Project No. 86

Commenced: 1988
Completed: 1989

The reference arose from the problem of large-scale racist poster and graffiti campaigns inflicted upon public property in metropolitan and some rural areas. Although these activities breached certain provisions of the Police Act 1892 (WA) and the Litter Act 1979 (WA), authorities were often frustrated in their attempts to enforce the applicable laws. This was largely due to the scale of the activity, as well as the fact that most of the inflammatory material was being posted late at night. The issue had received a high degree of publicity and was the subject of intense public debate that evidenced concern about both the social and financial1 costs attaching to this problem.