❓ Ms. Davies questions the Minister for Police on the government's pledge to increase police numbers. The Minister confirms the increase and defends the government's commitment, while accusing the opposition of denigrating the police force.
AnsweredQoN 473Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
POLICE — RECRUITMENT
473. Ms M.J. DAVIES to the Minister for Police:
I refer to the government's
pledge to recruit 950 new police officers above attrition.
(1) Has the total number of police
increased in net terms in 2022—yes or no?
(2) Can the minister guarantee that he will meet this
much-hyped 950 figure by 2024, as he originally promised?
473. Ms M.J. DAVIES to the Minister for Police:
I refer to the government's
pledge to recruit 950 new police officers above attrition.
(1) Has the total number of police
increased in net terms in 2022—yes or no?
(2) Can the minister guarantee that he will meet this
much-hyped 950 figure by 2024, as he originally promised?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for her
question.
(1)–(2) The
answer is yes. It has increased but, beyond that, what was committed to was
growing the police force by 950 above attrition. That is fully resourced and
funded. We will have a crack at it and do everything we can. Right now I can
tell members that tomorrow night I will be attending a graduation of 59
officers. It is another one. I go to the academy monthly and often no-one from
the opposition is there. Occasionally, the phantom shadow police minister
attends, but mostly he does not. Often, the Leader of the Opposition is not
represented, but I am there.
Several members
interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Order, please.
Mr P. PAPALIA : I am always
there. However, the one time I was not there, I had COVID, so the Attorney General attended in my stead. He did a sterling job of delivering a speech on my behalf—not
as good as the one that I present, but I was told it was not bad! I can
guarantee the member one thing: the police are greater in numbers, better
resourced, better equipped in my view and as well led as at any time in the
history of this state. We are right behind
them, unlike members opposite. Almost every time members ask a question in this
place about this portfolio , they take the opportunity to denigrate the
performance of the police.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please.
Mr P. PAPALIA : The Nationals
WA and the Liberal Party —
Several members interjected.
Mr P. PAPALIA : I know that
their representatives are in Carnarvon right now. What they said yesterday
about the police was disgraceful. When they come into this place and say that
the police are not performing well, they hear it.
Ms M.J. Davies : Find a quote
where I said that. Find it and read it back. Go on!
The SPEAKER : Order, please.
Mr P. PAPALIA : Yesterday,
members opposite implied that the police were failing in Carnarvon.
Ms M.J. Davies : That's
your interpretation. That's your political take.
Mr P. PAPALIA : Members
cannot say that crime is out of control in Carnarvon and then expect the
inference not to be made that the police are not doing their job. Is the Leader
of the Opposition saying that the police are not doing their job in
Carnarvon? If she is saying that, I will go straight from here after question
time and ring the Commissioner of Police and
say that the National Party is saying that the police are not doing their job
in Carnarvon . Do not worry about that because that is what I will say.
question.
(1)–(2) The
answer is yes. It has increased but, beyond that, what was committed to was
growing the police force by 950 above attrition. That is fully resourced and
funded. We will have a crack at it and do everything we can. Right now I can
tell members that tomorrow night I will be attending a graduation of 59
officers. It is another one. I go to the academy monthly and often no-one from
the opposition is there. Occasionally, the phantom shadow police minister
attends, but mostly he does not. Often, the Leader of the Opposition is not
represented, but I am there.
Several members
interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Order, please.
Mr P. PAPALIA : I am always
there. However, the one time I was not there, I had COVID, so the Attorney General attended in my stead. He did a sterling job of delivering a speech on my behalf—not
as good as the one that I present, but I was told it was not bad! I can
guarantee the member one thing: the police are greater in numbers, better
resourced, better equipped in my view and as well led as at any time in the
history of this state. We are right behind
them, unlike members opposite. Almost every time members ask a question in this
place about this portfolio , they take the opportunity to denigrate the
performance of the police.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please.
Mr P. PAPALIA : The Nationals
WA and the Liberal Party —
Several members interjected.
Mr P. PAPALIA : I know that
their representatives are in Carnarvon right now. What they said yesterday
about the police was disgraceful. When they come into this place and say that
the police are not performing well, they hear it.
Ms M.J. Davies : Find a quote
where I said that. Find it and read it back. Go on!
The SPEAKER : Order, please.
Mr P. PAPALIA : Yesterday,
members opposite implied that the police were failing in Carnarvon.
Ms M.J. Davies : That's
your interpretation. That's your political take.
Mr P. PAPALIA : Members
cannot say that crime is out of control in Carnarvon and then expect the
inference not to be made that the police are not doing their job. Is the Leader
of the Opposition saying that the police are not doing their job in
Carnarvon? If she is saying that, I will go straight from here after question
time and ring the Commissioner of Police and
say that the National Party is saying that the police are not doing their job
in Carnarvon . Do not worry about that because that is what I will say.
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