Mum switching loyalty as crime has family on edge
VIGILANCE is a constant part of mum Nicole Stone’s life in the Bonney suburb of Labrador as the crime rate escalates.
“We see a lot of it and there is a lot of drugs everywhere,” the mother of two said.
Ms Stone said her family and neighbours had seen
plenty of burns-outs, breakins and increased drug use, even from youth in the area.
“We would just like to see a more visible police presence.”
Ms Stone said recently police knocked on their door 12 hours after they had been called for an incident nearby.
“They just did not have time to get to it until then.”
The crime rate means Ms Stone, a paralegal in the development sector, is not comfortable leaving her twin 10year-olds riding their bikes without close supervision.
“We feel safe in our area but we just know we need to be vigilant,” she said.
It is not just the pressure of a crime rate pressing down on
the Stone family. The rising cost of living is also having a profound effect – especially the rising cost of electricity.
“It just keeps going up and up,” Ms Stone said.
Two years ago, she said the family of four were spending about $450 a quarter. Today, it has ballooned to about $650 every three months.
“How much more can you turn off?” she said.
Ms Stone said she and her family were rarely home during the day and had removed a refrigerator in that time, yet the bill had still risen.
“The electricity providers need competition,” she said.
“They keep talking about how it is going to drop but I don’t see it,” she said.
She said in one aspect the family did feel lucky and that was traffic.
“We are fortunate to live close to work so we don’t tend to get caught,” she said.
However, picking up the twins from Guardian Angels Primary in Ashmore was a “nightmare”.
Usually a Labor voter, Ms Stone said after meeting LNP Candidate Sam O’Connor she was impressed and hoped to have a young candidate in the seat.