❓ Mr. Cowper questions the Minister for Police and Emergency Services about the outdated regional police radio network, its failures, and the lack of funding for upgrades. The Minister acknowledges the issue but deflects by highlighting the government's overall investment in police resources and criticising the previous Liberal government.
AnsweredQoN 318Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
POLICE — REGIONAL RADIO NETWORK 318. Mr M.J. COWPER to the Minister for Police and Emergency Services: I refer to the minister’s comments yesterday that the 25-year-old regional police radio network is outdated and, in the minister’s words, “is actually slipping behind, is fairly old and needs to be replaced”, and I ask — (1) Will the minister explain why country police officers are forced to operate with a radio network that is described by the Commissioner of Police as antiquated, and that, on average, fails twice a week, leaving large parts of the state without access to backup police communication? (2) How would the minister suggest that police officers attending a fatality just 40 kilometres south of Geraldton communicate in an area where their radio network is inoperable and mobile phone coverage is nonexistent? (3) Why has the government failed to fund an upgrade and will the minister confirm that spare parts for the radio network are no longer available? Mr J.C. KOBELKE
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question. I think the member for Albany asked a similar question during the estimates debate. I know the member for Murray is new to his portfolio and he has a bit of catching up to do. (1)-(3) There is an issue in making sure that our regional radio network is updated. The network has been in place for quite some years. There is an issue with maintaining the hardware due to the age of the infrastructure. It is something that we are certainly looking at and it is one of the many policing priorities that will be considered. We have seen that this government looks after police officers and their resources. That is very different from when the Liberals were in government. This government is well on track to providing 600 additional police officers in Western Australia—not one additional police officer was provided during the last term of the Liberal government. This government will provide an extra 600 police officers and in this four-year term we will have provided an additional 160 public servants to allow more police to be out on the frontline. In addition, we have ensured that the police are resourced to a level that is, on average, 18 per cent higher than that found in other mainland states of Australia. It was this government that provided the funds so that all active police officers can now carry Tasers. It was this government that ensured that all our police officers are protected by occupational health and safety laws. Time after time this government has addressed the needs of the police. The regional radio network is another need and this government has shown that it delivers to police in a manner very different from that of the last government, when the Liberals could not even make sure that our police had enough petrol to get their cars out on the road.
POLICE — REGIONAL RADIO NETWORK
I refer to the minister’s comments yesterday that the 25-year-old regional police radio network is outdated and, in the minister’s words, “is actually slipping behind, is fairly old and needs to be replaced”, and I ask — (1) Will the minister explain why country police officers are forced to operate with a radio network that is described by the Commissioner of Police as antiquated, and that, on average, fails twice a week, leaving large parts of the state without access to backup police communication? (2) How would the minister suggest that police officers attending a fatality just 40 kilometres south of Geraldton communicate in an area where their radio network is inoperable and mobile phone coverage is nonexistent? (3) Why has the government failed to fund an upgrade and will the minister confirm that spare parts for the radio network are no longer available? Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: I thank the member for the question. I think the member for Albany asked a similar question during the estimates debate. I know the member for Murray is new to his portfolio and he has a bit of catching up to do. (1)-(3) There is an issue in making sure that our regional radio network is updated. The network has been in place for quite some years. There is an issue with maintaining the hardware due to the age of the infrastructure. It is something that we are certainly looking at and it is one of the many policing priorities that will be considered. We have seen that this government looks after police officers and their resources. That is very different from when the Liberals were in government. This government is well on track to providing 600 additional police officers in Western Australia—not one additional police officer was provided during the last term of the Liberal government. This government will provide an extra 600 police officers and in this four-year term we will have provided an additional 160 public servants to allow more police to be out on the frontline. In addition, we have ensured that the police are resourced to a level that is, on average, 18 per cent higher than that found in other mainland states of Australia. It was this government that provided the funds so that all active police officers can now carry Tasers. It was this government that ensured that all our police officers are protected by occupational health and safety laws. Time after time this government has addressed the needs of the police. The regional radio network is another need and this government has shown that it delivers to police in a manner very different from that of the last government, when the Liberals could not even make sure that our police had enough petrol to get their cars out on the road.
(1) Will the minister explain why country police officers are forced to operate with a radio network that is described by the Commissioner of Police as antiquated, and that, on average, fails twice a week, leaving large parts of the state without access to backup police communication? (2) How would the minister suggest that police officers attending a fatality just 40 kilometres south of Geraldton communicate in an area where their radio network is inoperable and mobile phone coverage is nonexistent? (3) Why has the government failed to fund an upgrade and will the minister confirm that spare parts for the radio network are no longer available? Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: I thank the member for the question. I think the member for Albany asked a similar question during the estimates debate. I know the member for Murray is new to his portfolio and he has a bit of catching up to do. (1)-(3) There is an issue in making sure that our regional radio network is updated. The network has been in place for quite some years. There is an issue with maintaining the hardware due to the age of the infrastructure. It is something that we are certainly looking at and it is one of the many policing priorities that will be considered. We have seen that this government looks after police officers and their resources. That is very different from when the Liberals were in government. This government is well on track to providing 600 additional police officers in Western Australia—not one additional police officer was provided during the last term of the Liberal government. This government will provide an extra 600 police officers and in this four-year term we will have provided an additional 160 public servants to allow more police to be out on the frontline. In addition, we have ensured that the police are resourced to a level that is, on average, 18 per cent higher than that found in other mainland states of Australia. It was this government that provided the funds so that all active police officers can now carry Tasers. It was this government that ensured that all our police officers are protected by occupational health and safety laws. Time after time this government has addressed the needs of the police. The regional radio network is another need and this government has shown that it delivers to police in a manner very different from that of the last government, when the Liberals could not even make sure that our police had enough petrol to get their cars out on the road.
(2) How would the minister suggest that police officers attending a fatality just 40 kilometres south of Geraldton communicate in an area where their radio network is inoperable and mobile phone coverage is nonexistent? (3) Why has the government failed to fund an upgrade and will the minister confirm that spare parts for the radio network are no longer available? Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: I thank the member for the question. I think the member for Albany asked a similar question during the estimates debate. I know the member for Murray is new to his portfolio and he has a bit of catching up to do. (1)-(3) There is an issue in making sure that our regional radio network is updated. The network has been in place for quite some years. There is an issue with maintaining the hardware due to the age of the infrastructure. It is something that we are certainly looking at and it is one of the many policing priorities that will be considered. We have seen that this government looks after police officers and their resources. That is very different from when the Liberals were in government. This government is well on track to providing 600 additional police officers in Western Australia—not one additional police officer was provided during the last term of the Liberal government. This government will provide an extra 600 police officers and in this four-year term we will have provided an additional 160 public servants to allow more police to be out on the frontline. In addition, we have ensured that the police are resourced to a level that is, on average, 18 per cent higher than that found in other mainland states of Australia. It was this government that provided the funds so that all active police officers can now carry Tasers. It was this government that ensured that all our police officers are protected by occupational health and safety laws. Time after time this government has addressed the needs of the police. The regional radio network is another need and this government has shown that it delivers to police in a manner very different from that of the last government, when the Liberals could not even make sure that our police had enough petrol to get their cars out on the road.
(3) Why has the government failed to fund an upgrade and will the minister confirm that spare parts for the radio network are no longer available? Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: I thank the member for the question. I think the member for Albany asked a similar question during the estimates debate. I know the member for Murray is new to his portfolio and he has a bit of catching up to do. (1)-(3) There is an issue in making sure that our regional radio network is updated. The network has been in place for quite some years. There is an issue with maintaining the hardware due to the age of the infrastructure. It is something that we are certainly looking at and it is one of the many policing priorities that will be considered. We have seen that this government looks after police officers and their resources. That is very different from when the Liberals were in government. This government is well on track to providing 600 additional police officers in Western Australia—not one additional police officer was provided during the last term of the Liberal government. This government will provide an extra 600 police officers and in this four-year term we will have provided an additional 160 public servants to allow more police to be out on the frontline. In addition, we have ensured that the police are resourced to a level that is, on average, 18 per cent higher than that found in other mainland states of Australia. It was this government that provided the funds so that all active police officers can now carry Tasers. It was this government that ensured that all our police officers are protected by occupational health and safety laws. Time after time this government has addressed the needs of the police. The regional radio network is another need and this government has shown that it delivers to police in a manner very different from that of the last government, when the Liberals could not even make sure that our police had enough petrol to get their cars out on the road.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: I thank the member for the question. I think the member for Albany asked a similar question during the estimates debate. I know the member for Murray is new to his portfolio and he has a bit of catching up to do. (1)-(3) There is an issue in making sure that our regional radio network is updated. The network has been in place for quite some years. There is an issue with maintaining the hardware due to the age of the infrastructure. It is something that we are certainly looking at and it is one of the many policing priorities that will be considered. We have seen that this government looks after police officers and their resources. That is very different from when the Liberals were in government. This government is well on track to providing 600 additional police officers in Western Australia—not one additional police officer was provided during the last term of the Liberal government. This government will provide an extra 600 police officers and in this four-year term we will have provided an additional 160 public servants to allow more police to be out on the frontline. In addition, we have ensured that the police are resourced to a level that is, on average, 18 per cent higher than that found in other mainland states of Australia. It was this government that provided the funds so that all active police officers can now carry Tasers. It was this government that ensured that all our police officers are protected by occupational health and safety laws. Time after time this government has addressed the needs of the police. The regional radio network is another need and this government has shown that it delivers to police in a manner very different from that of the last government, when the Liberals could not even make sure that our police had enough petrol to get their cars out on the road.
I thank the member for the question. I think the member for Albany asked a similar question during the estimates debate. I know the member for Murray is new to his portfolio and he has a bit of catching up to do. (1)-(3) There is an issue in making sure that our regional radio network is updated. The network has been in place for quite some years. There is an issue with maintaining the hardware due to the age of the infrastructure. It is something that we are certainly looking at and it is one of the many policing priorities that will be considered. We have seen that this government looks after police officers and their resources. That is very different from when the Liberals were in government. This government is well on track to providing 600 additional police officers in Western Australia—not one additional police officer was provided during the last term of the Liberal government. This government will provide an extra 600 police officers and in this four-year term we will have provided an additional 160 public servants to allow more police to be out on the frontline. In addition, we have ensured that the police are resourced to a level that is, on average, 18 per cent higher than that found in other mainland states of Australia. It was this government that provided the funds so that all active police officers can now carry Tasers. It was this government that ensured that all our police officers are protected by occupational health and safety laws. Time after time this government has addressed the needs of the police. The regional radio network is another need and this government has shown that it delivers to police in a manner very different from that of the last government, when the Liberals could not even make sure that our police had enough petrol to get their cars out on the road.
(1)-(3) There is an issue in making sure that our regional radio network is updated. The network has been in place for quite some years. There is an issue with maintaining the hardware due to the age of the infrastructure. It is something that we are certainly looking at and it is one of the many policing priorities that will be considered. We have seen that this government looks after police officers and their resources. That is very different from when the Liberals were in government. This government is well on track to providing 600 additional police officers in Western Australia—not one additional police officer was provided during the last term of the Liberal government. This government will provide an extra 600 police officers and in this four-year term we will have provided an additional 160 public servants to allow more police to be out on the frontline. In addition, we have ensured that the police are resourced to a level that is, on average, 18 per cent higher than that found in other mainland states of Australia. It was this government that provided the funds so that all active police officers can now carry Tasers. It was this government that ensured that all our police officers are protected by occupational health and safety laws. Time after time this government has addressed the needs of the police. The regional radio network is another need and this government has shown that it delivers to police in a manner very different from that of the last government, when the Liberals could not even make sure that our police had enough petrol to get their cars out on the road.
In addition, we have ensured that the police are resourced to a level that is, on average, 18 per cent higher than that found in other mainland states of Australia. It was this government that provided the funds so that all active police officers can now carry Tasers. It was this government that ensured that all our police officers are protected by occupational health and safety laws. Time after time this government has addressed the needs of the police. The regional radio network is another need and this government has shown that it delivers to police in a manner very different from that of the last government, when the Liberals could not even make sure that our police had enough petrol to get their cars out on the road.
The regional radio network is another need and this government has shown that it delivers to police in a manner very different from that of the last government, when the Liberals could not even make sure that our police had enough petrol to get their cars out on the road.
POLICE — REGIONAL RADIO NETWORK
I refer to the minister’s comments yesterday that the 25-year-old regional police radio network is outdated and, in the minister’s words, “is actually slipping behind, is fairly old and needs to be replaced”, and I ask — (1) Will the minister explain why country police officers are forced to operate with a radio network that is described by the Commissioner of Police as antiquated, and that, on average, fails twice a week, leaving large parts of the state without access to backup police communication? (2) How would the minister suggest that police officers attending a fatality just 40 kilometres south of Geraldton communicate in an area where their radio network is inoperable and mobile phone coverage is nonexistent? (3) Why has the government failed to fund an upgrade and will the minister confirm that spare parts for the radio network are no longer available? Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: I thank the member for the question. I think the member for Albany asked a similar question during the estimates debate. I know the member for Murray is new to his portfolio and he has a bit of catching up to do. (1)-(3) There is an issue in making sure that our regional radio network is updated. The network has been in place for quite some years. There is an issue with maintaining the hardware due to the age of the infrastructure. It is something that we are certainly looking at and it is one of the many policing priorities that will be considered. We have seen that this government looks after police officers and their resources. That is very different from when the Liberals were in government. This government is well on track to providing 600 additional police officers in Western Australia—not one additional police officer was provided during the last term of the Liberal government. This government will provide an extra 600 police officers and in this four-year term we will have provided an additional 160 public servants to allow more police to be out on the frontline. In addition, we have ensured that the police are resourced to a level that is, on average, 18 per cent higher than that found in other mainland states of Australia. It was this government that provided the funds so that all active police officers can now carry Tasers. It was this government that ensured that all our police officers are protected by occupational health and safety laws. Time after time this government has addressed the needs of the police. The regional radio network is another need and this government has shown that it delivers to police in a manner very different from that of the last government, when the Liberals could not even make sure that our police had enough petrol to get their cars out on the road.
(1) Will the minister explain why country police officers are forced to operate with a radio network that is described by the Commissioner of Police as antiquated, and that, on average, fails twice a week, leaving large parts of the state without access to backup police communication? (2) How would the minister suggest that police officers attending a fatality just 40 kilometres south of Geraldton communicate in an area where their radio network is inoperable and mobile phone coverage is nonexistent? (3) Why has the government failed to fund an upgrade and will the minister confirm that spare parts for the radio network are no longer available? Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: I thank the member for the question. I think the member for Albany asked a similar question during the estimates debate. I know the member for Murray is new to his portfolio and he has a bit of catching up to do. (1)-(3) There is an issue in making sure that our regional radio network is updated. The network has been in place for quite some years. There is an issue with maintaining the hardware due to the age of the infrastructure. It is something that we are certainly looking at and it is one of the many policing priorities that will be considered. We have seen that this government looks after police officers and their resources. That is very different from when the Liberals were in government. This government is well on track to providing 600 additional police officers in Western Australia—not one additional police officer was provided during the last term of the Liberal government. This government will provide an extra 600 police officers and in this four-year term we will have provided an additional 160 public servants to allow more police to be out on the frontline. In addition, we have ensured that the police are resourced to a level that is, on average, 18 per cent higher than that found in other mainland states of Australia. It was this government that provided the funds so that all active police officers can now carry Tasers. It was this government that ensured that all our police officers are protected by occupational health and safety laws. Time after time this government has addressed the needs of the police. The regional radio network is another need and this government has shown that it delivers to police in a manner very different from that of the last government, when the Liberals could not even make sure that our police had enough petrol to get their cars out on the road.
(2) How would the minister suggest that police officers attending a fatality just 40 kilometres south of Geraldton communicate in an area where their radio network is inoperable and mobile phone coverage is nonexistent? (3) Why has the government failed to fund an upgrade and will the minister confirm that spare parts for the radio network are no longer available? Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: I thank the member for the question. I think the member for Albany asked a similar question during the estimates debate. I know the member for Murray is new to his portfolio and he has a bit of catching up to do. (1)-(3) There is an issue in making sure that our regional radio network is updated. The network has been in place for quite some years. There is an issue with maintaining the hardware due to the age of the infrastructure. It is something that we are certainly looking at and it is one of the many policing priorities that will be considered. We have seen that this government looks after police officers and their resources. That is very different from when the Liberals were in government. This government is well on track to providing 600 additional police officers in Western Australia—not one additional police officer was provided during the last term of the Liberal government. This government will provide an extra 600 police officers and in this four-year term we will have provided an additional 160 public servants to allow more police to be out on the frontline. In addition, we have ensured that the police are resourced to a level that is, on average, 18 per cent higher than that found in other mainland states of Australia. It was this government that provided the funds so that all active police officers can now carry Tasers. It was this government that ensured that all our police officers are protected by occupational health and safety laws. Time after time this government has addressed the needs of the police. The regional radio network is another need and this government has shown that it delivers to police in a manner very different from that of the last government, when the Liberals could not even make sure that our police had enough petrol to get their cars out on the road.
(3) Why has the government failed to fund an upgrade and will the minister confirm that spare parts for the radio network are no longer available? Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: I thank the member for the question. I think the member for Albany asked a similar question during the estimates debate. I know the member for Murray is new to his portfolio and he has a bit of catching up to do. (1)-(3) There is an issue in making sure that our regional radio network is updated. The network has been in place for quite some years. There is an issue with maintaining the hardware due to the age of the infrastructure. It is something that we are certainly looking at and it is one of the many policing priorities that will be considered. We have seen that this government looks after police officers and their resources. That is very different from when the Liberals were in government. This government is well on track to providing 600 additional police officers in Western Australia—not one additional police officer was provided during the last term of the Liberal government. This government will provide an extra 600 police officers and in this four-year term we will have provided an additional 160 public servants to allow more police to be out on the frontline. In addition, we have ensured that the police are resourced to a level that is, on average, 18 per cent higher than that found in other mainland states of Australia. It was this government that provided the funds so that all active police officers can now carry Tasers. It was this government that ensured that all our police officers are protected by occupational health and safety laws. Time after time this government has addressed the needs of the police. The regional radio network is another need and this government has shown that it delivers to police in a manner very different from that of the last government, when the Liberals could not even make sure that our police had enough petrol to get their cars out on the road.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: I thank the member for the question. I think the member for Albany asked a similar question during the estimates debate. I know the member for Murray is new to his portfolio and he has a bit of catching up to do. (1)-(3) There is an issue in making sure that our regional radio network is updated. The network has been in place for quite some years. There is an issue with maintaining the hardware due to the age of the infrastructure. It is something that we are certainly looking at and it is one of the many policing priorities that will be considered. We have seen that this government looks after police officers and their resources. That is very different from when the Liberals were in government. This government is well on track to providing 600 additional police officers in Western Australia—not one additional police officer was provided during the last term of the Liberal government. This government will provide an extra 600 police officers and in this four-year term we will have provided an additional 160 public servants to allow more police to be out on the frontline. In addition, we have ensured that the police are resourced to a level that is, on average, 18 per cent higher than that found in other mainland states of Australia. It was this government that provided the funds so that all active police officers can now carry Tasers. It was this government that ensured that all our police officers are protected by occupational health and safety laws. Time after time this government has addressed the needs of the police. The regional radio network is another need and this government has shown that it delivers to police in a manner very different from that of the last government, when the Liberals could not even make sure that our police had enough petrol to get their cars out on the road.
I thank the member for the question. I think the member for Albany asked a similar question during the estimates debate. I know the member for Murray is new to his portfolio and he has a bit of catching up to do. (1)-(3) There is an issue in making sure that our regional radio network is updated. The network has been in place for quite some years. There is an issue with maintaining the hardware due to the age of the infrastructure. It is something that we are certainly looking at and it is one of the many policing priorities that will be considered. We have seen that this government looks after police officers and their resources. That is very different from when the Liberals were in government. This government is well on track to providing 600 additional police officers in Western Australia—not one additional police officer was provided during the last term of the Liberal government. This government will provide an extra 600 police officers and in this four-year term we will have provided an additional 160 public servants to allow more police to be out on the frontline. In addition, we have ensured that the police are resourced to a level that is, on average, 18 per cent higher than that found in other mainland states of Australia. It was this government that provided the funds so that all active police officers can now carry Tasers. It was this government that ensured that all our police officers are protected by occupational health and safety laws. Time after time this government has addressed the needs of the police. The regional radio network is another need and this government has shown that it delivers to police in a manner very different from that of the last government, when the Liberals could not even make sure that our police had enough petrol to get their cars out on the road.
(1)-(3) There is an issue in making sure that our regional radio network is updated. The network has been in place for quite some years. There is an issue with maintaining the hardware due to the age of the infrastructure. It is something that we are certainly looking at and it is one of the many policing priorities that will be considered. We have seen that this government looks after police officers and their resources. That is very different from when the Liberals were in government. This government is well on track to providing 600 additional police officers in Western Australia—not one additional police officer was provided during the last term of the Liberal government. This government will provide an extra 600 police officers and in this four-year term we will have provided an additional 160 public servants to allow more police to be out on the frontline. In addition, we have ensured that the police are resourced to a level that is, on average, 18 per cent higher than that found in other mainland states of Australia. It was this government that provided the funds so that all active police officers can now carry Tasers. It was this government that ensured that all our police officers are protected by occupational health and safety laws. Time after time this government has addressed the needs of the police. The regional radio network is another need and this government has shown that it delivers to police in a manner very different from that of the last government, when the Liberals could not even make sure that our police had enough petrol to get their cars out on the road.
In addition, we have ensured that the police are resourced to a level that is, on average, 18 per cent higher than that found in other mainland states of Australia. It was this government that provided the funds so that all active police officers can now carry Tasers. It was this government that ensured that all our police officers are protected by occupational health and safety laws. Time after time this government has addressed the needs of the police. The regional radio network is another need and this government has shown that it delivers to police in a manner very different from that of the last government, when the Liberals could not even make sure that our police had enough petrol to get their cars out on the road.
The regional radio network is another need and this government has shown that it delivers to police in a manner very different from that of the last government, when the Liberals could not even make sure that our police had enough petrol to get their cars out on the road.
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