WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch says safety the main concern at Broome bush doofs

WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch has said safety should be the priority at Broome “bush doofs” while reiterating that police don’t want to stop people “having fun”.

“There is local council probably sitting ahead of us, but as police, we should always look at public safety and we want the right governance around. We want kids to have fun,” he said speaking to ABC Radio on August 20.

“We want kids to go to music festivals. We want kids to enjoy their lives. I think we all experience that.

“So I think it’s about having more security, having clear boundaries, a bit like we do for Leavers.”

It comes after a group of Broome backpackers started a petition on change.org earlier this month after they claim the shire of Broome and WA Police had been working in tandem to close bush doofs held out of town.

As of August 20, the petition had garnered 232 signatures.

Speaking to the Broome Advertiser earlier this month, organiser of the petition Quentin Cole said the parties were a major drawcard for backpackers to the tourist town which relies on transient seasonal workers in the dry season.

“Before, everyone who talked about Broome talked about the parties. That’s why a lot of backpackers come here. If they shut the doofs, fewer people will come,” he said.

“We work 40 to 50 hours a week in town. We just want to breathe at the end of the week and party together.”

But the Commissioner said two serious sexual assault cases linked to the “bush doofs” meant police had to take safety at the parties seriously.

“We’ve seen two serious sex assaults up there during these events. So I think it’s about having more security, having clear boundaries, a bit like we do for leavers,” Commissioner Blanch said.

“Make sure they’re safe, and don’t make it out in the middle of nowhere where anything could happen to anyone.

“There are predators in our community. Thankfully, not many, but we want to keep our kids safe.

“I think all parents want to keep their kids safe, and I think the kids want to be safe, so let’s just put the right boundaries around it so we can have it safe for our kids.

“We’ve had two victims of sexual violence come into police and say, this has happened to me at these Bush stuff. So how about we just put some security arrangements around it and look after our young people.”

In response to questions from the Broome Advertiser, WA Police last week said “several incidents involving vulnerable women” had occurred at “bush doofs” in and around Broome this year alone.

In April this year, a 15-year-old girl was allegedly sexually assaulted at one of the “bush doofs” on Cable Beach with a 19-year-old man charged with the alleged assault.

That came after the vicious sexual assault of a 31-year-old woman at another Cable Beach “bush doof” in 2022 — a case that remains unsolved and currently has a $250,000 reward open for information.

Earlier this month, the Shire of Broome said that while rangers observe and report the location of “bush doofs” to police they are not involved in shutting the parties down, adding that the shire “does not support or facilitate” the events.

Leavers WA, which was created to reduce harm and crime associated with schoolies events in WA is run by police “in partnership with key stakeholders” including the Department of Health and the local authorities in the South West where many of the organised activities take place.

If you or someone you know needs help, contact 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732), or Sexual Assault Counselling Australia on 1800 211 028, the WA Sexual Assault Resource Centre on 6458 1828 or 1800 199 888 or Lifeline on 13 11 14.