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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 7 Hansard (29 June) . . Page.. 2346 ..

MR STEFANIAK (continuing):

penalties to people who deserve them. You have made bail easier for criminals. This government has done a considerable amount in five years in redressing things like that. You got rid of the move-on powers. Mr Osborne had to bring them back. In power, you cut the police budget. This government, in this budget, has created 90 new police to combat crime and the ability to have teams operate, as we saw them do successfully recently, against burglary and car theft.

Mr Stanhope: You are double counting.

MR STEFANIAK: I am not, Mr Stanhope. The Attorney has indicated that there will be some 50 extra police, plus, as a result of something I think even Mr Hargreaves acknowledged, some 40 police who will be available to go from other duties and to more productive duties combating crime. That is as a result of enterprise bargaining arrangements. That is very significant in a reasonably small territory and a reasonably small police force. We are up to about 700 or so now in the police force. The fact that you can have 90 extra police on the beat combating crime is hugely significant.

If you have any regard for law and order and the protection of citizens, you should be congratulating the government on the initiatives that have been taken in this budget. For you guys to say you are going to vote against it, I find amazing, if you are serious about combating crime. By all means, criticise this government for things you think it should have done, but acknowledge the good points. We have money for extra police.

Mr Stanhope: Tell me about the burglary rate.

MR SPEAKER: Order! Mr Stanhope, you have made your statement as to whether the government, the police, the community or the courts are soft on crime. You have made your point. Now please allow Mr Stefaniak to make his point.

Mr Moore: Mr Speaker, I take a point of order. Earlier today you indicated to Mr Stanhope that you would warn him. He has been getting away with a lot. I would suggest you boot him out, Mr Speaker.

MR SPEAKER: I have not yet warned Mr Stanhope, though I warned Mr Berry earlier.

MR STEFANIAK: I think those additional police are a great initiative, as is the return of the beat police and the extra $500,000 or so for community policing. We saw how successful community policing was, prior to it being stopped some years ago. The fact that it is being reintroduced is also an excellent initiative.

The opposition, if they are fair dinkum, should be congratulating the government of what this budget is doing to combat crime in our community. There are very significant issues in this budget which are worthy of praise, not denigration, from the ALP. The ALP is being incredibly hypocritical on this.

MR SPEAKER: Before Ms Tucker begins her contribution, may I congratulate her. Since 1998 Ms Tucker has been a temporary deputy speaker of this Assembly, and tonight was the first time she has taken the chair.

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