MEMBER for Dubbo and leader of the NSW Nationals, Dugald Saunders, said the stabbing of a 41-year-old man at a park in Dubbo on Tuesday is yet another example of how Labor’s weak bail laws are failing regional communities.
Police have since arrested four youths over the incident – one of them was on bail at the time of the alleged incident.
At about 5pm on Tuesday, emergency services were called to a park on Cobra Street, Dubbo, following reports of a stabbing.
On arrival, officers attached to Orana Mid-Western Police District were told a 41-year-old man had been assaulted and stabbed by a group of youths before they ran from the scene.
He was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being taken to hospital in a stable condition.
Following initial inquires, police arrested a 15-year-old boy nearby before taking him to Dubbo Police Station.
He was later released without charge. Inquiries are ongoing.
On Wednesday, detectives attended a school on Boundary Road, Dubbo, and arrested a 13-year-old boy.
Police also attended a home on Gilbert Street, Dubbo, and arrested three boys – aged 13, 15 and 16.
The four were taken to Dubbo Police Station.
The 16-year-old boy was charged with reckless wounding in company, affray, and breach of bail.
The 15-year-old boy was charged with affray, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm in company of others.
They were both refused bail to appear before a Children’s Court today.
The two 13-year-old boys were dealt with under the Young Offender Act.
“Our police are doing the best they can but are constantly let down by Labor’s revolving door and something needs to immediately change if we are going to stop these serious repeat youth offenders from carrying out crime sprees across our cities and towns,” Mr Saunders said.
“The Premier has been pointing to the latest BOCSAR statistics as if they will bring comfort in the middle of this crisis, but in reality, while there may be some improvement, our residents and families are scared and are still being held to ransom.
“In Parliament last week, Chris Minns and his Government voted against the Opposition’s strong bail reforms that would have made a tangible difference.
“Those changes would have meant bail would be immediately revoked, and not granted again, for any young offender who breached their bail conditions or committed any other offences,” Mr Saunders said.
“But instead of taking a bipartisan approach, Labor showed it would rather play politics with people’s lives than find a sensible way forward.
“No one deserves to be living in a constant state of panic and fear, and we will keep fighting for strong action to make our communities safe again,” he said.
