Forster-Tuncurry Policing

Mr JOHN TURNER (Myall Lakes) [5.54 p.m.]: Tonight I again refer to police numbers and to the lack of a 24-hour police station in the Forster-Tuncurry area. I have spoken about this issue on a number of occasions, asked a number of questions and done a number of things, but all to no avail. Since the Minister's recent visit to the Forster-Tuncurry area a number of incidents have occurred. I thank the Minister for taking the time to visit the area but, unfortunately, nothing has occurred as a result of his visit. I refer to an article in the Great Lakes Advocate of 3 September 2007 headed "Party over: woman attacked." A woman had the temerity to ask some people to turn down the radio and she was attacked. A couple of days ago I received a letter from a committee in the Anglican Church in Forster-Tuncurry that states:

As you may be aware, two elderly female parishioners were attacked in St Albans church porch after choir practice and had their bags stolen by two male offenders. This occurred on 15th August. One lady fell during the struggle and had to have stitches in her hand. We understand that there have been several similar incidents of bag snatching in Forster/Tuncurry recently.

I would describe the incidents in that area as more than several. Because of these incidents Forster Bowling Club employs its own security guards to escort female clientele to their cars. After the Minister visited the area I wrote to him to confirm that I wanted him to take the matter further with the Commissioner of Police and employ extra police officers to man the station. He wrote back to me and said, among other things, that he would do that, but he has not honoured his undertaking. The Minister also said in the letter that there was a perception of crime in the area. I inform him that there is no perception of crime; crimes are being committed in the area.

About three or four days after the Minister visited the area three elderly ladies in the Tuncurry area, which is close to my electorate office, were terrified when they awoke in the early hours of the morning and found male intruders in their houses. I do not have time to refer to all the incidents that have occurred but I assure the Minister that there is no perception of crime in that area; crimes are being committed. Forster-Tuncurry police station is not manned 24-hours a day because there are not enough police. The Minister, who will not stand up to the Commissioner of Police, says that it is up to the commissioner to provide more police.

The Minister informed low-lifes and criminals in my area that they can terrorise people between 4.00 a.m. and 8.00 a.m. every day as the police station is not open during that period. The Minister said, "There is no problem in this area; there is only the perception of crime. Feel free to go out between the hours of 4.00 a.m. and 8.00 a.m. and rob people because there are no police." The police in Taree are not able to handle any incidents that occur in Forster-Tuncurry as the Taree police station is located 37 kilometres away and only two police officers are on duty. Police officers at Taree could be 60 kilometres north or south of Taree police station attending to other matters, so there is no way that they can attend to any incidents that occur in Forster-Tuncurry.

The Minister is aiding and abetting criminals in my community by informing them that the best time to commit crime is between 4.00 a.m. and 8.00 a.m. Most of the criminal acts tend to occur between 4.00 a.m. and 6.00 a.m. and there have been many terrifying incidents in the area. Not so long ago a lady who was going to work was confronted by a mob of Aboriginal youths on the street, terrorised and badly injured. Thankfully the police van was being returned to the police station, and officers intervened and prevented the incident from becoming a lot worse. The Minister must honour his undertaking, see the Commissioner of Police and, if necessary, instruct him to provide more police in the area.

The Minister must inform the commissioner that there is a problem in this area. I repeat: There is not a perception of crime in the area; crimes are being committed. Ladies are being terrorised in their homes and it is not safe for them to walk on the streets. The Minister must ensure that additional police are employed and that they are on duty in Forster-Tuncurry 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Minister is saying to low-lifes and criminals, "You have free range in Forster-Tuncurry." Residents in the area have had enough. These criminals must be stopped. I refer to articles in other newspapers headed, "Two bags snatched", "Last ditch effort", "Lock it up or lose it", and "Thieves target Palms". This is simply not good enough for the people of Forster-Tuncurry and it is simply not good enough for me. If the Minister does not do something about this issue he will encounter real problems. The police have indicated that they will take industrial action and the people of Forster-Tuncurry have had enough.