ANDERSON TAKES HISTORIC PETITION TO PARLIAMENT

Thursday, 16 February 2012 08:58

Media Releases - Kevin Anderson Media Release

13 February 2012

ANDERSON TAKES HISTORIC PETITION TO PARLIAMENT

 Law and Order in Tamworth is set to be debated on the floor of State Parliament following an historic number of signatures requesting action on a number of issues including anti social behaviour and alcohol related crime.

 Member for Tamworth Kevin Anderson today received a petition containing 18,679 signatures calling for immediate action on a number of issues.

 "This is a very serious issue and it shows how concerned the community is about law and order. They have a right to feel safe and secure and to have this many signatures tells me that the community want action and they want it now. It also tells me that they care about our community.

 "I would like to congratulate Tamworth Regional Council, in particular Mayor Col Murray and every member of the community that organised and signed the Law and Order petition, following a meeting that saw 1000 people gather in the Tamworth town hall.

 "The issues that will be taken to the Parliament include, increasing the number of police, protecting home owners in their right to defend against an invasion, immediately releasing the Parsons Report into Police resources, and requiring Magistrates to be held accountable for sentences which do not reflect the severity of the offence.

 "I look forward to the raising these important issues and carrying the collective voice of our community to the NSW Parliament.

 "The process is, I will table the petition tomorrow being the first sitting day of the Parliament for 2012 and it will then be scheduled for debate in chamber by the relevant Ministers at a date to be determined. I will be pushing for this to be sooner rather than later.

 "We need to get on top of the problems we are facing and I will be asking the State Parliament for support and action." Mr Anderson concluded.

 ENDS