CRIME
GANGS — SOCIAL MEDIA — KIMBERLEY
36. Hon NEIL THOMSON to the minister representing the
Minister for Police:
I refer to the minister's
claim on ABC 720 Mornings on 14 February that they had been pleading
with the Minister for Communications about the use of social media for crime
gangs in the Kimberley.
(1) What date did the minister first
formally write to the Minister for Communications?
(2) Has the
Minister for Police spoken to the federal Minister for Communications pleading
for assistance?
(3) If not, given the urgency, why
not?
(4) At what date
was the minister first advised by senior police officers that there was a problem
with social media and crime in the Kimberley?
Hon
STEPHEN DAWSON replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question. The following information has been provided to me
by the Minister for Police. The minister did not make the statement claimed by
the member.
(1) It was on 4 February 2022.
(2)–(3) The
Minister for Police formally wrote to the commonwealth Minister for
Communications requesting he investigate any legislative authority he might
employee to address the use of social media platforms by criminals.
(4) It was
December 2021.