Australia 2009 Crime and Safety Report

[tabatha]

This is to counteract the out-of-context reports of gun violence in Australia.

4 Aug 2009
Country Council Meeting Minutes: Melbourne, Australia (July 15)

Overall Crime and Safety Situation
The current crime conditions in Australia vary from low threat in rural and smaller communities to more serious and somewhat dangerous threat in major metropolitan areas. Australia's urban crime rate is on a par with most large cities in the U.S. Residential burglaries are common throughout Australia and are among the most likely crimes encountered by Australians and foreign residents alike. Some burglars can, at times, be confrontational if they enter an occupied residence. Armed robberies have been reported in the Canberra area as well as throughout Australia. In these cases, the weapon of choice is usually a knife. Although firearms are sometimes used, they are the exception rather than the rule. Australia has extremely restrictive firearms legislation and the purchase, licensing and storage of a firearm is very difficult when compared to U.S. standards. Local police have attributed a majority of these burglaries and robberies to the growing problem with heroin and methamphetamine (ICE) addiction.

Vehicle theft is fairly low throughout the country. However, evidence suggests that vehicle theft in the capital Canberra has risen 20 percent over the last 12 to 24 months. Police attribute this rise to numerous high-cost vehicles driven by well-off Canberra residents.

Violent crime in Australia is low, with under 100 reported cases of armed robbery, homicide or sexual assault per 100,000 persons nationally. Basic assault statistics are higher, with approximately 700 cases per 100,000 persons. Most of these are attributed to fighting and alcohol related incidents. Travelers should exercise the same level of caution and security awareness as they would in any major city in the U.S.

Basic safety on Australian roads is considered to be excellent. Road conditions are first rate in the major cities and speeding laws are enforced via an elaborate system of cameras. Holiday weekends typically see a rise in roadside fatalities as most Australians drive long distances to popular beach destinations. Public transportation is generally very safe and is the preferred choice of residents in Sydney and Melbourne. Taxis are safe but occasionally difficult to find. They operate on a reservation basis and will not ordinarily respond to impromptu calls or waves/signals.

https://www.osac.gov/Reports/report.cfm?contentID=101186