Page 742 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 24 March 1993
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indication that people have considered the householder survey an effective tool for consultation and an effective way of making their views known to government. I think it also indicates that there is support within the community for the Government's continuing community consultation.
This survey canvasses a wide range of issues, as those members who have received it will know. It covers things such as energy and water use, domestic pets, community safety, sport, bus services, health services and so on. The responses that we get to the survey will assist agencies to identify their priorities and, of course, to better target their services and their resources, as well as improve their efficiencies and provide better services to the community. By way of example, Madam Speaker, the responses to the questions on community safety will be a good guide, particularly to the Government and the Australian Federal Police, in looking at an integrated crime prevention strategy. Information on water conservation will assist ACTEW in targeting their marketing and education programs. So, Madam Speaker, I believe that this is a very valuable exercise. It is one which the Government takes very seriously, and I am very pleased indeed with the response so far.
Burglary
MR HUMPHRIES: My question, Madam Speaker, is addressed to the Minister for police, Mr Connolly. The Minister was heard on ABC radio on Monday morning saying, with reference to burglary, "This figure of a 20 per cent increase must be taken in context. It is over a three-year period". I ask the Minister: Has he seen the figures reported in yesterday's Canberra Times on page 2? Will the Minister now concede that, in light of those figures, it is more correct to say that burglary has risen by 24.5 per cent in the last 18 months in the ACT alone?
MR CONNOLLY: Madam Speaker, the Liberal Party keep beating this hollow drum, but of course the sensible heads in the Liberal Party, such as the Leader of the Opposition, said in the debate last year, when these figures were released, that in times of budgetary restraint if you have to make cuts you have to make them across the board, and so we have to live with the police cuts. As the figures that were released in the Canberra Times on Sunday showed, we have had about a 20 per cent increase over three years. That is about 6 per cent a year. That is roughly within the bounds of growth around Australia.
The fact is, Madam Speaker, that housebreaking is an offence that the police cannot solve. Unless you put a police officer outside every house you will not stop housebreaking. Housebreaking, Madam Speaker, is rather like car theft. Car theft is a crime which has consistently increased across Australia in recent years. Last year New South Wales reported for the first time a reduction in car theft - a very good result. On the latest figures that I have received we now have a 12 per cent reduction in car theft in the six-month period June to December 1992 as opposed to the six-month period June to December 1991. Car thefts are decreasing across Australia because we are toughening the target.
Mr Humphries: I am really pleased to hear about car thefts, but I actually asked about burglary. Could I hear about burglary, please?
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