Crime, drugs and social housing were the first issues raised by an audience member at Wednesday night's candidates forum.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
A Dubbo resident asked the candidates, with the exception of No Land Tax's Ben Shepherd who wasn't in attendance, what they were going to do about the increasing drug use and crime in West Dubbo.
Country Labor candidate Stephen Lawrence said it was an issue he had learnt a lot about since becoming involved with the campaign.
"We have a marginalised underclass in Dubbo who account for much of our disproportionate crime rates and we need social services to help drive it down," he said.
"From what I understand of much of these problems it's visitors, it's people who are not on the lease who are causing these problems so evictions may actually make the situation worse."
Christian Democratic Party candidate Peter Scherer said extra policing at appropriate times was needed.
"I personally feel the penalties and consequences for anti-social behaviour need to be such so they are a real deterrent for people who are committing these sorts of crimes," he said.
Independents Col Hamilton and Rod Pryor agreed more resources were needed for police.
Member for Dubbo Troy Grant said drugs and crime were an issue not only in Dubbo, but right across NSW and Australia.
"West Dubbo hit a crisis point when Australia Post withdrew its services over there, I got it back," he said.
"There is more to do and we acknowledge that."
Greens candidate Matt Parmeter said there was no magic solution to the situation.
