❓ A parliamentary question regarding the WA government's planning to protect frontline police officers from coronavirus, and the Premier's response outlining measures taken, including PPE procurement and workforce management.
AnsweredQoN 116Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CORONAVIRUS —
FRONTLINE POLICE
116. Mr P.A. KATSAMBANIS to the Premier:
Given
the major frontline role that police officers have in protecting our community
in times of crisis, what essential planning has the Premier's
government undertaken to ensure that our frontline police officers are
protected as much as possible from the impact of coronavirus whilst they are
out there protecting the community?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Member, start again. This is a very serious issue, members. I will not have any
interjecting.
Mr P.A. KATSAMBANIS : I will
start again. Given the major frontline role that police officers have in
protecting our community, especially in times of crisis, what essential
planning has the Premier's government undertaken to ensure that our
frontline police officers are protected as much as possible from the impact of
coronavirus whilst they are out there protecting the rest of the community?
FRONTLINE POLICE
116. Mr P.A. KATSAMBANIS to the Premier:
Given
the major frontline role that police officers have in protecting our community
in times of crisis, what essential planning has the Premier's
government undertaken to ensure that our frontline police officers are
protected as much as possible from the impact of coronavirus whilst they are
out there protecting the community?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Member, start again. This is a very serious issue, members. I will not have any
interjecting.
Mr P.A. KATSAMBANIS : I will
start again. Given the major frontline role that police officers have in
protecting our community, especially in times of crisis, what essential
planning has the Premier's government undertaken to ensure that our
frontline police officers are protected as much as possible from the impact of
coronavirus whilst they are out there protecting the rest of the community?
AnswerView source ↗
Obviously, Western Australian
police will have an important role over coming months in dealing with the
situation we confront. On Wednesday last
week, I chaired the meeting of the security and emergency coordination
committee of cabinet with the Commissioner of Police. I have had a range
of discussions with the police commissioner, the Minister for Police and Deputy
Commissioner Col Blanch in relation to these matters. Under the emergency
arrangements, the Commissioner of Police is the State Emergency Coordinator.
The Commissioner of Police is providing the
Department of Health, as the hazard management agency, with assistance in
establishing the emergency management structure and coordinating public
messaging. Responsibility for coordinating the Western Australia Police Force pandemic response has been assigned
to Deputy Commissioner Colin Blanch and responsibility for the pandemic business community has been assigned to
Deputy Commissioner Gary Dreibergs. The Western Australia Police Force
pandemic plans are being reviewed and updated. The command and coordination
structure for management of the Western Australia
Police Force response is being established as a priority, including the
allocation of a liaison officer for the hazard management agency's
incident support group. The police commissioner is continuing to hold meetings
of State Emergency Coordination Group members.
Personal protective equipment for
frontline personnel provides an ongoing challenge for the Western Australia Police Force, as it does for the wider community.
The following measures have been taken to mitigate the challenge . The
police force has requested additional PPE from its preferred supplier, which,
upon receipt, will provide sufficient PPE for a period of six months. The Western
Australia Police Force has engaged with the Department of Health in respect to its own stockpile of PPE and the national
stockpile should additional PPE be required. A national law enforcement joint submission will be prepared for
consideration of PPE requirements from the national stockpile. I had a long conversation with Deputy
Commissioner Colin Blanch on, I think, Sunday about these matters . He is
obviously very aware of the needs of the police officers involved. If police
officers need to self-isolate, as do other members of the community, the police
will ensure that officers are taken from non-frontline roles to fill those
frontline positions so that the community is kept as safe as possible. Deputy
Commissioner Blanch is very confident that the community will be protected.
police will have an important role over coming months in dealing with the
situation we confront. On Wednesday last
week, I chaired the meeting of the security and emergency coordination
committee of cabinet with the Commissioner of Police. I have had a range
of discussions with the police commissioner, the Minister for Police and Deputy
Commissioner Col Blanch in relation to these matters. Under the emergency
arrangements, the Commissioner of Police is the State Emergency Coordinator.
The Commissioner of Police is providing the
Department of Health, as the hazard management agency, with assistance in
establishing the emergency management structure and coordinating public
messaging. Responsibility for coordinating the Western Australia Police Force pandemic response has been assigned
to Deputy Commissioner Colin Blanch and responsibility for the pandemic business community has been assigned to
Deputy Commissioner Gary Dreibergs. The Western Australia Police Force
pandemic plans are being reviewed and updated. The command and coordination
structure for management of the Western Australia
Police Force response is being established as a priority, including the
allocation of a liaison officer for the hazard management agency's
incident support group. The police commissioner is continuing to hold meetings
of State Emergency Coordination Group members.
Personal protective equipment for
frontline personnel provides an ongoing challenge for the Western Australia Police Force, as it does for the wider community.
The following measures have been taken to mitigate the challenge . The
police force has requested additional PPE from its preferred supplier, which,
upon receipt, will provide sufficient PPE for a period of six months. The Western
Australia Police Force has engaged with the Department of Health in respect to its own stockpile of PPE and the national
stockpile should additional PPE be required. A national law enforcement joint submission will be prepared for
consideration of PPE requirements from the national stockpile. I had a long conversation with Deputy
Commissioner Colin Blanch on, I think, Sunday about these matters . He is
obviously very aware of the needs of the police officers involved. If police
officers need to self-isolate, as do other members of the community, the police
will ensure that officers are taken from non-frontline roles to fill those
frontline positions so that the community is kept as safe as possible. Deputy
Commissioner Blanch is very confident that the community will be protected.
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