time the Leader of the Opposition has been running an ambulance-chasing fear campaign about elderly people. Less than 7 per cent of robbery victims are over 65 and less than 2 per cent of assault victims are over 65. Although that is deplorable, they are not bearing the brunt. If the Opposition gets back into power, this is what we will see. I have held up this graph before. The red line is the 100 per cent or more increase in crime when the Opposition was in power and the blue line represents what has been done during this Government’s term of office. As if that was not bad enough, according to its Audit Office, not only does New South Wales have the most expensive health system in the country, it also has the highest crime rates, the slowest court system and the New South Wales police are ranked below the national average in solving crime. The New South Wales Ombudsman has received an 18 per cent increase in complaints against police officers. In Western Australia there has been a 7 per cent reduction in allegations against police officers. The Ombudsman's report shows a significant reduction from one year to the next. Why? Because there has been reform and the Police Service is working well. Safer WA and other initiatives are working and the crime rate is decreasing. If the Labor Party gets back into power, crime will increase again. The Leader of the Opposition is doing what his predecessor - who is sitting in the wings waiting to take over - did; that is, run an administration devoted to stunts and gimmicks aimed at getting cheap media coverage. The Leader of the Opposition could do better, but it is nearly too late for the member to try.
The figures across Australia show that motor vehicle theft in Western Australia has reduced by 8.1 per cent. It leads the nation in the reduction in car theft. The highest victimisation rates are found in South Australia and New South Wales, which have much higher rates per 1 000 population than WA. The claims made by the Leader of the Opposition about the victimisation rate for sexual assault in WA are incorrect; South Australia and Queensland have higher rates. Sexual assault in WA has decreased by 28.5 per cent and the clearance rate is 99.1 per cent. To say that the elderly bear the brunt of crime is untrue. For some time the Leader of the Opposition has been running an ambulance-chasing fear campaign about elderly people. Less than 7 per cent of robbery victims are over 65 and less than 2 per cent of assault victims are over 65. Although that is deplorable, they are not bearing the brunt. If the Opposition gets back into power, this is what we will see. I have held up this graph before. The red line is the 100 per cent or more increase in crime when the Opposition was in power and the blue line represents what has been done during this Government’s term of office. As if that was not bad enough, according to its Audit Office, not only does New South Wales have the most expensive health system in the country, it also has the highest crime rates, the slowest court system and the New South Wales police are ranked below the national average in solving crime. The New South Wales Ombudsman has received an 18 per cent increase in complaints against police officers. In Western Australia there has been a 7 per cent reduction in allegations against police officers. The Ombudsman's report shows a significant reduction from one year to the next. Why? Because there has been reform and the Police Service is working well. Safer WA and other initiatives are working and the crime rate is decreasing. If the Labor Party gets back into power, crime will increase again. The Leader of the Opposition is doing what his predecessor - who is sitting in the wings waiting to take over - did; that is, run an administration devoted to stunts and gimmicks aimed at getting cheap media coverage. The Leader of the Opposition could do better, but it is nearly too late for the member to try.
If the Opposition gets back into power, this is what we will see. I have held up this graph before. The red line is the 100 per cent or more increase in crime when the Opposition was in power and the blue line represents what has been done during this Government’s term of office. As if that was not bad enough, according to its Audit Office, not only does New South Wales have the most expensive health system in the country, it also has the highest crime rates, the slowest court system and the New South Wales police are ranked below the national average in solving crime. The New South Wales Ombudsman has received an 18 per cent increase in complaints against police officers. In Western Australia there has been a 7 per cent reduction in allegations against police officers. The Ombudsman's report shows a significant reduction from one year to the next. Why? Because there has been reform and the Police Service is working well. Safer WA and other initiatives are working and the crime rate is decreasing. If the Labor Party gets back into power, crime will increase again. The Leader of the Opposition is doing what his predecessor - who is sitting in the wings waiting to take over - did; that is, run an administration devoted to stunts and gimmicks aimed at getting cheap media coverage. The Leader of the Opposition could do better, but it is nearly too late for the member to try.
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