Organised crime
400. Mrs Magenta Marshall to the Minister for Police:
I refer to the Cook Labor government's commitment to community safety through a strong and well-supported police force. Can the minister inform the house how the government is supporting Western Australian police in targeting organised criminals, and can the minister advise of any recent significant police operations?
Mr Reece Whitby replied:
Thank you, member for Rockingham, for that question. I know the member is a leading advocate for community safety in her community.
I would like to also mention to the house the fact that this is my first opportunity to observe the tragic passing of two police officers in Victoria recently. Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson's funeral service was held just yesterday. I understand that the detective was due to retire this week. Of course, Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart was a young officer with a life and career ahead of him. It is incredibly tragic and points to the involvement of certain people in our community who have access to firearms. It is another reminder of why we need to keep the community safe.
So, member, thank you for your question. In recent months, we have again been reminded about the danger of firearms, especially those used by organised crime individuals, with a handful of isolated incidents targeting local businesses in Western Australia. I can inform the house of a 29-year-old man who allegedly targeted and fired at tobacco stores and a pub in suburban Perth on the weekend of 9 and 10 August. The police investigation continues to build evidence and intelligence. Indeed, if anyone has further information, dash cam footage or CCTV vision of these incidents, they should contact Crime Stoppers. We do know that these incidents are linked to the sale of illicit tobacco. They are straight out of the organised crime playbook that is so dominant on the east coast of Australia. Arson and drive-by shootings are often used by thugs on the other side of the nation to threaten and extort business owners. Although we have not seen anything close to what happens in other states, the Western Australia Police Force has acted quickly and decisively to make an arrest. I would like to commend the Commissioner of Police and his officers for that result. Of course, the man on those charges will be brought before a court for judicial decision.
These acts of violence have no place in our community. WA police are continuing to throw everything at stamping this out. The serious organised crime division executed over 830 search warrants across the state in 2024 and 2025—that is around 16 per week—with a focus on those who are exploiting our community by trafficking tobacco, illicit drugs or any substance for which profit can be made. When criminal networks are identified, our government's anti-bikie laws, the toughest in the country, give our police the power to take their houses, their guns, their illicit tobacco, their drugs and their expensive cars and to shut them down. I know opposition members are not comfortable with us seizing those cars and wrapping them with police colours and demonstrating what we do with those vehicles, but that is what we are doing. These strong laws have led to the displacement of organised criminals. They cannot reside in WA, so they fly-in fly-out. They are FIFO criminals who come here, but when they come here, they are watched very closely by WA police, who are working with their interstate and federal colleagues. We have the most advanced technology resources for our police force here in Western Australia. When people come to this state to do bad things, they are monitored. They are being watched to an order that they are simply not looked at and surveilled in other states. That is because this government has invested millions and millions of dollars in the technology that our police need to fight these criminals.
Our government will continue to support our police officers, member for Rockingham. They are the best in the world, with the best resources possible. We have invested in new vehicles; new police stations, including the new Baldivis station and, Speaker, the new Forrestfield station, which we are very proud of; and upgrades at the academy. We have delivered knife wanding laws and, of course, there is our tough approach to providing a safer community through our new gun laws, which we know the opposition is trying to throw out at every opportunity. We will continue to work there; it is crucial for helping police catch criminals and keep Western Australians safe.
I have a final message for anyone involved in organised crime: police will find you. They will throw you behind bars. You will face the full force of Western Australian law.
The Speaker: The member for Geraldton with the last question.
