A parliamentary question highlights concerns about forensic officer shortages in the South West region, specifically Bunbury, and seeks government action to address recruitment and retention issues, including housing assistance. The Minister acknowledges the issues and states the government is reviewing subsidised housing in Bunbury.

AnsweredQoN 1014Legislative Council
Asked
15 October 2009
Portfolio
Police

QuestionView source ↗

POLICE FORENSIC OFFICERS — BUNBURY
(1) Is the minister aware that by the end of this year there will be only 1.5 full-time equivalent forensic officers servicing the whole of the south west region? (2) What action is the government taking to secure additional forensic officers for the south west region? (3) How many additional FTE forensic officers will be allocated to the south west region, and when will they be made available? (4) Is the minister aware of the growing difficulty experienced by the police superintendent of the south west district to attract and retain specialist police officers, such as detectives, inspectors and forensic officers, to Bunbury due to Bunbury being a non-tenure location and Government Regional Officers’ Housing—GROH—not being provided? (5) Will the government provide funding for the annual rental costs for five houses in Bunbury to assist to attract and retain specialist police officer services in Bunbury? (6) If no to (5), why not? (7) If no to (5), what immediate action will the government take to address this specialist police officer staffing problem in Bunbury? Hon PETER COLLIER

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) Yes. (2) The government is currently reviewing the issue of subsidised housing in Bunbury. (3) Western Australia Police currently have two forensic officer vacancies and are attempting to attract appropriately qualified officers to these positions. (4) Yes. (5)-(7) See response (2).
(2) What action is the government taking to secure additional forensic officers for the south west region? (3) How many additional FTE forensic officers will be allocated to the south west region, and when will they be made available? (4) Is the minister aware of the growing difficulty experienced by the police superintendent of the south west district to attract and retain specialist police officers, such as detectives, inspectors and forensic officers, to Bunbury due to Bunbury being a non-tenure location and Government Regional Officers’ Housing—GROH—not being provided? (5) Will the government provide funding for the annual rental costs for five houses in Bunbury to assist to attract and retain specialist police officer services in Bunbury? (6) If no to (5), why not? (7) If no to (5), what immediate action will the government take to address this specialist police officer staffing problem in Bunbury? Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) Yes. (2) The government is currently reviewing the issue of subsidised housing in Bunbury. (3) Western Australia Police currently have two forensic officer vacancies and are attempting to attract appropriately qualified officers to these positions. (4) Yes. (5)-(7) See response (2).
(3) How many additional FTE forensic officers will be allocated to the south west region, and when will they be made available? (4) Is the minister aware of the growing difficulty experienced by the police superintendent of the south west district to attract and retain specialist police officers, such as detectives, inspectors and forensic officers, to Bunbury due to Bunbury being a non-tenure location and Government Regional Officers’ Housing—GROH—not being provided? (5) Will the government provide funding for the annual rental costs for five houses in Bunbury to assist to attract and retain specialist police officer services in Bunbury? (6) If no to (5), why not? (7) If no to (5), what immediate action will the government take to address this specialist police officer staffing problem in Bunbury? Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) Yes. (2) The government is currently reviewing the issue of subsidised housing in Bunbury. (3) Western Australia Police currently have two forensic officer vacancies and are attempting to attract appropriately qualified officers to these positions. (4) Yes. (5)-(7) See response (2).
(4) Is the minister aware of the growing difficulty experienced by the police superintendent of the south west district to attract and retain specialist police officers, such as detectives, inspectors and forensic officers, to Bunbury due to Bunbury being a non-tenure location and Government Regional Officers’ Housing—GROH—not being provided? (5) Will the government provide funding for the annual rental costs for five houses in Bunbury to assist to attract and retain specialist police officer services in Bunbury? (6) If no to (5), why not? (7) If no to (5), what immediate action will the government take to address this specialist police officer staffing problem in Bunbury? Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) Yes. (2) The government is currently reviewing the issue of subsidised housing in Bunbury. (3) Western Australia Police currently have two forensic officer vacancies and are attempting to attract appropriately qualified officers to these positions. (4) Yes. (5)-(7) See response (2).
(5) Will the government provide funding for the annual rental costs for five houses in Bunbury to assist to attract and retain specialist police officer services in Bunbury? (6) If no to (5), why not? (7) If no to (5), what immediate action will the government take to address this specialist police officer staffing problem in Bunbury? Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) Yes. (2) The government is currently reviewing the issue of subsidised housing in Bunbury. (3) Western Australia Police currently have two forensic officer vacancies and are attempting to attract appropriately qualified officers to these positions. (4) Yes. (5)-(7) See response (2).
(6) If no to (5), why not? (7) If no to (5), what immediate action will the government take to address this specialist police officer staffing problem in Bunbury? Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) Yes. (2) The government is currently reviewing the issue of subsidised housing in Bunbury. (3) Western Australia Police currently have two forensic officer vacancies and are attempting to attract appropriately qualified officers to these positions. (4) Yes. (5)-(7) See response (2).
(7) If no to (5), what immediate action will the government take to address this specialist police officer staffing problem in Bunbury? Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) Yes. (2) The government is currently reviewing the issue of subsidised housing in Bunbury. (3) Western Australia Police currently have two forensic officer vacancies and are attempting to attract appropriately qualified officers to these positions. (4) Yes. (5)-(7) See response (2).
Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) Yes. (2) The government is currently reviewing the issue of subsidised housing in Bunbury. (3) Western Australia Police currently have two forensic officer vacancies and are attempting to attract appropriately qualified officers to these positions. (4) Yes. (5)-(7) See response (2).
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) Yes. (2) The government is currently reviewing the issue of subsidised housing in Bunbury. (3) Western Australia Police currently have two forensic officer vacancies and are attempting to attract appropriately qualified officers to these positions. (4) Yes. (5)-(7) See response (2).
(1) Yes. (2) The government is currently reviewing the issue of subsidised housing in Bunbury. (3) Western Australia Police currently have two forensic officer vacancies and are attempting to attract appropriately qualified officers to these positions. (4) Yes. (5)-(7) See response (2).
(2) The government is currently reviewing the issue of subsidised housing in Bunbury. (3) Western Australia Police currently have two forensic officer vacancies and are attempting to attract appropriately qualified officers to these positions. (4) Yes. (5)-(7) See response (2).
(3) Western Australia Police currently have two forensic officer vacancies and are attempting to attract appropriately qualified officers to these positions. (4) Yes. (5)-(7) See response (2).
(4) Yes. (5)-(7) See response (2).
(5)-(7) See response (2).

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