❓ A Member of Parliament questions the Minister for Police regarding a change in policy preventing the disclosure of resourcing levels for the Regional Enforcement Unit, seeking confirmation of staffing levels and scrutiny of operational sensitivity claims. The Minister's response cites operational sensitivities and confirms the unit is at authorised strength.
AnsweredQoN 1090Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
POLICE —
REGIONAL ENFORCEMENT UNIT
1090. Hon MARTIN ALDRIDGE to the minister representing the
Minister for Police:
I refer to the regional enforcement
unit and a recent change in Western Australia Police Force policy that now
prevents Parliament from knowing the resourcing level of the unit, despite the
information being disclosed in 2018 and 2020.
(1) On what date
did the Western Australia Police Force advise the minister that its policy had
changed in relation to disclosing resourcing levels of the unit to Parliament?
(2) Noting that
the policy refers to resourcing information below the district/divisional
level, why does the policy apply to the regional enforcement unit as a statewide
service?
(3) Without
disclosing actual resourcing levels, can the minister confirm that the unit is
operating at authorised strength with no vacancies?
(4) Noting that
the former Minister for Police has been able to answer such questions to
Parliament and include relevant resourcing detail in ministerial media
statements, when will the minister lodge a section 82 notice with the Auditor
General so that Western Australia Police Force claims of operational
sensitivity can be scrutinised?
REGIONAL ENFORCEMENT UNIT
1090. Hon MARTIN ALDRIDGE to the minister representing the
Minister for Police:
I refer to the regional enforcement
unit and a recent change in Western Australia Police Force policy that now
prevents Parliament from knowing the resourcing level of the unit, despite the
information being disclosed in 2018 and 2020.
(1) On what date
did the Western Australia Police Force advise the minister that its policy had
changed in relation to disclosing resourcing levels of the unit to Parliament?
(2) Noting that
the policy refers to resourcing information below the district/divisional
level, why does the policy apply to the regional enforcement unit as a statewide
service?
(3) Without
disclosing actual resourcing levels, can the minister confirm that the unit is
operating at authorised strength with no vacancies?
(4) Noting that
the former Minister for Police has been able to answer such questions to
Parliament and include relevant resourcing detail in ministerial media
statements, when will the minister lodge a section 82 notice with the Auditor
General so that Western Australia Police Force claims of operational
sensitivity can be scrutinised?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice
of the question. I provide this answer on behalf of the minister representing
the Minister for Police.
(1)–(4) The Commissioner of Police is in frequent contact, providing information on
an array of issues relating to operational sensitivities pertinent to the
minister's role as Minister for Police. For the awareness of the
honourable member, the regional enforcement unit is within the divisional
level. The Western Australia Police Force
advises that the unit is operating at authorised strength. Due to operational
sensitivities, staffing information below the district/divisional level
is not released.
of the question. I provide this answer on behalf of the minister representing
the Minister for Police.
(1)–(4) The Commissioner of Police is in frequent contact, providing information on
an array of issues relating to operational sensitivities pertinent to the
minister's role as Minister for Police. For the awareness of the
honourable member, the regional enforcement unit is within the divisional
level. The Western Australia Police Force
advises that the unit is operating at authorised strength. Due to operational
sensitivities, staffing information below the district/divisional level
is not released.
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