Media release – Senator Helen Polley, Senator for Tasmania, 15 December 2021

SERIOUS CRIME CONTINUES TO RISE IN NORTHERN TASMANIA AND LIBERALS WON’T EVEN ADMIT IT

People in northern Tasmania are living through an increase in serious crime and Liberal’s at a state and federal level are not even willing to acknowledge the increase, let alone address it.

2020-2021 Tasmanian Crime Statistics

  • Offences Against the Person rose by 6% to 4,882 in 2020-21.
  • There were 3,155 assaults recorded in 2020-21, compared with 3,116 the previous year, an increase of 39 offences.
  • Females accounted for 54% of Assault victims
  • The number of sexual assaults recorded increased by 100% (226 offences) from 227 in 2019-20 to 453 in 2020-21, with female victims accounting for 83% of the total.

Source: Tasmania Police Crime Statistics

After almost a decade of a federal Liberal Government and 8 years of a state Liberal Government, serious crime in northern Tasmania continues to increase, marked by a further serious shooting yesterday and an increase in assault, especially against women.

Northern Tasmania has the highest numerical incidence of crime and highest victimisation rates for nearly all crime categories.

“The Federal Member for Bass, Bridget Archer has been silent on serious crime in Bass for too long. This is being accompanied by a Minister at the state level and the Premier who is unwilling to release the most up to date crime statistics,” Senator Polley said.

Serious crime state-wide rose by 40 per cent from this time last year in August, and now the government is refusing to release the latest serious crime statistics because they don’t want the public to know how they have deteriorated further. The public is now being kept in the dark with the latest crime statistics 3 months behind schedule.

“I speak to members of my community on a daily basis and they are fearful of continued increases in serious crime. Serious crime in northern Tasmania has been increasing over the last 9 years consistently. Crime data is collected via a live feed on a daily basis and yet the government will not release the last three months of data. What are they hiding?” Senator Polley said.

“In 2021 the entire state has witnessed its largest spike in serious crime on record and we need to know what has happened in September, October and November. What I am calling for today is for the state government to release the latest and most up to date serious crime data because the public has a right to know the full extent of the increase,” Senator Polley said.

The Federal Member for Bass has been all but silent on crime in northern Tasmania.

“The community deserves leadership on this issue. It is now Christmas time and more people will be out and about and active within the community. They deserve to know of any perceived risks due to this increase in serious crime. They also deserve to know what measures the government will be taking. For example, will there be an increased police presence within our community to address the issue?” Senator Polley said.

“At the last election the state Liberal Government committed to a further 50 new police officers. 27 of those were supposed to be dispatched to northern Tasmania. What is the delay? Northern Tasmanians deserve to feel safer in their community and that starts with greater resources on the ground in Bass,” Senator Polley said.