MULTICULTURALISM DISCUSSED AT JINDALEE MINISTERIAL FORUM
Published Monday, 13 November, 2006 at 02:41 PM
Minister for Police and Corrective Services
The Honourable Judy Spence
Multiculturalism in education and training were on the agenda when the Ministerial Regional Community Forum for the Greater Brisbane Region met in Jindalee today.
Minister for Police and Corrective Services, Judy Spence and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Environment and Multiculturalism, Mr Michael Choi, attended the Forum and met with community representatives to consider options for enhancing education and training outcomes for young refugees and migrants from African communities.
Ms Spence said the relevant government departments would review the proposal and report back at the next forum to be held in the region.
“I thank the community for their active and constructive engagement in the forum process,” Ms Spence said.
“These forums help government to better understand the needs of regional Queensland and they provide an opportunity for government representatives to update the community on a range of current government activities and the government’s responses to issues raised in previous forums.”
Ms Spence said policing issues were a popular topic at the Forum.
“In the Metro South Police Region, which takes in the Jindalee area, there are 16 police liaison officers who work closely with the region’s culturally diverse community,” Ms Spence said.
“This community features significant populations of Vietnamese, Samoans, Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders.”
Ms Spence said police numbers in the Metro South Region have increased from 725 in 1998 when the Beattie Government came into office, to 1014 police officers this year.
“Police statistics are showing the rates of crime reported in this region have steadily dropped over recent years for offences against property, such as break and enters and vehicle thefts,” Ms Spence said.
“During 2005/06, robbery offences per 100,000 people in the Metro South Region decerased by three percent, while break-in offences dropped by 11 percent.
“The rate of car theft dropped by 16 percent in the area during the past financial year.
“The assault rate remained static, however a 32 percent increase in rape and attempted rape offences reflected a statewide trend during this period.
“While the five year trend rate for assaults and sexual offences shows a continued decline, there has been a spike in these offences during 2005/06 statewide.
“Police statistics reveal that 81 percent of offenders charged with rape, attempted rape and other sexual offences were known to their victim.”
Ms Spence said police are actively working with communities to prevent crime and build safer neighbourhoods.
“In this region the police service has just purchased two properties in Bellbowrie and Jindalee to establish neighbourhood police beats,” Ms Spence said.
“These new police beats will strengthen policing services in the area and help address local issues such as traffic, road safety and general crime prevention.”
Simultaneous forum events were run in ten different regional areas across the state today, with forums also held at:
• Dalby
• Yorkey’s Knob
• Rockhampton
• Springwood
• Moranbah
• Home Hill
• Caboolture
• Hervey Bay
• North Palm Beach
Ms Spence said today’s forums were the final events for the current group of forum members who had served a three-year term.
“I especially want to thank all forum members for the valuable contributions they have made over the past three years, both to the Queensland Government and their local communities,” she said.
“The government is well aware of the time and effort that goes into preparing for these meetings and forum members have done so in a voluntary capacity.
“Forums are a great opportunity for all Queenslanders to get involved in the government decision-making process, therefore, I encourage any locals who may be interested in becoming a regional representative for next year’s forums to contact the local Department of Communities office for details.”
More information about the forum process is available at www.communities.qld.gov.au
Media Contact: Alison Smith 3239 6218 / 0439 673 287
Minister for Police and Corrective Services, Judy Spence and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Environment and Multiculturalism, Mr Michael Choi, attended the Forum and met with community representatives to consider options for enhancing education and training outcomes for young refugees and migrants from African communities.
Ms Spence said the relevant government departments would review the proposal and report back at the next forum to be held in the region.
“I thank the community for their active and constructive engagement in the forum process,” Ms Spence said.
“These forums help government to better understand the needs of regional Queensland and they provide an opportunity for government representatives to update the community on a range of current government activities and the government’s responses to issues raised in previous forums.”
Ms Spence said policing issues were a popular topic at the Forum.
“In the Metro South Police Region, which takes in the Jindalee area, there are 16 police liaison officers who work closely with the region’s culturally diverse community,” Ms Spence said.
“This community features significant populations of Vietnamese, Samoans, Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders.”
Ms Spence said police numbers in the Metro South Region have increased from 725 in 1998 when the Beattie Government came into office, to 1014 police officers this year.
“Police statistics are showing the rates of crime reported in this region have steadily dropped over recent years for offences against property, such as break and enters and vehicle thefts,” Ms Spence said.
“During 2005/06, robbery offences per 100,000 people in the Metro South Region decerased by three percent, while break-in offences dropped by 11 percent.
“The rate of car theft dropped by 16 percent in the area during the past financial year.
“The assault rate remained static, however a 32 percent increase in rape and attempted rape offences reflected a statewide trend during this period.
“While the five year trend rate for assaults and sexual offences shows a continued decline, there has been a spike in these offences during 2005/06 statewide.
“Police statistics reveal that 81 percent of offenders charged with rape, attempted rape and other sexual offences were known to their victim.”
Ms Spence said police are actively working with communities to prevent crime and build safer neighbourhoods.
“In this region the police service has just purchased two properties in Bellbowrie and Jindalee to establish neighbourhood police beats,” Ms Spence said.
“These new police beats will strengthen policing services in the area and help address local issues such as traffic, road safety and general crime prevention.”
Simultaneous forum events were run in ten different regional areas across the state today, with forums also held at:
• Dalby
• Yorkey’s Knob
• Rockhampton
• Springwood
• Moranbah
• Home Hill
• Caboolture
• Hervey Bay
• North Palm Beach
Ms Spence said today’s forums were the final events for the current group of forum members who had served a three-year term.
“I especially want to thank all forum members for the valuable contributions they have made over the past three years, both to the Queensland Government and their local communities,” she said.
“The government is well aware of the time and effort that goes into preparing for these meetings and forum members have done so in a voluntary capacity.
“Forums are a great opportunity for all Queenslanders to get involved in the government decision-making process, therefore, I encourage any locals who may be interested in becoming a regional representative for next year’s forums to contact the local Department of Communities office for details.”
More information about the forum process is available at www.communities.qld.gov.au
Media Contact: Alison Smith 3239 6218 / 0439 673 287