New Liberal Government Police Minister Jacquie Petrusma has attempted to keep new crime statistics under wraps by cherry picking from today's Report on Government Services release by the Productivity Commission.
Acting Labor Leader Anita Dow said rather than applying spin to the new figures released today, Mrs Petrusma should be telling Tasmanians what resources she intends to provide police to help reduce crime rates.
"Mrs Petrusma has attempted to release only good news while hoping nobody would notice the bad news," Ms Dow said.
"The fact is the Liberals went to the last election promising fewer new police officers than Tasmania Police requires and along with Peter Gutwein, she clearly has no plan to help police reduce crimes such as assaults and break-ins and theft throughout the state.
"Our police officers do an amazing job fighting crime and trying to reduce crime rates in our community but they cannot meet reduction targets if they are not given adequate support by government.
"Mrs Petrusma is not off to a good start in trying to tell Tasmanians everything is fine when they know there is still more to be done.
"The government needs to give the police the resources they need and ensure that Tasmanian communities remain safe."
Today's RoGS shows:
- Physical assaults remain five per cent above the national average, with one in 40 Tasmanians being physically assaulted each year
- Threatened assaults remain 34 per cent above the national average
- Attempted break-ins are three per cent above national average
- Malicious property damage is seven per cent above the national average
- Motor vehicle thefts are six per cent above the national average and
- Theft offences are 38 per cent above the national average
Anita Dow MP
Acting Labor Leader
