Ministerial Statement

Comprehensive Auto-Theft Research System

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Planning and Local Government) (14:02): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: I rise today to inform the house of the achievements of the Comprehensive Auto-theft Research System, a unit that sat within the Justice Policy and Analytics division of the Attorney-General's Department in South Australia. There are few organisations whose sole focus is vehicle theft. CARS filled this gap and ensured South Australia would lead the nation in this important area of reform. Although it has now ceased operations, the CARS evidence-based policies developed over the past 22 years remain relevant and will continue contributing to reduce motor vehicle crime not only in South Australia but across the nation.

CARS began as a South Australian-based project back in 1993 before transforming into a national initiative when contracted by the National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council in 1999. The NMVTRC engaged the SA Attorney-General's Department to build on our state-based capabilities, with the aim of creating a national CARS. Combining efforts of government, relevant industry and community stakeholders, its statistical research services and data analytics have formed the basis of several important theft reduction strategies, including last year's Pop.Lock.Stop community awareness campaign.

Pop.Lock.Stop highlighted the prevalence of motor vehicle theft through at home burglaries, where offenders break in and steal car keys in a form of 'sneak theft'. The simple and direct messaging employed in these campaigns has been an effective means of community education. Approximately 232 million consumers have been exposed to the media coverage relating to the NMVTRC, including the Pop.Lock.Stop campaign.

As I reflect on over 20 years of operation, CARS achievements in combating motor vehicle theft in South Australia have been impressive to say the least. In the 2000-21 financial year, there were 12,306 recorded motor vehicle thefts, compared with just 2,802 in 2020-21. During the same time, nationally we saw a decrease in vehicle thefts, from 145,000 to 47,803. This is a 77 per cent reduction in South Australia and a 66 per cent reduction at a national level.

These results were not achieved overnight, nor by coincidence. Instead, we have seen firsthand the benefits of easily accessible state-of-the-art research and statistical databases originating right here in South Australia. These initiatives have helped to reduce:

the level of ancillary crimes being committed in stolen vehicles;

the financial and emotional burden on victims;

the drain on police resources;

lost productivity resulting from stolen tools and equipment; and

the frequency of road accidents involving stolen vehicles.

The positive social and economic impacts of CARS policies have been well recognised. In 2004, CARS won the Australasian Branch's International Association of Auto Theft Investigators award for Outstanding Contribution to the Reduction/Prevention of Motor Vehicle Theft in Australasia. Then in 2009, CARS was awarded a certificate of merit through the Australian Crime and Violence Prevention Awards, recognising reduction in both vehicular and non-vehicular crimes in Australia.

In 2020, CARS data analytics system grew to holding over 715 million records of motor vehicle data from varying sources. CARS has worked collaboratively with police, law enforcement, crime prevention, transport and insurance agencies, as well as local governments, to create a comprehensive national strategy. Effective information sharing networks between state jurisdictions have led to more meaningful data collection and the production of higher level statistical analysis. Working with our state counterparts has been an important strategy in addressing professional motor vehicle theft through the exchange of police reports, vehicle registration and insurance information on stolen or written-off vehicles. CARS achievements show just how important national cohesion and purposeful information sharing networks are in combating crime.

CARS recent closure is not a reflection on their work or results; in fact, it is quite the opposite. While CARS has contributed to the rapid decline in motor vehicle thefts, emerging threats and challenges have called for a close monitoring of expenditure and sadly CARS closure.

Finally, I wish to acknowledge the service of Mr Paul Thomas, who announced his retirement upon the closure of CARS after 31 years in the Public Service. Paul has been a valued member of the Attorney-General's Department and his contribution to shaping policy at a state and federal level not only through CARS but the broader Public Service must be commended.