Opposition Leader Elizabeth Lee has today announced a Canberra Liberals Government will deliver an additional 200 new police officers in the ACT along with a standalone police station in Molonglo as part of a comprehensive community safety package.

As part of the policing and crime prevention policy the Canberra Liberals will also commit:

• $5 million for upgrades to the Woden police station;
• progress options for a new Civic police station; and
• continue to transition the Gungahlin JESC into a standalone police station.

Ms Lee said in addition, the Canberra Liberals will make the following changes to bring the ACT judicial system in line with community expectations:

• amend bail laws to protect frontline workers and combat recidivist offending by removing presumption of bail for offenders who assault frontline workers
• establish a standalone offence for breach of bail
• introduce electronic monitoring of serious offenders on bail
• crack down on dangerous driving and introduce tougher penalties for the offences of culpable driving
• introduce tougher penalties for ‘coward punch’ attacks by introducing a standalone criminal offence; and
• introduce ‘Jack’s law’ to equip our police with the support to reduce serious knife crimes.

“Every Canberran deserves to feel safe whether they are out in the community or in their own home,” Ms Lee said.

“A Canberra Liberals Government will re-prioritise community safety through boosting our police force, building a stronger justice system, and bringing our laws back into line with community expectation.

“Labor and the Greens have seriously eroded public confidence in our justice system. A Canberra Liberals Government will deliver a comprehensive suite of initiatives that will restore confidence and trust in our justice system,” Ms Lee concluded.

Shadow Minister for Police James Milligan said the ACT has the lowest number of police per capita in the country and an extra 200 police officers will bring the ACT in line with NSW.

“Whilst the Labor-Greens government continues to neglect our frontline police officers, the Canberra Liberals understand the basic needs for the safety of our community and have long fought for more police officers in the ACT along with providing the resources they need,” Mr Milligan said.

“This announcement is about not only supporting our police officers but ensuring the safety of all Canberrans,” Mr Milligan concluded.

Shadow Attorney-General Peter Cain said only the Canberra Liberals can restore community trust and confidence in the ACT justice system following numerous failures by the Labor-Greens government.

“This package re-aligns our justice system with community expectations by cracking down on dangerous driving, introducing tougher sentencing measures and strengthening bail laws to protect frontline workers and help prevent repeat crime,” Mr Cain said.

“The Canberra Liberals are sending a clear message: we will build a stronger justice system to make our city safer for all,” Mr Cain concluded.