NSW to hold inquiry into rural and regional community safety after spate of crime
The NSW government has agreed to hold a parliamentary inquiry into “safety in rural and regional communities” after saying it would not hold a regional crime inquiry.
The premier, Chris Minns, told the Guardian in December that he was reluctant to meet the demands of the Country Mayors Association, police union and some National party MPs to hold an inquiry into regional crime.
The police minister, Yasmin Catley, this evening announced Labor’s inquiry, which she said would be different.
Catley said:
We’ve said all along we would not support the National party’s politicised inquiry that sought to blame police for deeply entrenched social problems that lead to crime in regional communities.
This inquiry will help get to the bottom of these complex problems and seek solutions that the government can implement to tackle the root causes and drivers of this offending.
Labor MP Edmond Atalla will chair the inquiry.
He said:
As well as looking at the root causes of youth crime, the inquiry will also examine the wraparound and diversionary services available for youth and families in the regions and rural areas.
We will consider how the NSW government can better match services to individuals and how these services can be measured, improved and coordinated to divert youth from crime.
The announcement of the inquiry comes after NSW parliament passed the Minns government’s controversial laws to make it harder for teen offenders to get bail.
The government last week announced a $26.2 million package to tackle youth crime in the bush, with a focus on the town of Moree.
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