A WA parliamentary question probes the minister's stance on police officers marching in uniform at the Perth Pride Parade, referencing practices in NSW and Victoria. The minister delegates the uniform decision to the Police Commissioner, who declines permission, and cites a prior family commitment for not attending.

AnsweredQoN 1399Legislative Council
Asked
22 October 2003
Portfolio
Police and Emergency Services

QuestionView source ↗

Regarding the Lesbian and Gay Pride Parade on Saturday, 1 November 2003, I ask - (1) Is the minister aware that the officers of the New South Wales Police Service are permitted to march in uniform in the Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras in Sydney? (2) Is the minister aware that the Chief Commissioner, Christine Nixon, marches in uniform with her colleagues at the Victorian pride parade? (3) Is the minister aware that members of the Western Australian Police Service have expressed a wish to march in uniform at the pride parade it Perth? (4) Will the minister support WA police officers marching in uniform at the pride parade? (5) If no to (4), why not? (6) Will the minister be marching in solidarity with lesbian and gay police officers at the pride parade? (7) If no to (6), why not? Hon TOM STEPHENS

AnswerView source ↗

On behalf of the minister representing the Minister for Police and Emergency Services - (1)-(3) Yes. (4)-(5) The Minister for Police and Emergency Services has referred requests for officers to march in uniform at the pride parade to the Commissioner of Police. The Commissioner has advised that he approves personnel marching in the pride parade provided that is not construed as duty time and that members do not march in uniform. The Commissioner has no objection to officers being identified as members of the Police Service but will not permit the police uniform being perceived to be aligned with any political, personal, industrial or sectional interests. (6)-(7) No, the minister has a family commitment that evening.
(1) Is the minister aware that the officers of the New South Wales Police Service are permitted to march in uniform in the Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras in Sydney? (2) Is the minister aware that the Chief Commissioner, Christine Nixon, marches in uniform with her colleagues at the Victorian pride parade? (3) Is the minister aware that members of the Western Australian Police Service have expressed a wish to march in uniform at the pride parade it Perth? (4) Will the minister support WA police officers marching in uniform at the pride parade? (5) If no to (4), why not? (6) Will the minister be marching in solidarity with lesbian and gay police officers at the pride parade? (7) If no to (6), why not? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: On behalf of the minister representing the Minister for Police and Emergency Services - (1)-(3) Yes. (4)-(5) The Minister for Police and Emergency Services has referred requests for officers to march in uniform at the pride parade to the Commissioner of Police. The Commissioner has advised that he approves personnel marching in the pride parade provided that is not construed as duty time and that members do not march in uniform. The Commissioner has no objection to officers being identified as members of the Police Service but will not permit the police uniform being perceived to be aligned with any political, personal, industrial or sectional interests. (6)-(7) No, the minister has a family commitment that evening.
(2) Is the minister aware that the Chief Commissioner, Christine Nixon, marches in uniform with her colleagues at the Victorian pride parade? (3) Is the minister aware that members of the Western Australian Police Service have expressed a wish to march in uniform at the pride parade it Perth? (4) Will the minister support WA police officers marching in uniform at the pride parade? (5) If no to (4), why not? (6) Will the minister be marching in solidarity with lesbian and gay police officers at the pride parade? (7) If no to (6), why not? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: On behalf of the minister representing the Minister for Police and Emergency Services - (1)-(3) Yes. (4)-(5) The Minister for Police and Emergency Services has referred requests for officers to march in uniform at the pride parade to the Commissioner of Police. The Commissioner has advised that he approves personnel marching in the pride parade provided that is not construed as duty time and that members do not march in uniform. The Commissioner has no objection to officers being identified as members of the Police Service but will not permit the police uniform being perceived to be aligned with any political, personal, industrial or sectional interests. (6)-(7) No, the minister has a family commitment that evening.
(3) Is the minister aware that members of the Western Australian Police Service have expressed a wish to march in uniform at the pride parade it Perth? (4) Will the minister support WA police officers marching in uniform at the pride parade? (5) If no to (4), why not? (6) Will the minister be marching in solidarity with lesbian and gay police officers at the pride parade? (7) If no to (6), why not? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: On behalf of the minister representing the Minister for Police and Emergency Services - (1)-(3) Yes. (4)-(5) The Minister for Police and Emergency Services has referred requests for officers to march in uniform at the pride parade to the Commissioner of Police. The Commissioner has advised that he approves personnel marching in the pride parade provided that is not construed as duty time and that members do not march in uniform. The Commissioner has no objection to officers being identified as members of the Police Service but will not permit the police uniform being perceived to be aligned with any political, personal, industrial or sectional interests. (6)-(7) No, the minister has a family commitment that evening.
(4) Will the minister support WA police officers marching in uniform at the pride parade? (5) If no to (4), why not? (6) Will the minister be marching in solidarity with lesbian and gay police officers at the pride parade? (7) If no to (6), why not? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: On behalf of the minister representing the Minister for Police and Emergency Services - (1)-(3) Yes. (4)-(5) The Minister for Police and Emergency Services has referred requests for officers to march in uniform at the pride parade to the Commissioner of Police. The Commissioner has advised that he approves personnel marching in the pride parade provided that is not construed as duty time and that members do not march in uniform. The Commissioner has no objection to officers being identified as members of the Police Service but will not permit the police uniform being perceived to be aligned with any political, personal, industrial or sectional interests. (6)-(7) No, the minister has a family commitment that evening.
(5) If no to (4), why not? (6) Will the minister be marching in solidarity with lesbian and gay police officers at the pride parade? (7) If no to (6), why not? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: On behalf of the minister representing the Minister for Police and Emergency Services - (1)-(3) Yes. (4)-(5) The Minister for Police and Emergency Services has referred requests for officers to march in uniform at the pride parade to the Commissioner of Police. The Commissioner has advised that he approves personnel marching in the pride parade provided that is not construed as duty time and that members do not march in uniform. The Commissioner has no objection to officers being identified as members of the Police Service but will not permit the police uniform being perceived to be aligned with any political, personal, industrial or sectional interests. (6)-(7) No, the minister has a family commitment that evening.
(6) Will the minister be marching in solidarity with lesbian and gay police officers at the pride parade? (7) If no to (6), why not? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: On behalf of the minister representing the Minister for Police and Emergency Services - (1)-(3) Yes. (4)-(5) The Minister for Police and Emergency Services has referred requests for officers to march in uniform at the pride parade to the Commissioner of Police. The Commissioner has advised that he approves personnel marching in the pride parade provided that is not construed as duty time and that members do not march in uniform. The Commissioner has no objection to officers being identified as members of the Police Service but will not permit the police uniform being perceived to be aligned with any political, personal, industrial or sectional interests. (6)-(7) No, the minister has a family commitment that evening.
(7) If no to (6), why not? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: On behalf of the minister representing the Minister for Police and Emergency Services - (1)-(3) Yes. (4)-(5) The Minister for Police and Emergency Services has referred requests for officers to march in uniform at the pride parade to the Commissioner of Police. The Commissioner has advised that he approves personnel marching in the pride parade provided that is not construed as duty time and that members do not march in uniform. The Commissioner has no objection to officers being identified as members of the Police Service but will not permit the police uniform being perceived to be aligned with any political, personal, industrial or sectional interests. (6)-(7) No, the minister has a family commitment that evening.
Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: On behalf of the minister representing the Minister for Police and Emergency Services - (1)-(3) Yes. (4)-(5) The Minister for Police and Emergency Services has referred requests for officers to march in uniform at the pride parade to the Commissioner of Police. The Commissioner has advised that he approves personnel marching in the pride parade provided that is not construed as duty time and that members do not march in uniform. The Commissioner has no objection to officers being identified as members of the Police Service but will not permit the police uniform being perceived to be aligned with any political, personal, industrial or sectional interests. (6)-(7) No, the minister has a family commitment that evening.
On behalf of the minister representing the Minister for Police and Emergency Services - (1)-(3) Yes. (4)-(5) The Minister for Police and Emergency Services has referred requests for officers to march in uniform at the pride parade to the Commissioner of Police. The Commissioner has advised that he approves personnel marching in the pride parade provided that is not construed as duty time and that members do not march in uniform. The Commissioner has no objection to officers being identified as members of the Police Service but will not permit the police uniform being perceived to be aligned with any political, personal, industrial or sectional interests. (6)-(7) No, the minister has a family commitment that evening.
(1)-(3) Yes. (4)-(5) The Minister for Police and Emergency Services has referred requests for officers to march in uniform at the pride parade to the Commissioner of Police. The Commissioner has advised that he approves personnel marching in the pride parade provided that is not construed as duty time and that members do not march in uniform. The Commissioner has no objection to officers being identified as members of the Police Service but will not permit the police uniform being perceived to be aligned with any political, personal, industrial or sectional interests. (6)-(7) No, the minister has a family commitment that evening.
(4)-(5) The Minister for Police and Emergency Services has referred requests for officers to march in uniform at the pride parade to the Commissioner of Police. The Commissioner has advised that he approves personnel marching in the pride parade provided that is not construed as duty time and that members do not march in uniform. The Commissioner has no objection to officers being identified as members of the Police Service but will not permit the police uniform being perceived to be aligned with any political, personal, industrial or sectional interests. (6)-(7) No, the minister has a family commitment that evening.
(6)-(7) No, the minister has a family commitment that evening.

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