❓ The Minister for Police reports on the use and impact of the out-of-control gatherings legislation, highlighting its success in empowering police to manage disruptive events and restore public order, while refuting prior criticisms.
AnsweredQoN 325Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
POLICE — OUT-OF-CONTROL GATHERINGS
325. Mr C.D. HATTON to the Minister for Police:
Can the minister advise the house of the extent of the use by
WA Police of the out-of-control gatherings legislation and its impact on the
Western Australian community?
325. Mr C.D. HATTON to the Minister for Police:
Can the minister advise the house of the extent of the use by
WA Police of the out-of-control gatherings legislation and its impact on the
Western Australian community?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for his question and for his interest in
law and order issues, particularly the progress of our out-of-control party
legislation. As members will be aware, late last year the Liberal–National
government introduced legislation into this place to create the offence of
hosting an out-of-control gathering, whereby the hosts of nuisance parties
would be held accountable for not taking reasonable steps to prevent a party
from becoming out of control. We gave the police new powers to enter premises
and shut down out-of-control parties and we also gave the police new powers to
help them disperse people from out-of-control gatherings. At the time, police
reported to me that they were attending three to four out-of-control gatherings
a week. Indeed, between March and August last year there were 25 high-profile
out-of-control gatherings with up to 300 people in attendance, and some with
more than that number. These incidents always required the use of police dogs,
the helicopter, multiple police officers and mounted police to try to manage
the crowds and bring order back to those communities. Since the introduction of
the legislation on 15 December 2012, 16 gatherings in Western Australia have
been deemed by the police to be out-of-control gatherings. At those gatherings,
five people have been charged with failing to comply with an order in relation
to an out-of-control gathering in circumstances of aggravation, and 12 people
have been charged with disorderly conduct. There has been one assault
occasioning bodily harm, one assault of a public officer —
The SPEAKER :
Sorry, minister, just hold it a moment, please. Member for West Swan and member
for Willagee!
Mrs L.M. HARVEY :
Two people have also been charged with organising a gathering that has become
out of control. WA Police has also advised that 52 juveniles have been gathered
up by the party buses, which are specially fitted prison transport vehicles
that have been modified for purpose to round up people at these out-of-control
gatherings and remove them from the site. Fifty-two juveniles have been rounded
up this way and, under section 41 of the Children and Community Services Act
2004, have been brought into custody for their own protection.
It is important that we note at this
time that when this legislation was debated in this place, there was an
incredible level of scaremongering from those opposite in respect of what might
happen and the sort of people who might be captured by out-of-control parties
legislation. In fact, one member asserted that a car parked illegally and
obstructing traffic by someone attending a sedate backyard barbecue could
result in the organisers of the barbecue being held responsible for an
out-of-control gathering for the purposes of this legislation. I am very, very
pleased to announce to the house that the police have used this legislation
exactly as we intended it to be used: they have used it sparingly; and they
have used it appropriately to disperse out-of-control gatherings. Funding of
$1.2 million is being used to double the number of general-purpose dogs
available to police, so it has been put to good use.
In summary, the people of Western Australia can be assured
that we have resourced our police force appropriately to deal with the issue of
out-of-control gatherings. We have given them the appropriate legislative
resource tools they need to ensure that they can restore public order to our
streets. The out-of-control gatherings legislation has been a tremendous
success for this Liberal–National government.
law and order issues, particularly the progress of our out-of-control party
legislation. As members will be aware, late last year the Liberal–National
government introduced legislation into this place to create the offence of
hosting an out-of-control gathering, whereby the hosts of nuisance parties
would be held accountable for not taking reasonable steps to prevent a party
from becoming out of control. We gave the police new powers to enter premises
and shut down out-of-control parties and we also gave the police new powers to
help them disperse people from out-of-control gatherings. At the time, police
reported to me that they were attending three to four out-of-control gatherings
a week. Indeed, between March and August last year there were 25 high-profile
out-of-control gatherings with up to 300 people in attendance, and some with
more than that number. These incidents always required the use of police dogs,
the helicopter, multiple police officers and mounted police to try to manage
the crowds and bring order back to those communities. Since the introduction of
the legislation on 15 December 2012, 16 gatherings in Western Australia have
been deemed by the police to be out-of-control gatherings. At those gatherings,
five people have been charged with failing to comply with an order in relation
to an out-of-control gathering in circumstances of aggravation, and 12 people
have been charged with disorderly conduct. There has been one assault
occasioning bodily harm, one assault of a public officer —
The SPEAKER :
Sorry, minister, just hold it a moment, please. Member for West Swan and member
for Willagee!
Mrs L.M. HARVEY :
Two people have also been charged with organising a gathering that has become
out of control. WA Police has also advised that 52 juveniles have been gathered
up by the party buses, which are specially fitted prison transport vehicles
that have been modified for purpose to round up people at these out-of-control
gatherings and remove them from the site. Fifty-two juveniles have been rounded
up this way and, under section 41 of the Children and Community Services Act
2004, have been brought into custody for their own protection.
It is important that we note at this
time that when this legislation was debated in this place, there was an
incredible level of scaremongering from those opposite in respect of what might
happen and the sort of people who might be captured by out-of-control parties
legislation. In fact, one member asserted that a car parked illegally and
obstructing traffic by someone attending a sedate backyard barbecue could
result in the organisers of the barbecue being held responsible for an
out-of-control gathering for the purposes of this legislation. I am very, very
pleased to announce to the house that the police have used this legislation
exactly as we intended it to be used: they have used it sparingly; and they
have used it appropriately to disperse out-of-control gatherings. Funding of
$1.2 million is being used to double the number of general-purpose dogs
available to police, so it has been put to good use.
In summary, the people of Western Australia can be assured
that we have resourced our police force appropriately to deal with the issue of
out-of-control gatherings. We have given them the appropriate legislative
resource tools they need to ensure that they can restore public order to our
streets. The out-of-control gatherings legislation has been a tremendous
success for this Liberal–National government.
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