❓ Question regarding a media event at Pinjar rifle range involving a .50 calibre rifle, focusing on safety concerns, communication between the minister's office and police, and the qualifications of the person firing the weapon. The answer provided deflects by stating safety measures were in place.
AnsweredQoN 241Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
POLICE — FIREARM OWNERSHIP
241. Hon JAMES HAYWARD to the minister representing the
Minister for Police:
I refer to the media conference held
at the Pinjar rifle range on 22 March 2022.
(1) Can the minister confirm the decision to proceed
with the media event at the Pinjar rifle range, despite safety concerns raised by some experts, was taken by the
then Commissioner of Police, who is now the Governor?
(2) Will the
minister table all communications between the minister's office and the
Western Australia Police Force that relate to the minister attending the media
event in question; and, if not, why not?
(3) Was the
person who fired the shots, which were recorded by the media, a member of the
tactical response group as per the assumption made in the risk assessment
prepared by WA police?
(4) If no to (3),
why was a TRG member not selected to fire the .50 calibre rifle at the media
event?
The PRESIDENT : Before I give
the minister the call, there are two aspects to that question that are of
concern. One is that it seeks an opinion. The other is that it brings into
debate the role of the Governor. Having noted those concerns, I will ask the
minister whether he is able to answer that question and, hopefully, avoid both
those standing orders.
241. Hon JAMES HAYWARD to the minister representing the
Minister for Police:
I refer to the media conference held
at the Pinjar rifle range on 22 March 2022.
(1) Can the minister confirm the decision to proceed
with the media event at the Pinjar rifle range, despite safety concerns raised by some experts, was taken by the
then Commissioner of Police, who is now the Governor?
(2) Will the
minister table all communications between the minister's office and the
Western Australia Police Force that relate to the minister attending the media
event in question; and, if not, why not?
(3) Was the
person who fired the shots, which were recorded by the media, a member of the
tactical response group as per the assumption made in the risk assessment
prepared by WA police?
(4) If no to (3),
why was a TRG member not selected to fire the .50 calibre rifle at the media
event?
The PRESIDENT : Before I give
the minister the call, there are two aspects to that question that are of
concern. One is that it seeks an opinion. The other is that it brings into
debate the role of the Governor. Having noted those concerns, I will ask the
minister whether he is able to answer that question and, hopefully, avoid both
those standing orders.
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice
of the question. The following answer has been provided to me by the Minister
for Police.
(1)–(4) The
honourable member has been informed on multiple occasions that the
demonstration was approved by the Western Australia Police Force with a strategy
used in combination with other mitigating safety measures recommended by a highly trained and qualified military and
civilian firearms instructor and range safety officer with extensive
experience in the use of .50 calibre firearms.
of the question. The following answer has been provided to me by the Minister
for Police.
(1)–(4) The
honourable member has been informed on multiple occasions that the
demonstration was approved by the Western Australia Police Force with a strategy
used in combination with other mitigating safety measures recommended by a highly trained and qualified military and
civilian firearms instructor and range safety officer with extensive
experience in the use of .50 calibre firearms.
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