The Country Mayors Association (CMA) of NSW has welcomed the NSW Premier’s announcement that the NSW Government will implement new initiatives to start to address regional youth crime.

However, the CMA want the state government to look beyond the town of Moree – where the premier Chris Minns announced a $13.4m package for the northwest town of Moree, enhancing youth and Aboriginal services aimed at crime prevention earlier this month.

CMA Chair Mayor Jamie Chaffey said the announcement, a timely intervention by the Premier following his recent visit to Moree, was recognition of the CMA’s call for change to address the inequity regional communities face.

“It’s obvious the Premier’s visit to Moree has shone a spotlight on the urgent need for action in regional New South Wales to address our crime issues,” Mayor Chaffey said.

“We are supportive of the legislative reforms focused on youth crime and hopeful it will bring about meaningful change. We urge the Government to implement these reforms as soon as possible. Regional New South Wales cannot afford to wait".

Narromine Police Station. Image: Narromine News.

The CMA recently held their General Meeting in the Theatrette in NSW Parliament House on Friday, 22 March 2024. The theme for the meeting was ‘Regional Crime’.

"This was timely following the NSW Government’s announcement of a Parliamentary Inquiry into Community Safety in Regional and Rural Communities, and the meeting delivered a wealth of relevant speakers for members. The CMA has been advocating for a parliamentary inquiry into regional crime for close to a year" the CMA said.

The Yasmin Catley MP, Minister for Police and Counter Terrorism spoke at the meeting. Minister Catley said the government wanted focus on the "entrenched, complex drivers behind crime", adding that the $26.2m regional crime package that includes Moree may be expanded in six months.

Yasmin Catley. Image: Supplied.

Minister Catley said that Regional Operation Mongoose had been getting real results, and YAMS and safe transport of youth at night programs will be expanded. As leaders in their communities, Minister Catley said Local Government could help in the planning of crime prevention activities.

She acknowledged the varying capacities of councils. Surveillance (CCTV) and youth events could help. ‘We can’t arrest our way out of the current situation’ she concluded.