Page 951 - Week 03 - Thursday, 22 March 2018

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understand that on the second occasion police were able to secure the scene of an incident and undertake investigations.

These new powers are making a difference. As I have already said, the government continues to work with ACT Policing to ensure that our police have the necessary tools to deal effectively with serious and organised crime entities and, wherever possible, to confiscate their criminal assets and put offenders before the courts.

MS ORR: Can the minister inform the Assembly about other enforcement actions ACT Policing has taken against criminal gangs?

MR GENTLEMAN: I thank Ms Orr for the question and her interest in keeping our community safe. Earlier I mentioned that yesterday’s raids were just the latest in a number of activities that Task Force Nemesis and ACT Policing have taken to prevent and disrupt criminal gangs. I can advise the Assembly that over the last few years—2014 to 2018—ACT Policing have charged 102 members of criminal gangs and executed more than 88 warrants. ACT Policing are working hard to tackle criminal gangs. They have committed to preventing and deterring these gangs and their activities, and the government will continue working with police and all our agencies to tackle these gangs.

I will keep working with the Chief Police Officer on this issue. Working together, the government and ACT Policing were able to bring to this place a bill that provided the new tools I have already spoken about. As I said, the government works with and listens to all our agencies and we are all committed to tackling dangerous criminal gangs.

Municipal services—signage

MS LE COUTEUR: My question is to the Minister for Transport and City Services, and it relates to the enforcement of the signs code. There are clearly many large and non-conforming real estate signs throughout Canberra. What does the government do to enforce the signs code for real estate signs, business signs and, more broadly, billboards of all descriptions?

MS FITZHARRIS: I thank Ms Le Couteur for the question. Certainly, if they are not displayed according to current regulations, they will be investigated. I am not aware of any specific instances. If they were to be referred to my office, I could ask TCCS to follow up. I will take the remainder of the question on notice.

MS LE COUTEUR: I will refer the people opposite me to your office and ask: when was the last prosecution or confiscation of a sign, because we have all seen large real estate signs?

MS FITZHARRIS: I will take the question as to the last prosecution on notice.

Land—Dickson purchase

MS LEE: My question is to the Minister for Planning and Land Management: in response to the Auditor-General’s report on the Dickson land swap deal you stated


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