Page 1439 - Week 05 - Tuesday, 6 May 2008
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MR SPEAKER: A supplementary question from Mr Gentleman.
MR GENTLEMAN: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Minister, what measures are being implemented by the government to tackle burglary related and car theft offences?
MR CORBELL: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Again, I thank Mr Gentleman for his question. There are a range of strategies that have been put in place to achieve this tremendous outcome. And it is a tremendous outcome! Any reduction in the level of crime in our community should be welcomed. It should be especially welcomed by those opposite. If they were to put aside their petty partisan political aims, they would say openly and honestly that 800 fewer homes being burgled and 400 fewer motor vehicles being stolen is a good thing for our community. They should say so, Mr Speaker.
The types of strategies that have been put in place include programs and policies that target high-risk young people and recidivist—both adult and minor—property offenders. The strategy focuses on concentrating police, correction and early intervention resources to target and/or supervise these high-risk chronic offenders. Other strategies that we have put in place have included things such as our engine immobiliser strategy, and members would be aware that in October last year I announced a massive expansion of that program. We now provide over 5,000 engine immobilisers to Canberrans. Those will be provided over the next two years.
This is designed to prevent opportunistic car theft. We know, for example, that those vehicles without an engine immobiliser are much, much more likely to be stolen through opportunistic car theft than those with an immobiliser. So phase 1 of this scheme has already commenced. It commenced earlier this ear. It concentrates on reducing car theft amongst the most vulnerable people in the ACT. We provide the full cost of the purchase and installation of an immobiliser through a voucher scheme which is targeted to holders of health care cards, and this includes most persons receiving a pension of some sort.
Starting from July this year, we will introduce a $100 rebate, which is designed to make available to all ACT citizens, regardless of their income, a 50 per cent subsidy to have an immobiliser fitted to their motor vehicle. Vehicles manufactured in the 1980s have a theft risk five times that of a vehicle manufactured since the year 2000. The primary reason for this, of course, is the lack of a vehicle immobiliser.
Some other very important initiatives the government has put in place—I am sure that Mr Gentleman will be interested in them—relate to the provision of secure parking facilities for motorcycle riders here in the ACT. The government has provided funding to establish secure motorcycle parking in the Woden Town Centre and in Civic. I was very pleased to join with Mr Gentleman earlier this year to open the first of these new facilities—facilities which have been widely welcomed by the motorcycling community.
It being 3.00 pm, questions were interrupted pursuant to the order of the Assembly.
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