❓ Mr. Katsambanis questions the Premier about addressing regional violence given perceived police officer shortages. The Premier responds by citing increased police numbers since 2017 and highlighting government initiatives to combat crime's multifaceted nature.
AnsweredQoN 1019Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
POLICE — ADDITIONAL OFFICERS —
REGIONAL WESTERN AUSTRALIA
1019. Mr P.A. KATSAMBANIS to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question. Given the Premier's
refusal to provide additional police officers, does his government intend to
address out-of-control violence —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr P.A. KATSAMBANIS : I will
start again, Mr Speaker.
The SPEAKER : Yes, but make
sure it goes to the previous —
Mrs M.H. Roberts : Why don't
you compare it to two or three years ago?
The SPEAKER : Minister for
Police, I call you to order for the first time. I want to hear this. Anyone
else want to get called?
Mr P.A. KATSAMBANIS : Given
the Premier's refusal to provide additional police officers, is his
government intending to address out-of-control violence in our regions by
taking desperately needed police officers away from Perth, or will it simply be
a do-nothing approach leaving Western Australians to fend for themselves?
REGIONAL WESTERN AUSTRALIA
1019. Mr P.A. KATSAMBANIS to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question. Given the Premier's
refusal to provide additional police officers, does his government intend to
address out-of-control violence —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr P.A. KATSAMBANIS : I will
start again, Mr Speaker.
The SPEAKER : Yes, but make
sure it goes to the previous —
Mrs M.H. Roberts : Why don't
you compare it to two or three years ago?
The SPEAKER : Minister for
Police, I call you to order for the first time. I want to hear this. Anyone
else want to get called?
Mr P.A. KATSAMBANIS : Given
the Premier's refusal to provide additional police officers, is his
government intending to address out-of-control violence in our regions by
taking desperately needed police officers away from Perth, or will it simply be
a do-nothing approach leaving Western Australians to fend for themselves?
AnswerView source ↗
I have just been given advice on police
numbers. During the last days of the last police minister, the figures on 28 February
2017 show there were 6 732 police officers in Western Australia. On 7 November
2019, there were 6 885, so 153 additional officers over that period. They are
the latest police officer figures in Western Australia. Obviously, as the
police commissioner has said, crime is multi-facetted. Police officers are
important and we want to provide them with appropriate support and appropriate
laws to assist them to deal with crime.
Crime is multifaceted. That is why
we have our meth action plan, why we have our meth rehabilitation prison for
women and will shortly introduce one for men. That is why we have our job
strategies. That is why we have halved the price of 34 TAFE courses to get more
students into TAFE. We have all sorts of community engagement programs all over
Western Australia to get people involved and active in our community. It is
wrong to think that crime is only one aspect. I support the police commissioner
when he says that we have to do a range of things and that is exactly what this
government is doing rather than bleating about and running down individual
communities, as do the fairly low-brow member for Hillarys and the
irresponsible member for Dawesville.
numbers. During the last days of the last police minister, the figures on 28 February
2017 show there were 6 732 police officers in Western Australia. On 7 November
2019, there were 6 885, so 153 additional officers over that period. They are
the latest police officer figures in Western Australia. Obviously, as the
police commissioner has said, crime is multi-facetted. Police officers are
important and we want to provide them with appropriate support and appropriate
laws to assist them to deal with crime.
Crime is multifaceted. That is why
we have our meth action plan, why we have our meth rehabilitation prison for
women and will shortly introduce one for men. That is why we have our job
strategies. That is why we have halved the price of 34 TAFE courses to get more
students into TAFE. We have all sorts of community engagement programs all over
Western Australia to get people involved and active in our community. It is
wrong to think that crime is only one aspect. I support the police commissioner
when he says that we have to do a range of things and that is exactly what this
government is doing rather than bleating about and running down individual
communities, as do the fairly low-brow member for Hillarys and the
irresponsible member for Dawesville.
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