Page 3363 - Week 09 - Thursday, 22 August 2019
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expected to commence towards the end of 2019 and construction is anticipated to begin in early 2020.
Gungahlin—policing resources
MR MILLIGAN: My question is to the Minister for Police and Emergency Services. I refer to a number of recent incidences of crime in my electorate of Yerrabi and in particular the incident of a woman wielding a knife and going around properties in Moncrieff yesterday. Minister, what additional resources do the police in Gungahlin need in order to reduce the rate of crime in the area?
MR GENTLEMAN: I thank Mr Milligan for his question. It is an important question as we see our city grow. This government is investing most readily in our police resources right across the ACT. This will also assist, of course, in Gungahlin.
In regard to crime trends, I am pleased to announce that the number of offences reported over the past number of years has been decreasing. We have seen offences from 1 July 2018 to 30 June 2019 decrease by 5.9 per cent when compared to the previous financial year. Offences that relate to theft are down 12.5 per cent and motor vehicle theft is down 18.5 per cent. Offences against the person, which is what Mr Milligan goes to, have seen a slight increase and we have seen decreases in alcohol related offences by 9.4 per cent.
The crime trends are trending down and that is because of the extra resources that we are providing for ACT police. I am incredibly proud of the excellent work they do across the territory, whether it is in Gungahlin or other parts of the territory, working with our ACT community.
MR MILLIGAN: Minister, should residents of Moncrieff feel safe given the current level of police resources in the Gungahlin region?
MR GENTLEMAN: Canberra is a safe city. We have seen that in survey results both locally and nationally. We know that people in Canberra feel safe. I would say that the extra investment that we are putting into ACT policing—more than $30 million—will ensure safety for Canberra residents into the future. The opportunity that we are now presenting to allow ACT Policing to upgrade their police service model will mean better interaction between frontline police officers and the community.
MR COE: Minister, what specific measures are you putting in place to tackle crime in Moncrieff and Taylor in particular?
MR GENTLEMAN: As I said we are investing strongly in ACT Policing right across the territory. That includes the suburbs that Mr Coe has just mentioned. It allows police now to free up resources as they go forward with this extra resource, to ensure the safety of all Canberrans.
Mr Coe: A point of order.
MADAM SPEAKER: A point of order?
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