11/11/2009

Premier fails to answer Tweed crime question

NSW Labor Premier Nathan Rees on Tuesday failed to answer a question from Tweed Nationals MP Geoff Provest about rising Tweed crime.

Mr Provest asked Mr Rees during question time if he would “admit that his Government's failure to support the Coalition's efforts to strengthen the Young Offenders Act has left people in the Tweed vulnerable and scared, with one resident saying today they are fearful for their lives due to an explosion in Tweed crime?”

The Tweed MP said he was disappointed the Premier didn’t even mention the Tweed in a very partisan answer.

“We have got some serious law and order problems in the Tweed which need Mr Rees’s attention,” Mr Provest said.

“We have far fewer offices per head of population than Sydney, as well as unique challenges such as our proximity to the Queensland border, and this is causing major problems, particularly in relation to young offenders.”

“We have the worst drink driving record in New South Wales and one of the biggest drug problems, yet Labor won’t even give our local area command a drug squad.”

“This is unfair both on local residents and our hard working Tweed police officers,” Mr Provest concluded.

The transcript of the question and answer can be found at http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/Prod/parlment/hansart.nsf/V3Key/LA20091110025