❓ A parliamentary question regarding police resignations in WA, focusing on numbers and recruitment, met with a strong rebuttal from the Minister who accuses the opposition of undermining public confidence in the police force with misleading information.
AnsweredQoN 706Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
POLICE - RESIGNATIONS
I again refer the minister to the crisis that the Carpenter government has caused by its failure to settle the wage dispute with the hardworking and dedicated officers of Western Australia Police. (1) Can the minister enlighten the taxpayers of Western Australia as to how many police officers have resigned from WA Police in the past week? (2) How many of these were recently recruited British police officers? (3) Will the minister seek to ensure that officers recruited from outside WA with the use of taxpayers’ money are subject to a two-year contract, as is the case in South Australia? Mr J.C. KOBELKE
I again refer the minister to the crisis that the Carpenter government has caused by its failure to settle the wage dispute with the hardworking and dedicated officers of Western Australia Police. (1) Can the minister enlighten the taxpayers of Western Australia as to how many police officers have resigned from WA Police in the past week? (2) How many of these were recently recruited British police officers? (3) Will the minister seek to ensure that officers recruited from outside WA with the use of taxpayers’ money are subject to a two-year contract, as is the case in South Australia? Mr J.C. KOBELKE
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(3) I thank the member for the question, because it gives me the opportunity to again point out my utter horror at the opposition seeking to undermine public confidence in WA Police, and internal confidence, by making claims that are totally wrong. Therefore, I appreciate that the member has given me the opportunity to correct the very misleading information that was contained in his question yesterday. The member asked - he is clearly claiming this - whether 20 officers had resigned in the past week. According to the information provided by the police, from 20 to 27 September nine officers left WA Police, not 20. Eight resigned and one retired. It was not 20. The opposition is exaggerating for the purpose - Point of Order Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The minister is quoting from official documents. I ask that he table those documents. The SPEAKER : If the minister is quoting from an official document, he should table it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.C. KOBELKE : I am happy to table it. However, it is not an official document; it is some notes containing the numbers, because I am keen to get them right when the opposition is putting out false and misleading numbers in an effort to undermine confidence in WA Police. That is an absolutely unacceptable situation. This is happening again and again. Two weeks ago, the member for Murray said that four of those United Kingdom officers had left. The Commissioner of Police had to correct him and point out that that was absolutely wrong. At that stage not a single officer had left. Yesterday, the member for Hillarys suggested again that 20 officers had left in the past week. That is totally untrue. I will deal with the second part of the question relating to the UK officers. Since the start of the direct entry accelerated training program on 22 May this year, 119 officers have arrived from overseas. Some of them are still going through the academy; others have finished their course and are now working as WA police officers. Of those 119, one officer has resigned. Again, the other side has totally misrepresented the situation. It has sought to undermine confidence in WA Police. For what narrow political reason, I do not understand. The opposition should be ashamed of itself when it continues this approach of trying to undermine confidence in WA Police by making statements that are factually wrong and seeking to create the impression that there is a crisis in WA Police. That is not the case, and it serves only the interests of a corrupt opposition that must be morally bankrupt when it has to make those outlandish claims.
(1) Can the minister enlighten the taxpayers of Western Australia as to how many police officers have resigned from WA Police in the past week? (2) How many of these were recently recruited British police officers? (3) Will the minister seek to ensure that officers recruited from outside WA with the use of taxpayers’ money are subject to a two-year contract, as is the case in South Australia? Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: (1)-(3) I thank the member for the question, because it gives me the opportunity to again point out my utter horror at the opposition seeking to undermine public confidence in WA Police, and internal confidence, by making claims that are totally wrong. Therefore, I appreciate that the member has given me the opportunity to correct the very misleading information that was contained in his question yesterday. The member asked - he is clearly claiming this - whether 20 officers had resigned in the past week. According to the information provided by the police, from 20 to 27 September nine officers left WA Police, not 20. Eight resigned and one retired. It was not 20. The opposition is exaggerating for the purpose - Point of Order Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The minister is quoting from official documents. I ask that he table those documents. The SPEAKER : If the minister is quoting from an official document, he should table it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.C. KOBELKE : I am happy to table it. However, it is not an official document; it is some notes containing the numbers, because I am keen to get them right when the opposition is putting out false and misleading numbers in an effort to undermine confidence in WA Police. That is an absolutely unacceptable situation. This is happening again and again. Two weeks ago, the member for Murray said that four of those United Kingdom officers had left. The Commissioner of Police had to correct him and point out that that was absolutely wrong. At that stage not a single officer had left. Yesterday, the member for Hillarys suggested again that 20 officers had left in the past week. That is totally untrue. I will deal with the second part of the question relating to the UK officers. Since the start of the direct entry accelerated training program on 22 May this year, 119 officers have arrived from overseas. Some of them are still going through the academy; others have finished their course and are now working as WA police officers. Of those 119, one officer has resigned. Again, the other side has totally misrepresented the situation. It has sought to undermine confidence in WA Police. For what narrow political reason, I do not understand. The opposition should be ashamed of itself when it continues this approach of trying to undermine confidence in WA Police by making statements that are factually wrong and seeking to create the impression that there is a crisis in WA Police. That is not the case, and it serves only the interests of a corrupt opposition that must be morally bankrupt when it has to make those outlandish claims.
(2) How many of these were recently recruited British police officers? (3) Will the minister seek to ensure that officers recruited from outside WA with the use of taxpayers’ money are subject to a two-year contract, as is the case in South Australia? Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: (1)-(3) I thank the member for the question, because it gives me the opportunity to again point out my utter horror at the opposition seeking to undermine public confidence in WA Police, and internal confidence, by making claims that are totally wrong. Therefore, I appreciate that the member has given me the opportunity to correct the very misleading information that was contained in his question yesterday. The member asked - he is clearly claiming this - whether 20 officers had resigned in the past week. According to the information provided by the police, from 20 to 27 September nine officers left WA Police, not 20. Eight resigned and one retired. It was not 20. The opposition is exaggerating for the purpose - Point of Order Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The minister is quoting from official documents. I ask that he table those documents. The SPEAKER : If the minister is quoting from an official document, he should table it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.C. KOBELKE : I am happy to table it. However, it is not an official document; it is some notes containing the numbers, because I am keen to get them right when the opposition is putting out false and misleading numbers in an effort to undermine confidence in WA Police. That is an absolutely unacceptable situation. This is happening again and again. Two weeks ago, the member for Murray said that four of those United Kingdom officers had left. The Commissioner of Police had to correct him and point out that that was absolutely wrong. At that stage not a single officer had left. Yesterday, the member for Hillarys suggested again that 20 officers had left in the past week. That is totally untrue. I will deal with the second part of the question relating to the UK officers. Since the start of the direct entry accelerated training program on 22 May this year, 119 officers have arrived from overseas. Some of them are still going through the academy; others have finished their course and are now working as WA police officers. Of those 119, one officer has resigned. Again, the other side has totally misrepresented the situation. It has sought to undermine confidence in WA Police. For what narrow political reason, I do not understand. The opposition should be ashamed of itself when it continues this approach of trying to undermine confidence in WA Police by making statements that are factually wrong and seeking to create the impression that there is a crisis in WA Police. That is not the case, and it serves only the interests of a corrupt opposition that must be morally bankrupt when it has to make those outlandish claims.
(3) Will the minister seek to ensure that officers recruited from outside WA with the use of taxpayers’ money are subject to a two-year contract, as is the case in South Australia? Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: (1)-(3) I thank the member for the question, because it gives me the opportunity to again point out my utter horror at the opposition seeking to undermine public confidence in WA Police, and internal confidence, by making claims that are totally wrong. Therefore, I appreciate that the member has given me the opportunity to correct the very misleading information that was contained in his question yesterday. The member asked - he is clearly claiming this - whether 20 officers had resigned in the past week. According to the information provided by the police, from 20 to 27 September nine officers left WA Police, not 20. Eight resigned and one retired. It was not 20. The opposition is exaggerating for the purpose - Point of Order Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The minister is quoting from official documents. I ask that he table those documents. The SPEAKER : If the minister is quoting from an official document, he should table it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.C. KOBELKE : I am happy to table it. However, it is not an official document; it is some notes containing the numbers, because I am keen to get them right when the opposition is putting out false and misleading numbers in an effort to undermine confidence in WA Police. That is an absolutely unacceptable situation. This is happening again and again. Two weeks ago, the member for Murray said that four of those United Kingdom officers had left. The Commissioner of Police had to correct him and point out that that was absolutely wrong. At that stage not a single officer had left. Yesterday, the member for Hillarys suggested again that 20 officers had left in the past week. That is totally untrue. I will deal with the second part of the question relating to the UK officers. Since the start of the direct entry accelerated training program on 22 May this year, 119 officers have arrived from overseas. Some of them are still going through the academy; others have finished their course and are now working as WA police officers. Of those 119, one officer has resigned. Again, the other side has totally misrepresented the situation. It has sought to undermine confidence in WA Police. For what narrow political reason, I do not understand. The opposition should be ashamed of itself when it continues this approach of trying to undermine confidence in WA Police by making statements that are factually wrong and seeking to create the impression that there is a crisis in WA Police. That is not the case, and it serves only the interests of a corrupt opposition that must be morally bankrupt when it has to make those outlandish claims.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: (1)-(3) I thank the member for the question, because it gives me the opportunity to again point out my utter horror at the opposition seeking to undermine public confidence in WA Police, and internal confidence, by making claims that are totally wrong. Therefore, I appreciate that the member has given me the opportunity to correct the very misleading information that was contained in his question yesterday. The member asked - he is clearly claiming this - whether 20 officers had resigned in the past week. According to the information provided by the police, from 20 to 27 September nine officers left WA Police, not 20. Eight resigned and one retired. It was not 20. The opposition is exaggerating for the purpose - Point of Order Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The minister is quoting from official documents. I ask that he table those documents. The SPEAKER : If the minister is quoting from an official document, he should table it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.C. KOBELKE : I am happy to table it. However, it is not an official document; it is some notes containing the numbers, because I am keen to get them right when the opposition is putting out false and misleading numbers in an effort to undermine confidence in WA Police. That is an absolutely unacceptable situation. This is happening again and again. Two weeks ago, the member for Murray said that four of those United Kingdom officers had left. The Commissioner of Police had to correct him and point out that that was absolutely wrong. At that stage not a single officer had left. Yesterday, the member for Hillarys suggested again that 20 officers had left in the past week. That is totally untrue. I will deal with the second part of the question relating to the UK officers. Since the start of the direct entry accelerated training program on 22 May this year, 119 officers have arrived from overseas. Some of them are still going through the academy; others have finished their course and are now working as WA police officers. Of those 119, one officer has resigned. Again, the other side has totally misrepresented the situation. It has sought to undermine confidence in WA Police. For what narrow political reason, I do not understand. The opposition should be ashamed of itself when it continues this approach of trying to undermine confidence in WA Police by making statements that are factually wrong and seeking to create the impression that there is a crisis in WA Police. That is not the case, and it serves only the interests of a corrupt opposition that must be morally bankrupt when it has to make those outlandish claims.
(1)-(3) I thank the member for the question, because it gives me the opportunity to again point out my utter horror at the opposition seeking to undermine public confidence in WA Police, and internal confidence, by making claims that are totally wrong. Therefore, I appreciate that the member has given me the opportunity to correct the very misleading information that was contained in his question yesterday. The member asked - he is clearly claiming this - whether 20 officers had resigned in the past week. According to the information provided by the police, from 20 to 27 September nine officers left WA Police, not 20. Eight resigned and one retired. It was not 20. The opposition is exaggerating for the purpose - Point of Order Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The minister is quoting from official documents. I ask that he table those documents. The SPEAKER : If the minister is quoting from an official document, he should table it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.C. KOBELKE : I am happy to table it. However, it is not an official document; it is some notes containing the numbers, because I am keen to get them right when the opposition is putting out false and misleading numbers in an effort to undermine confidence in WA Police. That is an absolutely unacceptable situation. This is happening again and again. Two weeks ago, the member for Murray said that four of those United Kingdom officers had left. The Commissioner of Police had to correct him and point out that that was absolutely wrong. At that stage not a single officer had left. Yesterday, the member for Hillarys suggested again that 20 officers had left in the past week. That is totally untrue. I will deal with the second part of the question relating to the UK officers. Since the start of the direct entry accelerated training program on 22 May this year, 119 officers have arrived from overseas. Some of them are still going through the academy; others have finished their course and are now working as WA police officers. Of those 119, one officer has resigned. Again, the other side has totally misrepresented the situation. It has sought to undermine confidence in WA Police. For what narrow political reason, I do not understand. The opposition should be ashamed of itself when it continues this approach of trying to undermine confidence in WA Police by making statements that are factually wrong and seeking to create the impression that there is a crisis in WA Police. That is not the case, and it serves only the interests of a corrupt opposition that must be morally bankrupt when it has to make those outlandish claims.
The SPEAKER : If the minister is quoting from an official document, he should table it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.C. KOBELKE : I am happy to table it. However, it is not an official document; it is some notes containing the numbers, because I am keen to get them right when the opposition is putting out false and misleading numbers in an effort to undermine confidence in WA Police. That is an absolutely unacceptable situation. This is happening again and again. Two weeks ago, the member for Murray said that four of those United Kingdom officers had left. The Commissioner of Police had to correct him and point out that that was absolutely wrong. At that stage not a single officer had left. Yesterday, the member for Hillarys suggested again that 20 officers had left in the past week. That is totally untrue. I will deal with the second part of the question relating to the UK officers. Since the start of the direct entry accelerated training program on 22 May this year, 119 officers have arrived from overseas. Some of them are still going through the academy; others have finished their course and are now working as WA police officers. Of those 119, one officer has resigned. Again, the other side has totally misrepresented the situation. It has sought to undermine confidence in WA Police. For what narrow political reason, I do not understand. The opposition should be ashamed of itself when it continues this approach of trying to undermine confidence in WA Police by making statements that are factually wrong and seeking to create the impression that there is a crisis in WA Police. That is not the case, and it serves only the interests of a corrupt opposition that must be morally bankrupt when it has to make those outlandish claims.
I will deal with the second part of the question relating to the UK officers. Since the start of the direct entry accelerated training program on 22 May this year, 119 officers have arrived from overseas. Some of them are still going through the academy; others have finished their course and are now working as WA police officers. Of those 119, one officer has resigned. Again, the other side has totally misrepresented the situation. It has sought to undermine confidence in WA Police. For what narrow political reason, I do not understand. The opposition should be ashamed of itself when it continues this approach of trying to undermine confidence in WA Police by making statements that are factually wrong and seeking to create the impression that there is a crisis in WA Police. That is not the case, and it serves only the interests of a corrupt opposition that must be morally bankrupt when it has to make those outlandish claims.
(1) Can the minister enlighten the taxpayers of Western Australia as to how many police officers have resigned from WA Police in the past week? (2) How many of these were recently recruited British police officers? (3) Will the minister seek to ensure that officers recruited from outside WA with the use of taxpayers’ money are subject to a two-year contract, as is the case in South Australia? Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: (1)-(3) I thank the member for the question, because it gives me the opportunity to again point out my utter horror at the opposition seeking to undermine public confidence in WA Police, and internal confidence, by making claims that are totally wrong. Therefore, I appreciate that the member has given me the opportunity to correct the very misleading information that was contained in his question yesterday. The member asked - he is clearly claiming this - whether 20 officers had resigned in the past week. According to the information provided by the police, from 20 to 27 September nine officers left WA Police, not 20. Eight resigned and one retired. It was not 20. The opposition is exaggerating for the purpose - Point of Order Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The minister is quoting from official documents. I ask that he table those documents. The SPEAKER : If the minister is quoting from an official document, he should table it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.C. KOBELKE : I am happy to table it. However, it is not an official document; it is some notes containing the numbers, because I am keen to get them right when the opposition is putting out false and misleading numbers in an effort to undermine confidence in WA Police. That is an absolutely unacceptable situation. This is happening again and again. Two weeks ago, the member for Murray said that four of those United Kingdom officers had left. The Commissioner of Police had to correct him and point out that that was absolutely wrong. At that stage not a single officer had left. Yesterday, the member for Hillarys suggested again that 20 officers had left in the past week. That is totally untrue. I will deal with the second part of the question relating to the UK officers. Since the start of the direct entry accelerated training program on 22 May this year, 119 officers have arrived from overseas. Some of them are still going through the academy; others have finished their course and are now working as WA police officers. Of those 119, one officer has resigned. Again, the other side has totally misrepresented the situation. It has sought to undermine confidence in WA Police. For what narrow political reason, I do not understand. The opposition should be ashamed of itself when it continues this approach of trying to undermine confidence in WA Police by making statements that are factually wrong and seeking to create the impression that there is a crisis in WA Police. That is not the case, and it serves only the interests of a corrupt opposition that must be morally bankrupt when it has to make those outlandish claims.
(2) How many of these were recently recruited British police officers? (3) Will the minister seek to ensure that officers recruited from outside WA with the use of taxpayers’ money are subject to a two-year contract, as is the case in South Australia? Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: (1)-(3) I thank the member for the question, because it gives me the opportunity to again point out my utter horror at the opposition seeking to undermine public confidence in WA Police, and internal confidence, by making claims that are totally wrong. Therefore, I appreciate that the member has given me the opportunity to correct the very misleading information that was contained in his question yesterday. The member asked - he is clearly claiming this - whether 20 officers had resigned in the past week. According to the information provided by the police, from 20 to 27 September nine officers left WA Police, not 20. Eight resigned and one retired. It was not 20. The opposition is exaggerating for the purpose - Point of Order Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The minister is quoting from official documents. I ask that he table those documents. The SPEAKER : If the minister is quoting from an official document, he should table it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.C. KOBELKE : I am happy to table it. However, it is not an official document; it is some notes containing the numbers, because I am keen to get them right when the opposition is putting out false and misleading numbers in an effort to undermine confidence in WA Police. That is an absolutely unacceptable situation. This is happening again and again. Two weeks ago, the member for Murray said that four of those United Kingdom officers had left. The Commissioner of Police had to correct him and point out that that was absolutely wrong. At that stage not a single officer had left. Yesterday, the member for Hillarys suggested again that 20 officers had left in the past week. That is totally untrue. I will deal with the second part of the question relating to the UK officers. Since the start of the direct entry accelerated training program on 22 May this year, 119 officers have arrived from overseas. Some of them are still going through the academy; others have finished their course and are now working as WA police officers. Of those 119, one officer has resigned. Again, the other side has totally misrepresented the situation. It has sought to undermine confidence in WA Police. For what narrow political reason, I do not understand. The opposition should be ashamed of itself when it continues this approach of trying to undermine confidence in WA Police by making statements that are factually wrong and seeking to create the impression that there is a crisis in WA Police. That is not the case, and it serves only the interests of a corrupt opposition that must be morally bankrupt when it has to make those outlandish claims.
(3) Will the minister seek to ensure that officers recruited from outside WA with the use of taxpayers’ money are subject to a two-year contract, as is the case in South Australia? Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: (1)-(3) I thank the member for the question, because it gives me the opportunity to again point out my utter horror at the opposition seeking to undermine public confidence in WA Police, and internal confidence, by making claims that are totally wrong. Therefore, I appreciate that the member has given me the opportunity to correct the very misleading information that was contained in his question yesterday. The member asked - he is clearly claiming this - whether 20 officers had resigned in the past week. According to the information provided by the police, from 20 to 27 September nine officers left WA Police, not 20. Eight resigned and one retired. It was not 20. The opposition is exaggerating for the purpose - Point of Order Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The minister is quoting from official documents. I ask that he table those documents. The SPEAKER : If the minister is quoting from an official document, he should table it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.C. KOBELKE : I am happy to table it. However, it is not an official document; it is some notes containing the numbers, because I am keen to get them right when the opposition is putting out false and misleading numbers in an effort to undermine confidence in WA Police. That is an absolutely unacceptable situation. This is happening again and again. Two weeks ago, the member for Murray said that four of those United Kingdom officers had left. The Commissioner of Police had to correct him and point out that that was absolutely wrong. At that stage not a single officer had left. Yesterday, the member for Hillarys suggested again that 20 officers had left in the past week. That is totally untrue. I will deal with the second part of the question relating to the UK officers. Since the start of the direct entry accelerated training program on 22 May this year, 119 officers have arrived from overseas. Some of them are still going through the academy; others have finished their course and are now working as WA police officers. Of those 119, one officer has resigned. Again, the other side has totally misrepresented the situation. It has sought to undermine confidence in WA Police. For what narrow political reason, I do not understand. The opposition should be ashamed of itself when it continues this approach of trying to undermine confidence in WA Police by making statements that are factually wrong and seeking to create the impression that there is a crisis in WA Police. That is not the case, and it serves only the interests of a corrupt opposition that must be morally bankrupt when it has to make those outlandish claims.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: (1)-(3) I thank the member for the question, because it gives me the opportunity to again point out my utter horror at the opposition seeking to undermine public confidence in WA Police, and internal confidence, by making claims that are totally wrong. Therefore, I appreciate that the member has given me the opportunity to correct the very misleading information that was contained in his question yesterday. The member asked - he is clearly claiming this - whether 20 officers had resigned in the past week. According to the information provided by the police, from 20 to 27 September nine officers left WA Police, not 20. Eight resigned and one retired. It was not 20. The opposition is exaggerating for the purpose - Point of Order Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The minister is quoting from official documents. I ask that he table those documents. The SPEAKER : If the minister is quoting from an official document, he should table it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.C. KOBELKE : I am happy to table it. However, it is not an official document; it is some notes containing the numbers, because I am keen to get them right when the opposition is putting out false and misleading numbers in an effort to undermine confidence in WA Police. That is an absolutely unacceptable situation. This is happening again and again. Two weeks ago, the member for Murray said that four of those United Kingdom officers had left. The Commissioner of Police had to correct him and point out that that was absolutely wrong. At that stage not a single officer had left. Yesterday, the member for Hillarys suggested again that 20 officers had left in the past week. That is totally untrue. I will deal with the second part of the question relating to the UK officers. Since the start of the direct entry accelerated training program on 22 May this year, 119 officers have arrived from overseas. Some of them are still going through the academy; others have finished their course and are now working as WA police officers. Of those 119, one officer has resigned. Again, the other side has totally misrepresented the situation. It has sought to undermine confidence in WA Police. For what narrow political reason, I do not understand. The opposition should be ashamed of itself when it continues this approach of trying to undermine confidence in WA Police by making statements that are factually wrong and seeking to create the impression that there is a crisis in WA Police. That is not the case, and it serves only the interests of a corrupt opposition that must be morally bankrupt when it has to make those outlandish claims.
(1)-(3) I thank the member for the question, because it gives me the opportunity to again point out my utter horror at the opposition seeking to undermine public confidence in WA Police, and internal confidence, by making claims that are totally wrong. Therefore, I appreciate that the member has given me the opportunity to correct the very misleading information that was contained in his question yesterday. The member asked - he is clearly claiming this - whether 20 officers had resigned in the past week. According to the information provided by the police, from 20 to 27 September nine officers left WA Police, not 20. Eight resigned and one retired. It was not 20. The opposition is exaggerating for the purpose - Point of Order Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The minister is quoting from official documents. I ask that he table those documents. The SPEAKER : If the minister is quoting from an official document, he should table it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.C. KOBELKE : I am happy to table it. However, it is not an official document; it is some notes containing the numbers, because I am keen to get them right when the opposition is putting out false and misleading numbers in an effort to undermine confidence in WA Police. That is an absolutely unacceptable situation. This is happening again and again. Two weeks ago, the member for Murray said that four of those United Kingdom officers had left. The Commissioner of Police had to correct him and point out that that was absolutely wrong. At that stage not a single officer had left. Yesterday, the member for Hillarys suggested again that 20 officers had left in the past week. That is totally untrue. I will deal with the second part of the question relating to the UK officers. Since the start of the direct entry accelerated training program on 22 May this year, 119 officers have arrived from overseas. Some of them are still going through the academy; others have finished their course and are now working as WA police officers. Of those 119, one officer has resigned. Again, the other side has totally misrepresented the situation. It has sought to undermine confidence in WA Police. For what narrow political reason, I do not understand. The opposition should be ashamed of itself when it continues this approach of trying to undermine confidence in WA Police by making statements that are factually wrong and seeking to create the impression that there is a crisis in WA Police. That is not the case, and it serves only the interests of a corrupt opposition that must be morally bankrupt when it has to make those outlandish claims.
The SPEAKER : If the minister is quoting from an official document, he should table it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.C. KOBELKE : I am happy to table it. However, it is not an official document; it is some notes containing the numbers, because I am keen to get them right when the opposition is putting out false and misleading numbers in an effort to undermine confidence in WA Police. That is an absolutely unacceptable situation. This is happening again and again. Two weeks ago, the member for Murray said that four of those United Kingdom officers had left. The Commissioner of Police had to correct him and point out that that was absolutely wrong. At that stage not a single officer had left. Yesterday, the member for Hillarys suggested again that 20 officers had left in the past week. That is totally untrue. I will deal with the second part of the question relating to the UK officers. Since the start of the direct entry accelerated training program on 22 May this year, 119 officers have arrived from overseas. Some of them are still going through the academy; others have finished their course and are now working as WA police officers. Of those 119, one officer has resigned. Again, the other side has totally misrepresented the situation. It has sought to undermine confidence in WA Police. For what narrow political reason, I do not understand. The opposition should be ashamed of itself when it continues this approach of trying to undermine confidence in WA Police by making statements that are factually wrong and seeking to create the impression that there is a crisis in WA Police. That is not the case, and it serves only the interests of a corrupt opposition that must be morally bankrupt when it has to make those outlandish claims.
I will deal with the second part of the question relating to the UK officers. Since the start of the direct entry accelerated training program on 22 May this year, 119 officers have arrived from overseas. Some of them are still going through the academy; others have finished their course and are now working as WA police officers. Of those 119, one officer has resigned. Again, the other side has totally misrepresented the situation. It has sought to undermine confidence in WA Police. For what narrow political reason, I do not understand. The opposition should be ashamed of itself when it continues this approach of trying to undermine confidence in WA Police by making statements that are factually wrong and seeking to create the impression that there is a crisis in WA Police. That is not the case, and it serves only the interests of a corrupt opposition that must be morally bankrupt when it has to make those outlandish claims.
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