❓ Mr. Katsambanis questions the Minister for Police about potential cuts to police services to fund body cameras, alleging a failure to secure funding. The Minister refutes this, stating the police budget has increased and no cuts are needed.
AnsweredQoN 528Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
POLICE —
OPERATIONAL SAVINGS — BODY CAMERAS
528. Mr P.A. KATSAMBANIS to the Minister for Police:
Given that the Commissioner of
Police has been forced to find operational savings to fund body cameras because
of the Minister for Police's failure to secure funding over the past
two budgets, will the minister outline to the Western Australian community what
police services will be cut to fund these new body cameras?
OPERATIONAL SAVINGS — BODY CAMERAS
528. Mr P.A. KATSAMBANIS to the Minister for Police:
Given that the Commissioner of
Police has been forced to find operational savings to fund body cameras because
of the Minister for Police's failure to secure funding over the past
two budgets, will the minister outline to the Western Australian community what
police services will be cut to fund these new body cameras?
AnswerView source ↗
Of course, the premise of the member
for Hillary's question is actually incorrect. The government has
applied no force on the WA Police Force. I might note that any cuts to the
police budget were put in place by the former government. Look to your own
forward estimates.
Mr P.A. Katsambanis interjected.
The SPEAKER : Listen.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : In the
midyear review that the former government put in place in 2016–17, the
budget for WA Police Force was $1.3855 million. In the 2018–19 budget,
we have increased that to $1.4746 million.
Mr P.A. Katsambanis : Less
than inflation.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : This is
where they got their maths wrong! Nearly $90 million was added to the police
budget in this financial year by the McGowan government. That is because we are
funding things like the meth task force—100 extra officers there and a further
25 officers in the regional enforcement unit. A further 13 officers were added
so we could have 24-hour police stations in outer metropolitan major population
areas. We have added to the police budget. Any cuts that were referred to are
the cuts that the former government put in place. Not only did it blow the
budget considerably and leave the state with $40 billion worth of debt, but it
also left nearly every portfolio with huge cuts in the out years and huge debt.
Our Treasurer has done an amazing job in getting our state back on track
financially so that we do not continue to burden future generations.
The new Commissioner of Police has
been working very efficiently. He has not apprised me of any need to make any
cuts to any WA police programs. We are not talking about major expenditure
here. At this point, there has been no request for additional money. I suppose
it is testament to the budget that our government gave the Western Australia
Police Force. With the budget that he has been given, the Commissioner of
Police is able to progress a program ahead of the next budget round. That is
surely good news for everyone.
for Hillary's question is actually incorrect. The government has
applied no force on the WA Police Force. I might note that any cuts to the
police budget were put in place by the former government. Look to your own
forward estimates.
Mr P.A. Katsambanis interjected.
The SPEAKER : Listen.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : In the
midyear review that the former government put in place in 2016–17, the
budget for WA Police Force was $1.3855 million. In the 2018–19 budget,
we have increased that to $1.4746 million.
Mr P.A. Katsambanis : Less
than inflation.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : This is
where they got their maths wrong! Nearly $90 million was added to the police
budget in this financial year by the McGowan government. That is because we are
funding things like the meth task force—100 extra officers there and a further
25 officers in the regional enforcement unit. A further 13 officers were added
so we could have 24-hour police stations in outer metropolitan major population
areas. We have added to the police budget. Any cuts that were referred to are
the cuts that the former government put in place. Not only did it blow the
budget considerably and leave the state with $40 billion worth of debt, but it
also left nearly every portfolio with huge cuts in the out years and huge debt.
Our Treasurer has done an amazing job in getting our state back on track
financially so that we do not continue to burden future generations.
The new Commissioner of Police has
been working very efficiently. He has not apprised me of any need to make any
cuts to any WA police programs. We are not talking about major expenditure
here. At this point, there has been no request for additional money. I suppose
it is testament to the budget that our government gave the Western Australia
Police Force. With the budget that he has been given, the Commissioner of
Police is able to progress a program ahead of the next budget round. That is
surely good news for everyone.
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