❓ Ms. Mettam questions the Minister for Police about police resignations and a broken promise. The Minister defends the government's record on police numbers and criticizes the opposition's negative portrayal of the police force.
AnsweredQoN 136Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
POLICE — RESIGNATIONS
136. Ms L. METTAM to the Minister for Police:
I have a supplementary question. How
much worse does this issue have to become before the minister pulls his head
out of the sand and addresses the exodus of police and his broken promise?
Point of Order
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : A preamble
and other attacks on the personality of a member should not be part of a supplementary
question or any question.
The
SPEAKER : I uphold what you have
said there, Leader of the House; you are correct. I will not ask the member to repeat the supplementary question. I will assume that the minister has just
the gist of it and he can respond.
Questions without Notice
Resumed
136. Ms L. METTAM to the Minister for Police:
I have a supplementary question. How
much worse does this issue have to become before the minister pulls his head
out of the sand and addresses the exodus of police and his broken promise?
Point of Order
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : A preamble
and other attacks on the personality of a member should not be part of a supplementary
question or any question.
The
SPEAKER : I uphold what you have
said there, Leader of the House; you are correct. I will not ask the member to repeat the supplementary question. I will assume that the minister has just
the gist of it and he can respond.
Questions without Notice
Resumed
AnswerView source ↗
Thanks,
Speaker. I am not that sensitive; I am okay to answer the question. The simple
answer is that there are 508 more officers now than when the Liberal
Party was in office. Considering that there are only around 7 000 members of
the police force, that is a significant increase. We are committed to growing
it by 950 members above attrition. It might take longer than we had hoped
because of the circumstances, but it is happening. We are committed to it and
the police know we have their back. But I have to say that anyone who has been
watching Parliament in the last couple of days must be asking what the members
of the Western Australian Liberal and National Parties think about our police
force and why they do not like it. It is undeniable that all they talk about is
some strange claim of bad culture inside what I think is the best police force
in the country.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
Just pausing for a moment. Member for Bassendean.
Speaker. I am not that sensitive; I am okay to answer the question. The simple
answer is that there are 508 more officers now than when the Liberal
Party was in office. Considering that there are only around 7 000 members of
the police force, that is a significant increase. We are committed to growing
it by 950 members above attrition. It might take longer than we had hoped
because of the circumstances, but it is happening. We are committed to it and
the police know we have their back. But I have to say that anyone who has been
watching Parliament in the last couple of days must be asking what the members
of the Western Australian Liberal and National Parties think about our police
force and why they do not like it. It is undeniable that all they talk about is
some strange claim of bad culture inside what I think is the best police force
in the country.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
Just pausing for a moment. Member for Bassendean.
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