Labor’s Crime and Justice Taskforce is a crucial step forward in developing policy responses to local crime and justice issues.

As Chair of this taskforce, and along with the Shadow Minister for Justice, Clare O’Neil MP, I have been visiting communities across Australia to discuss a wide range of crime and justice issues and identify possible policy responses.

The taskforce is in a consultation period and will produce a report with its findings feeding into the development of Labor’s Crime and Justice Strategy ahead of the next federal election.

We are looking for approaches to prevent crime and keep communities safe and it is important to look at local issues and local solutions to do this.

At the Brand Crime and Justice Roundtable on Wednesday, we will be meeting with community leaders and local law enforcement officers to discuss the particular challenges they are facing in the local community, including drug-related crime and youth crime.