There’s no doubting that Launceston is a spirited and beautiful city. It’s inhabited by people of effort, enterprise, enthusiasm, creativity, sport, community and culture. Just taking a stroll around some central city blocks with eyes lifted up above the awnings tell us our stories in stone: the growth and development of a modern regional city in response to a growing and developing community.
Having grown up here, there are certain qualities that I love about Launceston most:
- its spirit of enterprise – working to create (and often fighting to retain) services and facilities to improve our quality of life through our own efforts, without always waiting for Government to help;
- its self-awareness as the provincial capital of Northern Tasmania arising from our city as being traditionally the commercial and productive centre of the entire state; and,
- its lifestyle – I often say that “our city is big enough, and small enough” to make it the best city in Australia, offering the best opportunity for a good life.
The reason I am standing for public office again comes entirely for my vision is to see Tasmanians become the happiest people, enjoying the best quality of life in Australia. After all, every decision a politician can make will influence the quality of life of affected people.
So this is the reason that the time has come to speak out and acknowledge that we do, in fact, have a problem. And we must deal with this problem with strong action. In the past when I’ve highlighted unsavoury problems in our social life, there have been other leaders who took the easy road to criticism of me, saying “stop talking down the city, it’s a great city”. My response then was to agree it’s a great city; however not everyone is able to enjoy it because of the actions of a small minority.
I have chosen to highlight the problem of antisocial behaviour. We as a society can no longer afford to just ignore the problem of antisocial behaviour or tolerate senseless acts of disruption, foul language and petty crime. This is activity which, examined on a case-by-case basis may not even be illegal or a serious crime. However taken as a group, those people engaging in antisocial behaviour are small in number but are having a disastrous effect on the quality of life of a very large number of Launcestonians and visitors to our region.
My interest in this difficult issue was heightened recently during a routine day of doorknocking in the CBD. My intention was to gauge the businesses conditions in the city, and discover any concerns or needs of business owners and workers.
In the very first shop I was told their over-riding concern was anti-social behaviour.
It was a worry I kept hearing. A couple of female shop assistants told me about a recent spate of violence at the St John Street bus zone. They told me that they witnessed a fight outside the shop and called police. But before police arrived the fight moved into their shop. It caused distress and fear to workers and customers who were forced to retreat to the rear of premises. When police did arrive the wrong person was arrested, although this was eventually rectified after viewing CCTV tape.
And so it went on. A story of harrassment, foul language, fights, and a general feeling of helplessness, that there was no one prepared to step forward to deal with the issue.
As someone who wants to represent and fight for the best interests of the people of Bass, it’s clearly my duty to deal with this issue.
So I resolved to properly measure the views and experiences of those people working at the frontline of retail in Launceston City by interviewing and surveying them.
What I found out was startling.
Please take a look for yourself at the survey results, and leave your comment at the end. My question is: how do you feel about my ideas for a stronger police presence in The Mall and for giving police additional powers to move-on people who engage in anti-social behaviour and groupings?
Launceston CBD Anti-Social Behaviour survey + results
1. Do you feel that the level of ASB in the CBD is worse than 12 months ago?
About the same 33%
Yes, it’s worse 45%
Yes, it’s much worse 15%
Not answered 6%
2. Where is the worst behaviour evident?
The Mall 74%
The Quadrant Mall 26%
St John St Bus Zone 21%
Other places mentioned:
Charles Street: 2
Coffee Republic: 6
Outside welfare venues: 2
Prince’s Square: 2
Across city generally 1
Birchalls Car Park 1
Taxi ranks 1
Specific times mentioned:
Outside nightclubs at night / evenings: 2
After school: 5
Afternoons: 2
Peak hour: 1
All day: 1
Lunch time: 1
3. Is the behaviour related to:
Harassment 48%
Horse Play 39%
Littering 59%
Bullying 48%
Shouting 84%
Foul language 98%
Fighting 53%
Alcohol/drug abuse 47%
Stealing 34%
Menacing 41%
Skateboards 52%
Truants 22%
Other ASB reported:
Damage to property: 8
Spitting/urinating/vomiting: 4
Underage smoking and/or smoking in non-smoke areas: 5
4. Are you concerned that this ASB could influence shopper visitation to the CBD and / or your business?
Yes 71%
Maybe 21%
No 9%
5. Would you support the idea of a modest police presence such as a police information booth in the Brisbane St Mall?
Yes, definitely 95%
No, it would look bad 0%
No 0%
Other 5% (including “not sure”)
6. Are you satisfied with the coverage and use of CCTV?
Yes
No, why:
Results non-conclusive as the vast majority of respondents were unaware of the presence, location or reference value of this system. However many stated they were dissatisfied with the system as it is not being monitored.
7. Do you support police powers (in circumstances of potential public order breakdown and with the oversight of a police sergeant or higher) that would allow an officer to issue a 24 hour move-on order to a person?
Yes 82%
No 9%
Not answered 9%
My question is: how do you feel about my ideas for a stronger police presence in The Mall and for giving police additional powers to move-on people who engage in anti-social behaviour and groupings?
For some reason young people just don’t seem to respect the police anymore. In my day I’d be quaking if a copper pulled me up. Now its all smart lip. So will more police do any good if the courts just take pity on the scumbags and forget about the people who have been harassed ?
The courts also seem very reluctant to actually punish anyone anymore. Its always second chances, third chances, fourth chances, suspended sentences, eventually a fine, and finally entry into some “program” or other.
So what happens if someone does get banned for 24 hours ? And then comes back straight away ? What options do magistrates have ? Ban them for a month ?
I don’t have the answers but I applaud you for telling things as they area. This does need to be seriously tackled. Hopefully the council will also get onboard instead of just ignoring the big issue and forever talking about smoking.
hi michael, i livei n ravvo nd ws dispinted that u called me n me mates bogans in the examminar today.
i did sum invstigation n disgoved what the term bogan meens.
The term bogan is usually self-deprecating, for a person who is, or is supposed to be, of a lower-class background and whose characteristics exemplify, often crudely, this background. The speech and mannerisms of a bogan, according to the stereotype, are such as to indicate poor education, a preference for cheap clothing, and uncultured upbringing. ‘Bogans’ tend to reside in poor suburbs or rural areas.
i woold like to know why u used this term?
In relation to Kenneth’s comment I do agree that sadly many people have little respect for the police.
I have even seen though adults who are otherwise very law abiding, call cops (that’s as harsh as I get) a range of names. Sadly it’s a case of monkey see, monkey do and kids grow up with an even stronger disrespect than that of the original name calling. Parents don’t realise that by showing a little disrespect by a simple name call, that kids perpetuate it and it will get worse each generation.
The Police force need to work out how to gain respect. Kids should respect them anyway, but police can’t just take it for granted that they have the respect just by wearing the uniform. The other issue is that so many parents believe their kids could never do any wrong, so if the police were to do anything about it, their parents would take the side of the child and therefore confirm their child’s disrespect.
It’s a complicated issue, but it has to start with the parents AND the city providing a more enjoyable place for youth to socialise.
I applaud Cityprom for taking some measures on this – but again it’s a community issue, not one that can be solved by one single organisation.
Good luck Michael – I love this city too!
Michael, See if you can go back a month or two and read the large centre page article in the Examiner by the reporter that accompanied the Launceston Police P.O.R.T. team around the city for a week-end. What a warm and fuzzy event that was. It was more like a description of a ride-along with a social welfare team than with a special squad formed for the purpose of maintaining public order. Wonderful descriptions of people urinitating, vomiting, using abusive language and generally behaving in an anti social manner. All of them dealt with by a laugh and a joke and a pat on the back and a send you merriley on your way without a care in the world attitude. No wonder these kids don’t respect the police. They have it all over the coppers and they know it. The police no longer command their respect because they don’t demand it. You will not modify the bahaviour of these young people while they have no fear of any consequences of their actions. The police have statistics to say they are doing a wonderful job and anti social behaviour is down, (people know they are wasting their time reporting it) so they are not interested in this story or getting out their and having a wider police presence on our streets. Good luck with getting a greater presence in the mall, I’ll bet you now a thunderclap to a gooses fart that it won’t happen.
HI,I had a terrible experience recently,not in town but driving,i was driving to pick up my son from Mcdonals in invermay,coming from Newnham on the highway doing 100km in left hand lane,hot day so had window down,car was beside me,passinger had his window down and yelled something at me,i glanced at him and he was pointing a gun at me,i swerved the car,hit the gravel and nearly lost control,after getting back on road i chased them and got reg number and went to the police station,they said they would contact me,but never did and my calls to them were useless,don’t think they cared much ,i have never been so scared,regards,karen
Steve i have to be optimistic about this we HAVE to do better for all of our quality of life. thanks all for your comments…. keep them coming. Michael.
Antisocial yobs are a problem in almost every regional town in Australia. Can ours really be cleaned up ? Lonnie alone can’t change the legal system, and its the legal system which gives them a tiny tap and sends them out again. How can you tackle the problem when everyone knows their is no punishment?
People don;t call the police because the police aren’t interested. The police aren’t interested because the courts aren’t interested. The courts aren’t intersted because society has decided that criminals shouldn’t be punished anymore.
There needs to be new legislation so that crimes againt people are treated more seriously than fraud and theft. For example people who defraud Centrelink (first offenders) have to pay the money back AND also usually get a gaol sentence. People (first offenders) who seriously hurt someone else will often get a suspended sentence. There is not even a compulsory rehabilitation program for them. Because of this these bullies gain power over victims who are often afraid to give evidence because these people and their “mates” threaten revenge if they do and there does not seem to be any way they can keep safe short of moving to another area.
It must be bad for tourism to find out that Launceston can be a more dangerous place to wander round at night than Melbourne or Sydney.
The launceston mall is full of antisocial behaviour. Everything from foul language to broad daylight bashings. Maybe if police were able to issue fines for such offences and make some money of these bogan mall terrorists something will happen. They are too worried about the bottom line so give them some insentives to get these trouble making loosers out of the mall.
Im sick of it and if the cops dont do something about it and word gets out that Launceston is a violent intollerant place less uni students will be willing to come and study and spend their money in launceston.
The problems in the CBD have become increasingly evident.The foul language,intimidating behaviour,lack of respect for others make one think twice about shopping in the CBD.As for having a greater police presence it is obviously needed,but i feel sorry for police trying to have some positive effect when the judicial system is far too leanient on affenders. I feel society has gone down a path & set a precedent with no return.
What we see in the CBD is just
the tip of the iceberg.
While I agree that a stronger police presence is needed for me having been in school communities and now trying to assist youth into work I feel that people need to be held accountable we have now taught more than one generation of youth that they do not have to be accountable through political correctness and things such as a teacher not being able to put a cross on a childs work, or learning to spell by having a few guesses(look say cover write check)When you go into a trade are you aloud to guess. I see this translate at the employment end when an apprentice will walk off the job cause the boss says something like you have just cost me money. They have not lost the job but they have been groomed to not understand consequence and accountability. They don’t understand understand communication as they live in a world where text has replaced talking face to face and the ability to guage feelings and what is appropriate at the time. In my time you did things at school that helped you learn about these things I find myself teaching the youth of today how to introduce themselves and promote what they can do. What a diservice we have done to our youth by not recognising what basic things are so important. This is why I feel the Teach Australia program is excellent it is encouraging people with life experience who are natural educators to be in our schools who can share what lifes ups & downs are really about, they have not gone from college to uni and straight into a classroom. I have worked with youth for over 30 years and in a variety of contexts and I see it as a privilige to influence someones life. Yes have more police and yes give them more power but give the noble art of educating the respect it deseves. Make it harder to become one so that those that go into it as a degree because they did not get the marks they wanted for something else are eliminated. We put our lives in the hands of Dr’s and they earn the rite to become one we put the lives of our children in the hands of teachers yet we don’t make that system as accountable. You learn respect from accountability and with accountability and integrity respect is earned.