An inquiry into regional crime levels has been announced, after the NSW Government backflipped on the hard stance they took against it last year. 

The inquiry into community safety in regional and rural communities was announced yesterday, 21 March 2024 in NSW Parliament during a public interest debate on regional crime.

After the Country Mayors Association instigated calls for the inquiry last year - with strong public support - the government has until now stood against the investigation, labelling it a ‘talkfest’ and an unnecessary step in identifying an already clear problem. 

The change of decision, however, follows a firm campaign from Country Mayors Association, and a letter signed by each member of the Nationals Party calling for an inquiry, which was delivered to the Premier the night before the inquiry was announced. 

Narromine Mayor Craig Davies said the inquiry was becoming inevitable. 

“We’ve always had rural crime, we’ve always had youth crime…(but it’s) how violent the crime has become,” Cr Davies said. 

“We had an 84 year old man who was stabbed five times when he got home to his house in December, that’s unbelievable.”

“The brazen nature of the manner in which these kids are operating tends to highlight the fact that they know they’re not going to get into any trouble.”

Chair of Coonamble’s community action group on crime Dennis Glover said that an inquiry will likely fall short of what needs to be done on the ground. 

“There’s already been inquiries, we know what’s wrong and we know what needs to be done.”

“There are already people and programs in place (to help) but they’re not doing anything because they’re not getting referrals off the court system,” Mr Glover said. 

According to Mr Glover, Coonamble has received significant funding to implement more crime prevention strategies, but the funds went nowhere or have been underutilised. 

Meanwhile, the costs of increasing crime levels are sending his own company out of business, from resources to recover stolen goods, replace damaged property, install higher security, and the price of stolen items.

“We need more security cameras that can get cars going in and out recognising number plates…we’ve got to push to get funding for things like that.”

The newly formed committee for the government inquiry will accept public submissions until 31 May.