Families throughout the community are increasingly concerned by the surge in gangland violence across our city.
When parents can be targeted during school pick-up, when brutal machete attacks occur in our suburbs, and when innocent family members become caught in the crossfire of organised crime disputes, it is clear that something is seriously wrong.
As I said in Parliament recently, these criminal organisations are operating with increasing brazenness. They are showing contempt for the Government, the Police and the rule of law. Despite repeated announcements and new legislation, these gangs do not appear to fear the consequences of their actions.
The Minns Labor Government has failed to curb escalating gangland violence. Communities expect governments to stay one step ahead of organised crime, yet criminal networks continue to adapt their methods, recruit younger offenders and outsource violence to others to distance themselves from the crimes they orchestrate.
The public is entitled to ask a simple question: what is the Government doing to restore control?
The Government points to its recent legislation as evidence that it is taking strong action. However, tough headlines do not automatically translate into tough outcomes.
During debate on the legislation, the Opposition sought to strengthen non-parole periods for serious gangland offences to ensure the worst offenders face meaningful consequences for their actions. The Government voted with the Greens to reject those amendments.
The Opposition has now unveiled a suite of new measures that would combat the rise of gang violence, including:
• New offences of using a violence broker or acting as a violence broker with a maximum penalty of 16 years or 20 years if a child is involved;
• Double the funding to the NSW Crime Commission to allow it to identify more participants in organised crime and confiscate their unexplained wealth;
• Extending unexplained wealth orders so they apply to anyone reasonably suspected of acting as or using a violence broker.
Our families deserve to feel safe in their homes, at their schools and in their local communities. They deserve confidence that governments are doing everything possible to protect them and stay ahead of increasingly sophisticated and ruthless criminal organisations.