Backpacker - great post.
Remember that politicians like to be seen to be doing things that make them look good in the eyes of the electorate. Is there just a chance that this issue was given lots of spin by the Government to make it look like they are competent in what is a key area for the electorate, law and order?
Personally I'm far to cynical to imagine that this is anything but a cover-up story to get us off issues like the economy, fuel prices, the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan etc., all of which are seen by much of the public as areas of government failure.