$2.6m of Livestock Stolen While Stock Theft Report Delayed for 14 Months
It's rural crime week in New South Wales and Robert Borsak revealed that while Police Minister “Lazy Troy” Grant sat on a landmark stock theft report for 14 months, $2.6 million of sheep and cattle were stolen.
Shooters Fishers and Farmers Party MLC Robert Borsak revealed that Nationals Police Minister Troy Grant sat on the Bradshaw Report into rural crime and stock theft for 14 months, while 500 incidents of stock theft occurred to the value of $2.6m.
Revelations from Mr Borsak came in the middle of rural crime week 2017.
“This is another example of ‘lazy Troy’ not doing his job,” Mr Borsak said.
“It’s unconscionable that the Police Minister would sit on a landmark report into stock theft for over a year. It’s dated June 2016 and wasn’t released until August 2017.
“While Mr Grant was working out what to do with the report, 479 incidents of stock theft occurred across New South Wales in the year to March 2017.
“In the months of January to May 2017 alone, 1,717 cattle and 8,095 sheep were reported stolen in New South Wales, according to NSW Police. The market value of those livestock was $1,866,397 and $825,690 respectively.
“$2,692,069 of livestock were stolen while Troy Grant held in his hand a landmark report into how to deal with the problem.
“Where was the Police Minister?
“According to the Bradshaw Report $11 million of sheep and cattle have been stolen in the five years to 2015 – the majority under the watch of this National Party and Liberal Party Government.
“My office was trying to get a copy of former Police Commissioner Stephen Bradshaw’s ‘NSW Stock Theft and Trespass Review’ report since the beginning of 2017, but there was no response.
“The report was only made public after my office made a Government Information (Public Access) [GIPA] request on June 28.
“This is just another example of the National Party ignoring the bush.
“Rural crime is clearly a big issue and it makes no sense as to why such a report would be hidden for 14 months.
“Was the report hidden so it could be used to justify the forced amalgamation of Police Local Area Commands, or was it just incompetence on the Minister’s part?
“Troy Grant has a lot to answer.”
Download Robert Borsak's press release here.
Download the GIPA request from Robert Borsak's office here.
