Ms CHERIE BURTON: I direct my question to the Minister for Police. Can the Minister update the House on the Government's plans to continue to crack down on car hoons?

Mr DAVID CAMPBELL: During the time that we have been members of this House the member for Kogarah and I have had many discussions about the problem of car hoons and street racing. I have also discussed the issue many times with my colleague the member for Wollongong because similar offences occur in her electorate. The community clearly understands this problem. That is why the Iemma Government is committed to providing our hardworking police officers with the powers and resources they need to keep our roads safe for all motorists. Today the Government has announced a package of tough new anti-hoon measures. These changes include increased fines and imprisonment for up to nine months for repeat street racing and aggravated burnout offenders, making parents and other car owners whose vehicles are used for street racing and burnouts responsible for the actions of drivers when those vehicles are used in repeat offences, ensuring courts do not return confiscated vehicles to offenders unless there is a case of extreme hardship, and a new wheel-clamping program that will mean hoons will have their cars immobilised and face the shame of having them dumped in their yard at home.

I hear members of The Nationals making snide asides and comments, mumbling under their breath. Yet again they are demonstrating that they talk the talk but do not have the courage to walk the walk. The community has told the Government loudly and clearly that it is sick of the dangerous and stupid behaviour of car hoons on our roads. The Government has heard that message and is acting.

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Lane Cove will cease interjecting.

Mr DAVID CAMPBELL: Those involved in street racing or burnouts are putting their own lives and those of others at grave risk. Often these people place more value on their motor vehicles than they do on their own lives or, indeed, the lives of others. Car hoons should be on notice that police officers are out in record numbers and offenders will be caught. In addition, they will now face harsher penalties when they are caught.

The SPEAKER: Order! I call the member for Murray-Darling to order for the second time. There is far too much audible conversation in the Chamber. The member for Cessnock will come to order.

Mr DAVID CAMPBELL: These changes follow the creation of Task Force Taipan, which is cracking down on car hoons and other dangerous drivers. The task force will be deployed over the summer months.

The SPEAKER: Order! I call the member for Terrigal to order.

Mr DAVID CAMPBELL: The task force will target a number of hotspots throughout New South Wales, particularly in the Sydney metropolitan area and—for the benefit of the member for Terrigal—the Central Coast. I know that the Central Coast members for The Entrance, Gosford, Wyong and Swansea will welcome that focus, even if the member for Terrigal does not. The task force will also focus on Wollongong and Newcastle. Task Force Taipan builds on the impressive results of Operation Taipan. I am advised that at the end of November, Operation Taipan had made 228 arrests and laid 262 charges, issued 1,797 traffic infringement notices, including 736 for speeding, and helped to take a number of dangerous vehicles off the streets by issuing more than 250 vehicle defect notices. I know the issuing of those defect notices is something the member for Kogarah is interested in because of discussions we have had. She knows those modified vehicles are dangerous and can cause grief.

The task force has a dedicated team of 36 police to build on these results. A range of other police resources support the task force, including highway patrol, Polair, the public order and riot squad and of course general duties police officers. The task force will involve proactive, high-visibility policing to stop illegal street racing, burnouts and reckless driving. On top of this, so far this year police have confiscated 358 cars that have been involved in this stupid behaviour. Police have often told me that in targeting car hoons, it not only keeps motorists safe, it also impacts upon other forms of antisocial behaviour. This supports a key focus of the New South Wales State Plan to foster respect and responsibility within our community. The Iemma Government is backing the New South Wales Police Force with the resources it needs to crack down on car hoons.

The SPEAKER: Order! I call the member for Terrigal to order for the second time.

Mr DAVID CAMPBELL: At the last election, the Government committed to increasing the authorised strength of the highway patrol by an additional 150 positions. That builds on the already record numbers of police in New South Wales—an authorised strength of 15,206 police officers, all trained and all authorised with the responsibility to enforce the road laws. They are all working actively in policing, particularly in policing our road rules. We have also provided highway patrol with 50 extra highway patrol vehicles. These hi-tech vehicles are specially fitted with the latest police equipment, including roof-mounted warning lights with digital message board; radar speed detectors; in-car video systems; mobile data terminals with laptop, cabin-mounted screen and keyboard, and calibrated digital speedometers. We have provided all modern technology to back the police in their task of cracking down on illegal activities on our roads.

Technology such as this allows us to deploy highway patrol officers strategically across the State, focusing on accident and speeding black spots. The Iemma Government can assure the community that we will continue to build upon measures that will help the police keep hardworking families across New South Wales safe on our roads and protected from antisocial behaviour. The Parliament will debate this package in the future, and it will have broad support in our community because the impacts of burnouts, aggravated burnouts, car hoon behaviour, modified cars and street racing impact on residents, other road users and on families. As I said, the Government has heard loud and clear from the community and we have responded. The challenge will be for those opposite to support this legislation and this package of proposals to back the police as they go about making sure our streets are safe.