Chris Hayes (Fowler, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Again, my question is to the Minister for Justice. I know the minister is very familiar with my electorate, having himself grown up there. In fact, his mother and father are still constituents of mine; hopefully happy constituents. Apart from being the most multicultural electorate in the whole country, one of the things that really distinguishes my electorate is the number of families. The minister will no doubt recall some 12 years ago areas at the centre of my electorate, particularly around Cabramatta, were very much the destination or the distribution points for drugs and illegal firearms. As a matter of fact, the communities were terrorised in those days by organised crime gangs as they ran these illegal operations around the streets of south-west Sydney.

It is very concerning that of the 24 shootings that have occurred this year, the vast majority of those have occurred in Western Sydney—a number of them in my electorate and, indeed, in the minister's electorate. I know that this is putting extraordinary pressure on local families. Many think there has got to be a greater police presence. Our police are doing a wonderful job on the streets of south-west Sydney. I personally stay in regular contact with the commanders of the Green Valley police, Cabramatta police, Fairfield police and the Liverpool police. I have a fair understanding about what our police are doing out there. I am wondering whether the minister could outline to the House how these weapons are coming onto our streets? The fact is that there have been 24 shootings and it is having such an effect on local families, who want to bring up their children in safety. Having these headlines appear out there is something which is certainly deleterious for the whole community. Minister, if you would outline to the House your view about where these weapons are coming from?

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