❓ Question regarding the Minister's awareness and actions related to the Kevin Spratt tasering incident. The Minister provides a timeline of when he was informed and actions taken, while also deflecting blame to the previous Labor government.
AnsweredQoN 588Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
TASER USE — KEVIN SPRATT INCIDENT
I refer to the incident aired on television last week showing Mr Kevin Spratt being tasered 13 times in the Perth watch-house; an incident described by the Attorney General as an outrageous use of police force. (1) When was the minister first advised of this incident? (2) By whom was the minister advised of this incident? (3) Was the minister shown the video of the incident by those who advised him? (4) Did the minister know about the Corruption and Crime Commission inquiry into this, and what did he do? Mr R.F. JOHNSON
I refer to the incident aired on television last week showing Mr Kevin Spratt being tasered 13 times in the Perth watch-house; an incident described by the Attorney General as an outrageous use of police force. (1) When was the minister first advised of this incident? (2) By whom was the minister advised of this incident? (3) Was the minister shown the video of the incident by those who advised him? (4) Did the minister know about the Corruption and Crime Commission inquiry into this, and what did he do? Mr R.F. JOHNSON
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question. I was expecting that question to be asked by the shadow Minister for Police, but obviously there has been a change in portfolios in the Labor Party? Mrs M.H. Roberts : Answer the question! Mr J.R. Quigley : Answer the question! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am very happy to answer the question. Mr J.R. Quigley : It is a serious question. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : It is a serious question. The SPEAKER : There has been a question asked in this place, which I presume is serious. I do not need other people reminding other people of that. If members want answers, remain silent for a while. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There were four parts to the question. (1)–(4) The first part was — Mr M. McGowan : When? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, the first part was “Who?” Mr J.R. Quigley : “When was the minister first advised of the incident?” Mr R.F. JOHNSON : When was I advised? I think the first I heard about this was back in May—this answers the second part of the question as well—when the Commissioner of Police told me verbally about a review into Taser use and he highlighted this incident as being a serious one. Was I ever shown the video? Let me tell the member that the first time I was ever shown the closed-circuit television coverage of this was on Saturday when I returned from leave. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You’re really on top of things, aren’t you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If this is a serious question, then listen to the answer without interruptions. Let us not forget this happened under the Labor government’s watch. The question should be: “Was the former Minister for Police made aware of this incident when it took place in August 2008?” Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Was the member for Girrawheen aware, when she was the Minister for Corrective Services in 2008, of the further CCTV coverage? I take it from the silence opposite that maybe they were aware but because there was an election coming up they took no action at all. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. I believe the member for Mindarie has asked a serious question in this place. I would like him to have the opportunity to hear the answer, but other members are preventing that from happening. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : This is a very serious issue—of course it is. I was first made aware of it, I think, in about May, by the Commissioner of Police when he was talking to me in general terms about a review into the use of Tasers. I think there were about five different incidents that he referred to. Of course, I did not know the severity of the incident at the Perth watch-house until I actually — Mr M.P. Whitely : Did you ask? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There was an internal investigation going on immediately after this incident took place, which I have got to commend the police for. Let us not forget that as soon as a senior officer saw the CCTV footage of this attack by the two officers with their Tasers against Mr Spratt, the senior officer immediately instigated an internal inquiry. That inquiry was overseen by the Deputy Commissioner of Police. When an inquiry is going on, it is not appropriate for the minister to get involved. However, I was made aware, I think in May this year, of the general context of five different events that took place. When was I shown the video? As I say, the first time I saw it—that CCTV coverage was held by the Corruption and Crime Commission—the police had initiated an immediate internal investigation. The police went to the Director of Public Prosecutions and asked the DPP whether the police should lay any charges in relation to the two police officers. As far as I understand, the DPP told the police, “You need a complainant. I suggest you go and talk to the complainant”, which the police did, along with the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia. The complainant was then in prison, as I understand. I understand also that the complainant did not want to prefer charges. He wanted the police to carry out an internal investigation and to deal with it internally. That is all the information I had at that time. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you do anything? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid question. Did I do anything? I was not even aware of this until the whole thing became public. I heard about the initial Taser incident in May, as I have said, but not the whole detail. It was not until this Saturday that I saw the CCTV footage, and I was horrified. Of course I was horrified, just like everyone else. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you know there was a CCC investigation underway? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I became aware that the CCC was carrying out an inquiry into the use of Tasers. Mr E.S. Ripper : When was that? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I think that was probably about May as well. During all this time, it has been either under an internal police investigation or under an investigation of the CCC. I could not be expected to have known about the details of this footage or to have sighted this footage—it would have been inappropriate for me to have done that—while an investigation was going on. Ms M.M. Quirk : Why? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member for Girrawheen was a minister when this event took place, and so was the member for Balcatta. What did they do about it? They covered it up because there was an election due. I am telling members the truth. The trouble is that the truth hurts. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That was not part of your initial briefing, as minister, from what I have seen. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What did the member say? Mrs M.H. Roberts : You were elected in September and the incident happened in August. Was it part of your original briefing as the minister, or not? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, it was not. I assume that the previous minister was informed and that both previous ministers were informed about both incidents. I was not informed about it when I took over as police minister. I assure the member that I have been through all the briefing notes, because I wanted to know, and it is not there.
(1) When was the minister first advised of this incident? (2) By whom was the minister advised of this incident? (3) Was the minister shown the video of the incident by those who advised him? (4) Did the minister know about the Corruption and Crime Commission inquiry into this, and what did he do? Mr R.F. JOHNSON replied: I thank the member for the question. I was expecting that question to be asked by the shadow Minister for Police, but obviously there has been a change in portfolios in the Labor Party? Mrs M.H. Roberts : Answer the question! Mr J.R. Quigley : Answer the question! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am very happy to answer the question. Mr J.R. Quigley : It is a serious question. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : It is a serious question. The SPEAKER : There has been a question asked in this place, which I presume is serious. I do not need other people reminding other people of that. If members want answers, remain silent for a while. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There were four parts to the question. (1)–(4) The first part was — Mr M. McGowan : When? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, the first part was “Who?” Mr J.R. Quigley : “When was the minister first advised of the incident?” Mr R.F. JOHNSON : When was I advised? I think the first I heard about this was back in May—this answers the second part of the question as well—when the Commissioner of Police told me verbally about a review into Taser use and he highlighted this incident as being a serious one. Was I ever shown the video? Let me tell the member that the first time I was ever shown the closed-circuit television coverage of this was on Saturday when I returned from leave. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You’re really on top of things, aren’t you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If this is a serious question, then listen to the answer without interruptions. Let us not forget this happened under the Labor government’s watch. The question should be: “Was the former Minister for Police made aware of this incident when it took place in August 2008?” Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Was the member for Girrawheen aware, when she was the Minister for Corrective Services in 2008, of the further CCTV coverage? I take it from the silence opposite that maybe they were aware but because there was an election coming up they took no action at all. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. I believe the member for Mindarie has asked a serious question in this place. I would like him to have the opportunity to hear the answer, but other members are preventing that from happening. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : This is a very serious issue—of course it is. I was first made aware of it, I think, in about May, by the Commissioner of Police when he was talking to me in general terms about a review into the use of Tasers. I think there were about five different incidents that he referred to. Of course, I did not know the severity of the incident at the Perth watch-house until I actually — Mr M.P. Whitely : Did you ask? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There was an internal investigation going on immediately after this incident took place, which I have got to commend the police for. Let us not forget that as soon as a senior officer saw the CCTV footage of this attack by the two officers with their Tasers against Mr Spratt, the senior officer immediately instigated an internal inquiry. That inquiry was overseen by the Deputy Commissioner of Police. When an inquiry is going on, it is not appropriate for the minister to get involved. However, I was made aware, I think in May this year, of the general context of five different events that took place. When was I shown the video? As I say, the first time I saw it—that CCTV coverage was held by the Corruption and Crime Commission—the police had initiated an immediate internal investigation. The police went to the Director of Public Prosecutions and asked the DPP whether the police should lay any charges in relation to the two police officers. As far as I understand, the DPP told the police, “You need a complainant. I suggest you go and talk to the complainant”, which the police did, along with the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia. The complainant was then in prison, as I understand. I understand also that the complainant did not want to prefer charges. He wanted the police to carry out an internal investigation and to deal with it internally. That is all the information I had at that time. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you do anything? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid question. Did I do anything? I was not even aware of this until the whole thing became public. I heard about the initial Taser incident in May, as I have said, but not the whole detail. It was not until this Saturday that I saw the CCTV footage, and I was horrified. Of course I was horrified, just like everyone else. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you know there was a CCC investigation underway? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I became aware that the CCC was carrying out an inquiry into the use of Tasers. Mr E.S. Ripper : When was that? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I think that was probably about May as well. During all this time, it has been either under an internal police investigation or under an investigation of the CCC. I could not be expected to have known about the details of this footage or to have sighted this footage—it would have been inappropriate for me to have done that—while an investigation was going on. Ms M.M. Quirk : Why? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member for Girrawheen was a minister when this event took place, and so was the member for Balcatta. What did they do about it? They covered it up because there was an election due. I am telling members the truth. The trouble is that the truth hurts. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That was not part of your initial briefing, as minister, from what I have seen. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What did the member say? Mrs M.H. Roberts : You were elected in September and the incident happened in August. Was it part of your original briefing as the minister, or not? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, it was not. I assume that the previous minister was informed and that both previous ministers were informed about both incidents. I was not informed about it when I took over as police minister. I assure the member that I have been through all the briefing notes, because I wanted to know, and it is not there.
(2) By whom was the minister advised of this incident? (3) Was the minister shown the video of the incident by those who advised him? (4) Did the minister know about the Corruption and Crime Commission inquiry into this, and what did he do? Mr R.F. JOHNSON replied: I thank the member for the question. I was expecting that question to be asked by the shadow Minister for Police, but obviously there has been a change in portfolios in the Labor Party? Mrs M.H. Roberts : Answer the question! Mr J.R. Quigley : Answer the question! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am very happy to answer the question. Mr J.R. Quigley : It is a serious question. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : It is a serious question. The SPEAKER : There has been a question asked in this place, which I presume is serious. I do not need other people reminding other people of that. If members want answers, remain silent for a while. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There were four parts to the question. (1)–(4) The first part was — Mr M. McGowan : When? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, the first part was “Who?” Mr J.R. Quigley : “When was the minister first advised of the incident?” Mr R.F. JOHNSON : When was I advised? I think the first I heard about this was back in May—this answers the second part of the question as well—when the Commissioner of Police told me verbally about a review into Taser use and he highlighted this incident as being a serious one. Was I ever shown the video? Let me tell the member that the first time I was ever shown the closed-circuit television coverage of this was on Saturday when I returned from leave. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You’re really on top of things, aren’t you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If this is a serious question, then listen to the answer without interruptions. Let us not forget this happened under the Labor government’s watch. The question should be: “Was the former Minister for Police made aware of this incident when it took place in August 2008?” Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Was the member for Girrawheen aware, when she was the Minister for Corrective Services in 2008, of the further CCTV coverage? I take it from the silence opposite that maybe they were aware but because there was an election coming up they took no action at all. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. I believe the member for Mindarie has asked a serious question in this place. I would like him to have the opportunity to hear the answer, but other members are preventing that from happening. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : This is a very serious issue—of course it is. I was first made aware of it, I think, in about May, by the Commissioner of Police when he was talking to me in general terms about a review into the use of Tasers. I think there were about five different incidents that he referred to. Of course, I did not know the severity of the incident at the Perth watch-house until I actually — Mr M.P. Whitely : Did you ask? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There was an internal investigation going on immediately after this incident took place, which I have got to commend the police for. Let us not forget that as soon as a senior officer saw the CCTV footage of this attack by the two officers with their Tasers against Mr Spratt, the senior officer immediately instigated an internal inquiry. That inquiry was overseen by the Deputy Commissioner of Police. When an inquiry is going on, it is not appropriate for the minister to get involved. However, I was made aware, I think in May this year, of the general context of five different events that took place. When was I shown the video? As I say, the first time I saw it—that CCTV coverage was held by the Corruption and Crime Commission—the police had initiated an immediate internal investigation. The police went to the Director of Public Prosecutions and asked the DPP whether the police should lay any charges in relation to the two police officers. As far as I understand, the DPP told the police, “You need a complainant. I suggest you go and talk to the complainant”, which the police did, along with the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia. The complainant was then in prison, as I understand. I understand also that the complainant did not want to prefer charges. He wanted the police to carry out an internal investigation and to deal with it internally. That is all the information I had at that time. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you do anything? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid question. Did I do anything? I was not even aware of this until the whole thing became public. I heard about the initial Taser incident in May, as I have said, but not the whole detail. It was not until this Saturday that I saw the CCTV footage, and I was horrified. Of course I was horrified, just like everyone else. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you know there was a CCC investigation underway? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I became aware that the CCC was carrying out an inquiry into the use of Tasers. Mr E.S. Ripper : When was that? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I think that was probably about May as well. During all this time, it has been either under an internal police investigation or under an investigation of the CCC. I could not be expected to have known about the details of this footage or to have sighted this footage—it would have been inappropriate for me to have done that—while an investigation was going on. Ms M.M. Quirk : Why? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member for Girrawheen was a minister when this event took place, and so was the member for Balcatta. What did they do about it? They covered it up because there was an election due. I am telling members the truth. The trouble is that the truth hurts. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That was not part of your initial briefing, as minister, from what I have seen. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What did the member say? Mrs M.H. Roberts : You were elected in September and the incident happened in August. Was it part of your original briefing as the minister, or not? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, it was not. I assume that the previous minister was informed and that both previous ministers were informed about both incidents. I was not informed about it when I took over as police minister. I assure the member that I have been through all the briefing notes, because I wanted to know, and it is not there.
(3) Was the minister shown the video of the incident by those who advised him? (4) Did the minister know about the Corruption and Crime Commission inquiry into this, and what did he do? Mr R.F. JOHNSON replied: I thank the member for the question. I was expecting that question to be asked by the shadow Minister for Police, but obviously there has been a change in portfolios in the Labor Party? Mrs M.H. Roberts : Answer the question! Mr J.R. Quigley : Answer the question! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am very happy to answer the question. Mr J.R. Quigley : It is a serious question. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : It is a serious question. The SPEAKER : There has been a question asked in this place, which I presume is serious. I do not need other people reminding other people of that. If members want answers, remain silent for a while. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There were four parts to the question. (1)–(4) The first part was — Mr M. McGowan : When? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, the first part was “Who?” Mr J.R. Quigley : “When was the minister first advised of the incident?” Mr R.F. JOHNSON : When was I advised? I think the first I heard about this was back in May—this answers the second part of the question as well—when the Commissioner of Police told me verbally about a review into Taser use and he highlighted this incident as being a serious one. Was I ever shown the video? Let me tell the member that the first time I was ever shown the closed-circuit television coverage of this was on Saturday when I returned from leave. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You’re really on top of things, aren’t you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If this is a serious question, then listen to the answer without interruptions. Let us not forget this happened under the Labor government’s watch. The question should be: “Was the former Minister for Police made aware of this incident when it took place in August 2008?” Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Was the member for Girrawheen aware, when she was the Minister for Corrective Services in 2008, of the further CCTV coverage? I take it from the silence opposite that maybe they were aware but because there was an election coming up they took no action at all. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. I believe the member for Mindarie has asked a serious question in this place. I would like him to have the opportunity to hear the answer, but other members are preventing that from happening. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : This is a very serious issue—of course it is. I was first made aware of it, I think, in about May, by the Commissioner of Police when he was talking to me in general terms about a review into the use of Tasers. I think there were about five different incidents that he referred to. Of course, I did not know the severity of the incident at the Perth watch-house until I actually — Mr M.P. Whitely : Did you ask? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There was an internal investigation going on immediately after this incident took place, which I have got to commend the police for. Let us not forget that as soon as a senior officer saw the CCTV footage of this attack by the two officers with their Tasers against Mr Spratt, the senior officer immediately instigated an internal inquiry. That inquiry was overseen by the Deputy Commissioner of Police. When an inquiry is going on, it is not appropriate for the minister to get involved. However, I was made aware, I think in May this year, of the general context of five different events that took place. When was I shown the video? As I say, the first time I saw it—that CCTV coverage was held by the Corruption and Crime Commission—the police had initiated an immediate internal investigation. The police went to the Director of Public Prosecutions and asked the DPP whether the police should lay any charges in relation to the two police officers. As far as I understand, the DPP told the police, “You need a complainant. I suggest you go and talk to the complainant”, which the police did, along with the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia. The complainant was then in prison, as I understand. I understand also that the complainant did not want to prefer charges. He wanted the police to carry out an internal investigation and to deal with it internally. That is all the information I had at that time. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you do anything? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid question. Did I do anything? I was not even aware of this until the whole thing became public. I heard about the initial Taser incident in May, as I have said, but not the whole detail. It was not until this Saturday that I saw the CCTV footage, and I was horrified. Of course I was horrified, just like everyone else. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you know there was a CCC investigation underway? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I became aware that the CCC was carrying out an inquiry into the use of Tasers. Mr E.S. Ripper : When was that? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I think that was probably about May as well. During all this time, it has been either under an internal police investigation or under an investigation of the CCC. I could not be expected to have known about the details of this footage or to have sighted this footage—it would have been inappropriate for me to have done that—while an investigation was going on. Ms M.M. Quirk : Why? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member for Girrawheen was a minister when this event took place, and so was the member for Balcatta. What did they do about it? They covered it up because there was an election due. I am telling members the truth. The trouble is that the truth hurts. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That was not part of your initial briefing, as minister, from what I have seen. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What did the member say? Mrs M.H. Roberts : You were elected in September and the incident happened in August. Was it part of your original briefing as the minister, or not? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, it was not. I assume that the previous minister was informed and that both previous ministers were informed about both incidents. I was not informed about it when I took over as police minister. I assure the member that I have been through all the briefing notes, because I wanted to know, and it is not there.
(4) Did the minister know about the Corruption and Crime Commission inquiry into this, and what did he do? Mr R.F. JOHNSON replied: I thank the member for the question. I was expecting that question to be asked by the shadow Minister for Police, but obviously there has been a change in portfolios in the Labor Party? Mrs M.H. Roberts : Answer the question! Mr J.R. Quigley : Answer the question! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am very happy to answer the question. Mr J.R. Quigley : It is a serious question. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : It is a serious question. The SPEAKER : There has been a question asked in this place, which I presume is serious. I do not need other people reminding other people of that. If members want answers, remain silent for a while. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There were four parts to the question. (1)–(4) The first part was — Mr M. McGowan : When? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, the first part was “Who?” Mr J.R. Quigley : “When was the minister first advised of the incident?” Mr R.F. JOHNSON : When was I advised? I think the first I heard about this was back in May—this answers the second part of the question as well—when the Commissioner of Police told me verbally about a review into Taser use and he highlighted this incident as being a serious one. Was I ever shown the video? Let me tell the member that the first time I was ever shown the closed-circuit television coverage of this was on Saturday when I returned from leave. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You’re really on top of things, aren’t you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If this is a serious question, then listen to the answer without interruptions. Let us not forget this happened under the Labor government’s watch. The question should be: “Was the former Minister for Police made aware of this incident when it took place in August 2008?” Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Was the member for Girrawheen aware, when she was the Minister for Corrective Services in 2008, of the further CCTV coverage? I take it from the silence opposite that maybe they were aware but because there was an election coming up they took no action at all. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. I believe the member for Mindarie has asked a serious question in this place. I would like him to have the opportunity to hear the answer, but other members are preventing that from happening. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : This is a very serious issue—of course it is. I was first made aware of it, I think, in about May, by the Commissioner of Police when he was talking to me in general terms about a review into the use of Tasers. I think there were about five different incidents that he referred to. Of course, I did not know the severity of the incident at the Perth watch-house until I actually — Mr M.P. Whitely : Did you ask? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There was an internal investigation going on immediately after this incident took place, which I have got to commend the police for. Let us not forget that as soon as a senior officer saw the CCTV footage of this attack by the two officers with their Tasers against Mr Spratt, the senior officer immediately instigated an internal inquiry. That inquiry was overseen by the Deputy Commissioner of Police. When an inquiry is going on, it is not appropriate for the minister to get involved. However, I was made aware, I think in May this year, of the general context of five different events that took place. When was I shown the video? As I say, the first time I saw it—that CCTV coverage was held by the Corruption and Crime Commission—the police had initiated an immediate internal investigation. The police went to the Director of Public Prosecutions and asked the DPP whether the police should lay any charges in relation to the two police officers. As far as I understand, the DPP told the police, “You need a complainant. I suggest you go and talk to the complainant”, which the police did, along with the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia. The complainant was then in prison, as I understand. I understand also that the complainant did not want to prefer charges. He wanted the police to carry out an internal investigation and to deal with it internally. That is all the information I had at that time. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you do anything? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid question. Did I do anything? I was not even aware of this until the whole thing became public. I heard about the initial Taser incident in May, as I have said, but not the whole detail. It was not until this Saturday that I saw the CCTV footage, and I was horrified. Of course I was horrified, just like everyone else. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you know there was a CCC investigation underway? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I became aware that the CCC was carrying out an inquiry into the use of Tasers. Mr E.S. Ripper : When was that? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I think that was probably about May as well. During all this time, it has been either under an internal police investigation or under an investigation of the CCC. I could not be expected to have known about the details of this footage or to have sighted this footage—it would have been inappropriate for me to have done that—while an investigation was going on. Ms M.M. Quirk : Why? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member for Girrawheen was a minister when this event took place, and so was the member for Balcatta. What did they do about it? They covered it up because there was an election due. I am telling members the truth. The trouble is that the truth hurts. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That was not part of your initial briefing, as minister, from what I have seen. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What did the member say? Mrs M.H. Roberts : You were elected in September and the incident happened in August. Was it part of your original briefing as the minister, or not? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, it was not. I assume that the previous minister was informed and that both previous ministers were informed about both incidents. I was not informed about it when I took over as police minister. I assure the member that I have been through all the briefing notes, because I wanted to know, and it is not there.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON replied: I thank the member for the question. I was expecting that question to be asked by the shadow Minister for Police, but obviously there has been a change in portfolios in the Labor Party? Mrs M.H. Roberts : Answer the question! Mr J.R. Quigley : Answer the question! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am very happy to answer the question. Mr J.R. Quigley : It is a serious question. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : It is a serious question. The SPEAKER : There has been a question asked in this place, which I presume is serious. I do not need other people reminding other people of that. If members want answers, remain silent for a while. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There were four parts to the question. (1)–(4) The first part was — Mr M. McGowan : When? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, the first part was “Who?” Mr J.R. Quigley : “When was the minister first advised of the incident?” Mr R.F. JOHNSON : When was I advised? I think the first I heard about this was back in May—this answers the second part of the question as well—when the Commissioner of Police told me verbally about a review into Taser use and he highlighted this incident as being a serious one. Was I ever shown the video? Let me tell the member that the first time I was ever shown the closed-circuit television coverage of this was on Saturday when I returned from leave. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You’re really on top of things, aren’t you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If this is a serious question, then listen to the answer without interruptions. Let us not forget this happened under the Labor government’s watch. The question should be: “Was the former Minister for Police made aware of this incident when it took place in August 2008?” Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Was the member for Girrawheen aware, when she was the Minister for Corrective Services in 2008, of the further CCTV coverage? I take it from the silence opposite that maybe they were aware but because there was an election coming up they took no action at all. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. I believe the member for Mindarie has asked a serious question in this place. I would like him to have the opportunity to hear the answer, but other members are preventing that from happening. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : This is a very serious issue—of course it is. I was first made aware of it, I think, in about May, by the Commissioner of Police when he was talking to me in general terms about a review into the use of Tasers. I think there were about five different incidents that he referred to. Of course, I did not know the severity of the incident at the Perth watch-house until I actually — Mr M.P. Whitely : Did you ask? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There was an internal investigation going on immediately after this incident took place, which I have got to commend the police for. Let us not forget that as soon as a senior officer saw the CCTV footage of this attack by the two officers with their Tasers against Mr Spratt, the senior officer immediately instigated an internal inquiry. That inquiry was overseen by the Deputy Commissioner of Police. When an inquiry is going on, it is not appropriate for the minister to get involved. However, I was made aware, I think in May this year, of the general context of five different events that took place. When was I shown the video? As I say, the first time I saw it—that CCTV coverage was held by the Corruption and Crime Commission—the police had initiated an immediate internal investigation. The police went to the Director of Public Prosecutions and asked the DPP whether the police should lay any charges in relation to the two police officers. As far as I understand, the DPP told the police, “You need a complainant. I suggest you go and talk to the complainant”, which the police did, along with the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia. The complainant was then in prison, as I understand. I understand also that the complainant did not want to prefer charges. He wanted the police to carry out an internal investigation and to deal with it internally. That is all the information I had at that time. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you do anything? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid question. Did I do anything? I was not even aware of this until the whole thing became public. I heard about the initial Taser incident in May, as I have said, but not the whole detail. It was not until this Saturday that I saw the CCTV footage, and I was horrified. Of course I was horrified, just like everyone else. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you know there was a CCC investigation underway? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I became aware that the CCC was carrying out an inquiry into the use of Tasers. Mr E.S. Ripper : When was that? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I think that was probably about May as well. During all this time, it has been either under an internal police investigation or under an investigation of the CCC. I could not be expected to have known about the details of this footage or to have sighted this footage—it would have been inappropriate for me to have done that—while an investigation was going on. Ms M.M. Quirk : Why? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member for Girrawheen was a minister when this event took place, and so was the member for Balcatta. What did they do about it? They covered it up because there was an election due. I am telling members the truth. The trouble is that the truth hurts. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That was not part of your initial briefing, as minister, from what I have seen. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What did the member say? Mrs M.H. Roberts : You were elected in September and the incident happened in August. Was it part of your original briefing as the minister, or not? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, it was not. I assume that the previous minister was informed and that both previous ministers were informed about both incidents. I was not informed about it when I took over as police minister. I assure the member that I have been through all the briefing notes, because I wanted to know, and it is not there.
I thank the member for the question. I was expecting that question to be asked by the shadow Minister for Police, but obviously there has been a change in portfolios in the Labor Party? Mrs M.H. Roberts : Answer the question! Mr J.R. Quigley : Answer the question! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am very happy to answer the question. Mr J.R. Quigley : It is a serious question. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : It is a serious question. The SPEAKER : There has been a question asked in this place, which I presume is serious. I do not need other people reminding other people of that. If members want answers, remain silent for a while. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There were four parts to the question. (1)–(4) The first part was — Mr M. McGowan : When? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, the first part was “Who?” Mr J.R. Quigley : “When was the minister first advised of the incident?” Mr R.F. JOHNSON : When was I advised? I think the first I heard about this was back in May—this answers the second part of the question as well—when the Commissioner of Police told me verbally about a review into Taser use and he highlighted this incident as being a serious one. Was I ever shown the video? Let me tell the member that the first time I was ever shown the closed-circuit television coverage of this was on Saturday when I returned from leave. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You’re really on top of things, aren’t you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If this is a serious question, then listen to the answer without interruptions. Let us not forget this happened under the Labor government’s watch. The question should be: “Was the former Minister for Police made aware of this incident when it took place in August 2008?” Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Was the member for Girrawheen aware, when she was the Minister for Corrective Services in 2008, of the further CCTV coverage? I take it from the silence opposite that maybe they were aware but because there was an election coming up they took no action at all. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. I believe the member for Mindarie has asked a serious question in this place. I would like him to have the opportunity to hear the answer, but other members are preventing that from happening. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : This is a very serious issue—of course it is. I was first made aware of it, I think, in about May, by the Commissioner of Police when he was talking to me in general terms about a review into the use of Tasers. I think there were about five different incidents that he referred to. Of course, I did not know the severity of the incident at the Perth watch-house until I actually — Mr M.P. Whitely : Did you ask? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There was an internal investigation going on immediately after this incident took place, which I have got to commend the police for. Let us not forget that as soon as a senior officer saw the CCTV footage of this attack by the two officers with their Tasers against Mr Spratt, the senior officer immediately instigated an internal inquiry. That inquiry was overseen by the Deputy Commissioner of Police. When an inquiry is going on, it is not appropriate for the minister to get involved. However, I was made aware, I think in May this year, of the general context of five different events that took place. When was I shown the video? As I say, the first time I saw it—that CCTV coverage was held by the Corruption and Crime Commission—the police had initiated an immediate internal investigation. The police went to the Director of Public Prosecutions and asked the DPP whether the police should lay any charges in relation to the two police officers. As far as I understand, the DPP told the police, “You need a complainant. I suggest you go and talk to the complainant”, which the police did, along with the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia. The complainant was then in prison, as I understand. I understand also that the complainant did not want to prefer charges. He wanted the police to carry out an internal investigation and to deal with it internally. That is all the information I had at that time. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you do anything? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid question. Did I do anything? I was not even aware of this until the whole thing became public. I heard about the initial Taser incident in May, as I have said, but not the whole detail. It was not until this Saturday that I saw the CCTV footage, and I was horrified. Of course I was horrified, just like everyone else. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you know there was a CCC investigation underway? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I became aware that the CCC was carrying out an inquiry into the use of Tasers. Mr E.S. Ripper : When was that? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I think that was probably about May as well. During all this time, it has been either under an internal police investigation or under an investigation of the CCC. I could not be expected to have known about the details of this footage or to have sighted this footage—it would have been inappropriate for me to have done that—while an investigation was going on. Ms M.M. Quirk : Why? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member for Girrawheen was a minister when this event took place, and so was the member for Balcatta. What did they do about it? They covered it up because there was an election due. I am telling members the truth. The trouble is that the truth hurts. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That was not part of your initial briefing, as minister, from what I have seen. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What did the member say? Mrs M.H. Roberts : You were elected in September and the incident happened in August. Was it part of your original briefing as the minister, or not? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, it was not. I assume that the previous minister was informed and that both previous ministers were informed about both incidents. I was not informed about it when I took over as police minister. I assure the member that I have been through all the briefing notes, because I wanted to know, and it is not there.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : Answer the question! Mr J.R. Quigley : Answer the question! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am very happy to answer the question. Mr J.R. Quigley : It is a serious question. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : It is a serious question. The SPEAKER : There has been a question asked in this place, which I presume is serious. I do not need other people reminding other people of that. If members want answers, remain silent for a while. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There were four parts to the question. (1)–(4) The first part was — Mr M. McGowan : When? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, the first part was “Who?” Mr J.R. Quigley : “When was the minister first advised of the incident?” Mr R.F. JOHNSON : When was I advised? I think the first I heard about this was back in May—this answers the second part of the question as well—when the Commissioner of Police told me verbally about a review into Taser use and he highlighted this incident as being a serious one. Was I ever shown the video? Let me tell the member that the first time I was ever shown the closed-circuit television coverage of this was on Saturday when I returned from leave. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You’re really on top of things, aren’t you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If this is a serious question, then listen to the answer without interruptions. Let us not forget this happened under the Labor government’s watch. The question should be: “Was the former Minister for Police made aware of this incident when it took place in August 2008?” Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Was the member for Girrawheen aware, when she was the Minister for Corrective Services in 2008, of the further CCTV coverage? I take it from the silence opposite that maybe they were aware but because there was an election coming up they took no action at all. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. I believe the member for Mindarie has asked a serious question in this place. I would like him to have the opportunity to hear the answer, but other members are preventing that from happening. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : This is a very serious issue—of course it is. I was first made aware of it, I think, in about May, by the Commissioner of Police when he was talking to me in general terms about a review into the use of Tasers. I think there were about five different incidents that he referred to. Of course, I did not know the severity of the incident at the Perth watch-house until I actually — Mr M.P. Whitely : Did you ask? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There was an internal investigation going on immediately after this incident took place, which I have got to commend the police for. Let us not forget that as soon as a senior officer saw the CCTV footage of this attack by the two officers with their Tasers against Mr Spratt, the senior officer immediately instigated an internal inquiry. That inquiry was overseen by the Deputy Commissioner of Police. When an inquiry is going on, it is not appropriate for the minister to get involved. However, I was made aware, I think in May this year, of the general context of five different events that took place. When was I shown the video? As I say, the first time I saw it—that CCTV coverage was held by the Corruption and Crime Commission—the police had initiated an immediate internal investigation. The police went to the Director of Public Prosecutions and asked the DPP whether the police should lay any charges in relation to the two police officers. As far as I understand, the DPP told the police, “You need a complainant. I suggest you go and talk to the complainant”, which the police did, along with the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia. The complainant was then in prison, as I understand. I understand also that the complainant did not want to prefer charges. He wanted the police to carry out an internal investigation and to deal with it internally. That is all the information I had at that time. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you do anything? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid question. Did I do anything? I was not even aware of this until the whole thing became public. I heard about the initial Taser incident in May, as I have said, but not the whole detail. It was not until this Saturday that I saw the CCTV footage, and I was horrified. Of course I was horrified, just like everyone else. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you know there was a CCC investigation underway? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I became aware that the CCC was carrying out an inquiry into the use of Tasers. Mr E.S. Ripper : When was that? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I think that was probably about May as well. During all this time, it has been either under an internal police investigation or under an investigation of the CCC. I could not be expected to have known about the details of this footage or to have sighted this footage—it would have been inappropriate for me to have done that—while an investigation was going on. Ms M.M. Quirk : Why? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member for Girrawheen was a minister when this event took place, and so was the member for Balcatta. What did they do about it? They covered it up because there was an election due. I am telling members the truth. The trouble is that the truth hurts. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That was not part of your initial briefing, as minister, from what I have seen. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What did the member say? Mrs M.H. Roberts : You were elected in September and the incident happened in August. Was it part of your original briefing as the minister, or not? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, it was not. I assume that the previous minister was informed and that both previous ministers were informed about both incidents. I was not informed about it when I took over as police minister. I assure the member that I have been through all the briefing notes, because I wanted to know, and it is not there.
Mr J.R. Quigley : Answer the question! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am very happy to answer the question. Mr J.R. Quigley : It is a serious question. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : It is a serious question. The SPEAKER : There has been a question asked in this place, which I presume is serious. I do not need other people reminding other people of that. If members want answers, remain silent for a while. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There were four parts to the question. (1)–(4) The first part was — Mr M. McGowan : When? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, the first part was “Who?” Mr J.R. Quigley : “When was the minister first advised of the incident?” Mr R.F. JOHNSON : When was I advised? I think the first I heard about this was back in May—this answers the second part of the question as well—when the Commissioner of Police told me verbally about a review into Taser use and he highlighted this incident as being a serious one. Was I ever shown the video? Let me tell the member that the first time I was ever shown the closed-circuit television coverage of this was on Saturday when I returned from leave. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You’re really on top of things, aren’t you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If this is a serious question, then listen to the answer without interruptions. Let us not forget this happened under the Labor government’s watch. The question should be: “Was the former Minister for Police made aware of this incident when it took place in August 2008?” Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Was the member for Girrawheen aware, when she was the Minister for Corrective Services in 2008, of the further CCTV coverage? I take it from the silence opposite that maybe they were aware but because there was an election coming up they took no action at all. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. I believe the member for Mindarie has asked a serious question in this place. I would like him to have the opportunity to hear the answer, but other members are preventing that from happening. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : This is a very serious issue—of course it is. I was first made aware of it, I think, in about May, by the Commissioner of Police when he was talking to me in general terms about a review into the use of Tasers. I think there were about five different incidents that he referred to. Of course, I did not know the severity of the incident at the Perth watch-house until I actually — Mr M.P. Whitely : Did you ask? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There was an internal investigation going on immediately after this incident took place, which I have got to commend the police for. Let us not forget that as soon as a senior officer saw the CCTV footage of this attack by the two officers with their Tasers against Mr Spratt, the senior officer immediately instigated an internal inquiry. That inquiry was overseen by the Deputy Commissioner of Police. When an inquiry is going on, it is not appropriate for the minister to get involved. However, I was made aware, I think in May this year, of the general context of five different events that took place. When was I shown the video? As I say, the first time I saw it—that CCTV coverage was held by the Corruption and Crime Commission—the police had initiated an immediate internal investigation. The police went to the Director of Public Prosecutions and asked the DPP whether the police should lay any charges in relation to the two police officers. As far as I understand, the DPP told the police, “You need a complainant. I suggest you go and talk to the complainant”, which the police did, along with the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia. The complainant was then in prison, as I understand. I understand also that the complainant did not want to prefer charges. He wanted the police to carry out an internal investigation and to deal with it internally. That is all the information I had at that time. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you do anything? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid question. Did I do anything? I was not even aware of this until the whole thing became public. I heard about the initial Taser incident in May, as I have said, but not the whole detail. It was not until this Saturday that I saw the CCTV footage, and I was horrified. Of course I was horrified, just like everyone else. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you know there was a CCC investigation underway? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I became aware that the CCC was carrying out an inquiry into the use of Tasers. Mr E.S. Ripper : When was that? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I think that was probably about May as well. During all this time, it has been either under an internal police investigation or under an investigation of the CCC. I could not be expected to have known about the details of this footage or to have sighted this footage—it would have been inappropriate for me to have done that—while an investigation was going on. Ms M.M. Quirk : Why? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member for Girrawheen was a minister when this event took place, and so was the member for Balcatta. What did they do about it? They covered it up because there was an election due. I am telling members the truth. The trouble is that the truth hurts. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That was not part of your initial briefing, as minister, from what I have seen. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What did the member say? Mrs M.H. Roberts : You were elected in September and the incident happened in August. Was it part of your original briefing as the minister, or not? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, it was not. I assume that the previous minister was informed and that both previous ministers were informed about both incidents. I was not informed about it when I took over as police minister. I assure the member that I have been through all the briefing notes, because I wanted to know, and it is not there.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am very happy to answer the question. Mr J.R. Quigley : It is a serious question. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : It is a serious question. The SPEAKER : There has been a question asked in this place, which I presume is serious. I do not need other people reminding other people of that. If members want answers, remain silent for a while. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There were four parts to the question. (1)–(4) The first part was — Mr M. McGowan : When? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, the first part was “Who?” Mr J.R. Quigley : “When was the minister first advised of the incident?” Mr R.F. JOHNSON : When was I advised? I think the first I heard about this was back in May—this answers the second part of the question as well—when the Commissioner of Police told me verbally about a review into Taser use and he highlighted this incident as being a serious one. Was I ever shown the video? Let me tell the member that the first time I was ever shown the closed-circuit television coverage of this was on Saturday when I returned from leave. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You’re really on top of things, aren’t you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If this is a serious question, then listen to the answer without interruptions. Let us not forget this happened under the Labor government’s watch. The question should be: “Was the former Minister for Police made aware of this incident when it took place in August 2008?” Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Was the member for Girrawheen aware, when she was the Minister for Corrective Services in 2008, of the further CCTV coverage? I take it from the silence opposite that maybe they were aware but because there was an election coming up they took no action at all. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. I believe the member for Mindarie has asked a serious question in this place. I would like him to have the opportunity to hear the answer, but other members are preventing that from happening. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : This is a very serious issue—of course it is. I was first made aware of it, I think, in about May, by the Commissioner of Police when he was talking to me in general terms about a review into the use of Tasers. I think there were about five different incidents that he referred to. Of course, I did not know the severity of the incident at the Perth watch-house until I actually — Mr M.P. Whitely : Did you ask? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There was an internal investigation going on immediately after this incident took place, which I have got to commend the police for. Let us not forget that as soon as a senior officer saw the CCTV footage of this attack by the two officers with their Tasers against Mr Spratt, the senior officer immediately instigated an internal inquiry. That inquiry was overseen by the Deputy Commissioner of Police. When an inquiry is going on, it is not appropriate for the minister to get involved. However, I was made aware, I think in May this year, of the general context of five different events that took place. When was I shown the video? As I say, the first time I saw it—that CCTV coverage was held by the Corruption and Crime Commission—the police had initiated an immediate internal investigation. The police went to the Director of Public Prosecutions and asked the DPP whether the police should lay any charges in relation to the two police officers. As far as I understand, the DPP told the police, “You need a complainant. I suggest you go and talk to the complainant”, which the police did, along with the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia. The complainant was then in prison, as I understand. I understand also that the complainant did not want to prefer charges. He wanted the police to carry out an internal investigation and to deal with it internally. That is all the information I had at that time. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you do anything? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid question. Did I do anything? I was not even aware of this until the whole thing became public. I heard about the initial Taser incident in May, as I have said, but not the whole detail. It was not until this Saturday that I saw the CCTV footage, and I was horrified. Of course I was horrified, just like everyone else. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you know there was a CCC investigation underway? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I became aware that the CCC was carrying out an inquiry into the use of Tasers. Mr E.S. Ripper : When was that? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I think that was probably about May as well. During all this time, it has been either under an internal police investigation or under an investigation of the CCC. I could not be expected to have known about the details of this footage or to have sighted this footage—it would have been inappropriate for me to have done that—while an investigation was going on. Ms M.M. Quirk : Why? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member for Girrawheen was a minister when this event took place, and so was the member for Balcatta. What did they do about it? They covered it up because there was an election due. I am telling members the truth. The trouble is that the truth hurts. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That was not part of your initial briefing, as minister, from what I have seen. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What did the member say? Mrs M.H. Roberts : You were elected in September and the incident happened in August. Was it part of your original briefing as the minister, or not? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, it was not. I assume that the previous minister was informed and that both previous ministers were informed about both incidents. I was not informed about it when I took over as police minister. I assure the member that I have been through all the briefing notes, because I wanted to know, and it is not there.
Mr J.R. Quigley : It is a serious question. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : It is a serious question. The SPEAKER : There has been a question asked in this place, which I presume is serious. I do not need other people reminding other people of that. If members want answers, remain silent for a while. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There were four parts to the question. (1)–(4) The first part was — Mr M. McGowan : When? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, the first part was “Who?” Mr J.R. Quigley : “When was the minister first advised of the incident?” Mr R.F. JOHNSON : When was I advised? I think the first I heard about this was back in May—this answers the second part of the question as well—when the Commissioner of Police told me verbally about a review into Taser use and he highlighted this incident as being a serious one. Was I ever shown the video? Let me tell the member that the first time I was ever shown the closed-circuit television coverage of this was on Saturday when I returned from leave. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You’re really on top of things, aren’t you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If this is a serious question, then listen to the answer without interruptions. Let us not forget this happened under the Labor government’s watch. The question should be: “Was the former Minister for Police made aware of this incident when it took place in August 2008?” Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Was the member for Girrawheen aware, when she was the Minister for Corrective Services in 2008, of the further CCTV coverage? I take it from the silence opposite that maybe they were aware but because there was an election coming up they took no action at all. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. I believe the member for Mindarie has asked a serious question in this place. I would like him to have the opportunity to hear the answer, but other members are preventing that from happening. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : This is a very serious issue—of course it is. I was first made aware of it, I think, in about May, by the Commissioner of Police when he was talking to me in general terms about a review into the use of Tasers. I think there were about five different incidents that he referred to. Of course, I did not know the severity of the incident at the Perth watch-house until I actually — Mr M.P. Whitely : Did you ask? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There was an internal investigation going on immediately after this incident took place, which I have got to commend the police for. Let us not forget that as soon as a senior officer saw the CCTV footage of this attack by the two officers with their Tasers against Mr Spratt, the senior officer immediately instigated an internal inquiry. That inquiry was overseen by the Deputy Commissioner of Police. When an inquiry is going on, it is not appropriate for the minister to get involved. However, I was made aware, I think in May this year, of the general context of five different events that took place. When was I shown the video? As I say, the first time I saw it—that CCTV coverage was held by the Corruption and Crime Commission—the police had initiated an immediate internal investigation. The police went to the Director of Public Prosecutions and asked the DPP whether the police should lay any charges in relation to the two police officers. As far as I understand, the DPP told the police, “You need a complainant. I suggest you go and talk to the complainant”, which the police did, along with the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia. The complainant was then in prison, as I understand. I understand also that the complainant did not want to prefer charges. He wanted the police to carry out an internal investigation and to deal with it internally. That is all the information I had at that time. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you do anything? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid question. Did I do anything? I was not even aware of this until the whole thing became public. I heard about the initial Taser incident in May, as I have said, but not the whole detail. It was not until this Saturday that I saw the CCTV footage, and I was horrified. Of course I was horrified, just like everyone else. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you know there was a CCC investigation underway? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I became aware that the CCC was carrying out an inquiry into the use of Tasers. Mr E.S. Ripper : When was that? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I think that was probably about May as well. During all this time, it has been either under an internal police investigation or under an investigation of the CCC. I could not be expected to have known about the details of this footage or to have sighted this footage—it would have been inappropriate for me to have done that—while an investigation was going on. Ms M.M. Quirk : Why? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member for Girrawheen was a minister when this event took place, and so was the member for Balcatta. What did they do about it? They covered it up because there was an election due. I am telling members the truth. The trouble is that the truth hurts. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That was not part of your initial briefing, as minister, from what I have seen. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What did the member say? Mrs M.H. Roberts : You were elected in September and the incident happened in August. Was it part of your original briefing as the minister, or not? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, it was not. I assume that the previous minister was informed and that both previous ministers were informed about both incidents. I was not informed about it when I took over as police minister. I assure the member that I have been through all the briefing notes, because I wanted to know, and it is not there.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : It is a serious question. The SPEAKER : There has been a question asked in this place, which I presume is serious. I do not need other people reminding other people of that. If members want answers, remain silent for a while. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There were four parts to the question. (1)–(4) The first part was — Mr M. McGowan : When? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, the first part was “Who?” Mr J.R. Quigley : “When was the minister first advised of the incident?” Mr R.F. JOHNSON : When was I advised? I think the first I heard about this was back in May—this answers the second part of the question as well—when the Commissioner of Police told me verbally about a review into Taser use and he highlighted this incident as being a serious one. Was I ever shown the video? Let me tell the member that the first time I was ever shown the closed-circuit television coverage of this was on Saturday when I returned from leave. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You’re really on top of things, aren’t you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If this is a serious question, then listen to the answer without interruptions. Let us not forget this happened under the Labor government’s watch. The question should be: “Was the former Minister for Police made aware of this incident when it took place in August 2008?” Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Was the member for Girrawheen aware, when she was the Minister for Corrective Services in 2008, of the further CCTV coverage? I take it from the silence opposite that maybe they were aware but because there was an election coming up they took no action at all. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. I believe the member for Mindarie has asked a serious question in this place. I would like him to have the opportunity to hear the answer, but other members are preventing that from happening. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : This is a very serious issue—of course it is. I was first made aware of it, I think, in about May, by the Commissioner of Police when he was talking to me in general terms about a review into the use of Tasers. I think there were about five different incidents that he referred to. Of course, I did not know the severity of the incident at the Perth watch-house until I actually — Mr M.P. Whitely : Did you ask? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There was an internal investigation going on immediately after this incident took place, which I have got to commend the police for. Let us not forget that as soon as a senior officer saw the CCTV footage of this attack by the two officers with their Tasers against Mr Spratt, the senior officer immediately instigated an internal inquiry. That inquiry was overseen by the Deputy Commissioner of Police. When an inquiry is going on, it is not appropriate for the minister to get involved. However, I was made aware, I think in May this year, of the general context of five different events that took place. When was I shown the video? As I say, the first time I saw it—that CCTV coverage was held by the Corruption and Crime Commission—the police had initiated an immediate internal investigation. The police went to the Director of Public Prosecutions and asked the DPP whether the police should lay any charges in relation to the two police officers. As far as I understand, the DPP told the police, “You need a complainant. I suggest you go and talk to the complainant”, which the police did, along with the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia. The complainant was then in prison, as I understand. I understand also that the complainant did not want to prefer charges. He wanted the police to carry out an internal investigation and to deal with it internally. That is all the information I had at that time. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you do anything? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid question. Did I do anything? I was not even aware of this until the whole thing became public. I heard about the initial Taser incident in May, as I have said, but not the whole detail. It was not until this Saturday that I saw the CCTV footage, and I was horrified. Of course I was horrified, just like everyone else. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you know there was a CCC investigation underway? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I became aware that the CCC was carrying out an inquiry into the use of Tasers. Mr E.S. Ripper : When was that? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I think that was probably about May as well. During all this time, it has been either under an internal police investigation or under an investigation of the CCC. I could not be expected to have known about the details of this footage or to have sighted this footage—it would have been inappropriate for me to have done that—while an investigation was going on. Ms M.M. Quirk : Why? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member for Girrawheen was a minister when this event took place, and so was the member for Balcatta. What did they do about it? They covered it up because there was an election due. I am telling members the truth. The trouble is that the truth hurts. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That was not part of your initial briefing, as minister, from what I have seen. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What did the member say? Mrs M.H. Roberts : You were elected in September and the incident happened in August. Was it part of your original briefing as the minister, or not? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, it was not. I assume that the previous minister was informed and that both previous ministers were informed about both incidents. I was not informed about it when I took over as police minister. I assure the member that I have been through all the briefing notes, because I wanted to know, and it is not there.
The SPEAKER : There has been a question asked in this place, which I presume is serious. I do not need other people reminding other people of that. If members want answers, remain silent for a while. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There were four parts to the question. (1)–(4) The first part was — Mr M. McGowan : When? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, the first part was “Who?” Mr J.R. Quigley : “When was the minister first advised of the incident?” Mr R.F. JOHNSON : When was I advised? I think the first I heard about this was back in May—this answers the second part of the question as well—when the Commissioner of Police told me verbally about a review into Taser use and he highlighted this incident as being a serious one. Was I ever shown the video? Let me tell the member that the first time I was ever shown the closed-circuit television coverage of this was on Saturday when I returned from leave. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You’re really on top of things, aren’t you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If this is a serious question, then listen to the answer without interruptions. Let us not forget this happened under the Labor government’s watch. The question should be: “Was the former Minister for Police made aware of this incident when it took place in August 2008?” Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Was the member for Girrawheen aware, when she was the Minister for Corrective Services in 2008, of the further CCTV coverage? I take it from the silence opposite that maybe they were aware but because there was an election coming up they took no action at all. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. I believe the member for Mindarie has asked a serious question in this place. I would like him to have the opportunity to hear the answer, but other members are preventing that from happening. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : This is a very serious issue—of course it is. I was first made aware of it, I think, in about May, by the Commissioner of Police when he was talking to me in general terms about a review into the use of Tasers. I think there were about five different incidents that he referred to. Of course, I did not know the severity of the incident at the Perth watch-house until I actually — Mr M.P. Whitely : Did you ask? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There was an internal investigation going on immediately after this incident took place, which I have got to commend the police for. Let us not forget that as soon as a senior officer saw the CCTV footage of this attack by the two officers with their Tasers against Mr Spratt, the senior officer immediately instigated an internal inquiry. That inquiry was overseen by the Deputy Commissioner of Police. When an inquiry is going on, it is not appropriate for the minister to get involved. However, I was made aware, I think in May this year, of the general context of five different events that took place. When was I shown the video? As I say, the first time I saw it—that CCTV coverage was held by the Corruption and Crime Commission—the police had initiated an immediate internal investigation. The police went to the Director of Public Prosecutions and asked the DPP whether the police should lay any charges in relation to the two police officers. As far as I understand, the DPP told the police, “You need a complainant. I suggest you go and talk to the complainant”, which the police did, along with the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia. The complainant was then in prison, as I understand. I understand also that the complainant did not want to prefer charges. He wanted the police to carry out an internal investigation and to deal with it internally. That is all the information I had at that time. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you do anything? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid question. Did I do anything? I was not even aware of this until the whole thing became public. I heard about the initial Taser incident in May, as I have said, but not the whole detail. It was not until this Saturday that I saw the CCTV footage, and I was horrified. Of course I was horrified, just like everyone else. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you know there was a CCC investigation underway? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I became aware that the CCC was carrying out an inquiry into the use of Tasers. Mr E.S. Ripper : When was that? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I think that was probably about May as well. During all this time, it has been either under an internal police investigation or under an investigation of the CCC. I could not be expected to have known about the details of this footage or to have sighted this footage—it would have been inappropriate for me to have done that—while an investigation was going on. Ms M.M. Quirk : Why? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member for Girrawheen was a minister when this event took place, and so was the member for Balcatta. What did they do about it? They covered it up because there was an election due. I am telling members the truth. The trouble is that the truth hurts. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That was not part of your initial briefing, as minister, from what I have seen. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What did the member say? Mrs M.H. Roberts : You were elected in September and the incident happened in August. Was it part of your original briefing as the minister, or not? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, it was not. I assume that the previous minister was informed and that both previous ministers were informed about both incidents. I was not informed about it when I took over as police minister. I assure the member that I have been through all the briefing notes, because I wanted to know, and it is not there.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There were four parts to the question. (1)–(4) The first part was — Mr M. McGowan : When? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, the first part was “Who?” Mr J.R. Quigley : “When was the minister first advised of the incident?” Mr R.F. JOHNSON : When was I advised? I think the first I heard about this was back in May—this answers the second part of the question as well—when the Commissioner of Police told me verbally about a review into Taser use and he highlighted this incident as being a serious one. Was I ever shown the video? Let me tell the member that the first time I was ever shown the closed-circuit television coverage of this was on Saturday when I returned from leave. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You’re really on top of things, aren’t you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If this is a serious question, then listen to the answer without interruptions. Let us not forget this happened under the Labor government’s watch. The question should be: “Was the former Minister for Police made aware of this incident when it took place in August 2008?” Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Was the member for Girrawheen aware, when she was the Minister for Corrective Services in 2008, of the further CCTV coverage? I take it from the silence opposite that maybe they were aware but because there was an election coming up they took no action at all. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. I believe the member for Mindarie has asked a serious question in this place. I would like him to have the opportunity to hear the answer, but other members are preventing that from happening. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : This is a very serious issue—of course it is. I was first made aware of it, I think, in about May, by the Commissioner of Police when he was talking to me in general terms about a review into the use of Tasers. I think there were about five different incidents that he referred to. Of course, I did not know the severity of the incident at the Perth watch-house until I actually — Mr M.P. Whitely : Did you ask? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There was an internal investigation going on immediately after this incident took place, which I have got to commend the police for. Let us not forget that as soon as a senior officer saw the CCTV footage of this attack by the two officers with their Tasers against Mr Spratt, the senior officer immediately instigated an internal inquiry. That inquiry was overseen by the Deputy Commissioner of Police. When an inquiry is going on, it is not appropriate for the minister to get involved. However, I was made aware, I think in May this year, of the general context of five different events that took place. When was I shown the video? As I say, the first time I saw it—that CCTV coverage was held by the Corruption and Crime Commission—the police had initiated an immediate internal investigation. The police went to the Director of Public Prosecutions and asked the DPP whether the police should lay any charges in relation to the two police officers. As far as I understand, the DPP told the police, “You need a complainant. I suggest you go and talk to the complainant”, which the police did, along with the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia. The complainant was then in prison, as I understand. I understand also that the complainant did not want to prefer charges. He wanted the police to carry out an internal investigation and to deal with it internally. That is all the information I had at that time. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you do anything? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid question. Did I do anything? I was not even aware of this until the whole thing became public. I heard about the initial Taser incident in May, as I have said, but not the whole detail. It was not until this Saturday that I saw the CCTV footage, and I was horrified. Of course I was horrified, just like everyone else. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you know there was a CCC investigation underway? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I became aware that the CCC was carrying out an inquiry into the use of Tasers. Mr E.S. Ripper : When was that? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I think that was probably about May as well. During all this time, it has been either under an internal police investigation or under an investigation of the CCC. I could not be expected to have known about the details of this footage or to have sighted this footage—it would have been inappropriate for me to have done that—while an investigation was going on. Ms M.M. Quirk : Why? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member for Girrawheen was a minister when this event took place, and so was the member for Balcatta. What did they do about it? They covered it up because there was an election due. I am telling members the truth. The trouble is that the truth hurts. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That was not part of your initial briefing, as minister, from what I have seen. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What did the member say? Mrs M.H. Roberts : You were elected in September and the incident happened in August. Was it part of your original briefing as the minister, or not? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, it was not. I assume that the previous minister was informed and that both previous ministers were informed about both incidents. I was not informed about it when I took over as police minister. I assure the member that I have been through all the briefing notes, because I wanted to know, and it is not there.
(1)–(4) The first part was — Mr M. McGowan : When? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, the first part was “Who?” Mr J.R. Quigley : “When was the minister first advised of the incident?” Mr R.F. JOHNSON : When was I advised? I think the first I heard about this was back in May—this answers the second part of the question as well—when the Commissioner of Police told me verbally about a review into Taser use and he highlighted this incident as being a serious one. Was I ever shown the video? Let me tell the member that the first time I was ever shown the closed-circuit television coverage of this was on Saturday when I returned from leave. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You’re really on top of things, aren’t you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If this is a serious question, then listen to the answer without interruptions. Let us not forget this happened under the Labor government’s watch. The question should be: “Was the former Minister for Police made aware of this incident when it took place in August 2008?” Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Was the member for Girrawheen aware, when she was the Minister for Corrective Services in 2008, of the further CCTV coverage? I take it from the silence opposite that maybe they were aware but because there was an election coming up they took no action at all. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. I believe the member for Mindarie has asked a serious question in this place. I would like him to have the opportunity to hear the answer, but other members are preventing that from happening. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : This is a very serious issue—of course it is. I was first made aware of it, I think, in about May, by the Commissioner of Police when he was talking to me in general terms about a review into the use of Tasers. I think there were about five different incidents that he referred to. Of course, I did not know the severity of the incident at the Perth watch-house until I actually — Mr M.P. Whitely : Did you ask? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There was an internal investigation going on immediately after this incident took place, which I have got to commend the police for. Let us not forget that as soon as a senior officer saw the CCTV footage of this attack by the two officers with their Tasers against Mr Spratt, the senior officer immediately instigated an internal inquiry. That inquiry was overseen by the Deputy Commissioner of Police. When an inquiry is going on, it is not appropriate for the minister to get involved. However, I was made aware, I think in May this year, of the general context of five different events that took place. When was I shown the video? As I say, the first time I saw it—that CCTV coverage was held by the Corruption and Crime Commission—the police had initiated an immediate internal investigation. The police went to the Director of Public Prosecutions and asked the DPP whether the police should lay any charges in relation to the two police officers. As far as I understand, the DPP told the police, “You need a complainant. I suggest you go and talk to the complainant”, which the police did, along with the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia. The complainant was then in prison, as I understand. I understand also that the complainant did not want to prefer charges. He wanted the police to carry out an internal investigation and to deal with it internally. That is all the information I had at that time. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you do anything? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid question. Did I do anything? I was not even aware of this until the whole thing became public. I heard about the initial Taser incident in May, as I have said, but not the whole detail. It was not until this Saturday that I saw the CCTV footage, and I was horrified. Of course I was horrified, just like everyone else. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you know there was a CCC investigation underway? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I became aware that the CCC was carrying out an inquiry into the use of Tasers. Mr E.S. Ripper : When was that? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I think that was probably about May as well. During all this time, it has been either under an internal police investigation or under an investigation of the CCC. I could not be expected to have known about the details of this footage or to have sighted this footage—it would have been inappropriate for me to have done that—while an investigation was going on. Ms M.M. Quirk : Why? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member for Girrawheen was a minister when this event took place, and so was the member for Balcatta. What did they do about it? They covered it up because there was an election due. I am telling members the truth. The trouble is that the truth hurts. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That was not part of your initial briefing, as minister, from what I have seen. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What did the member say? Mrs M.H. Roberts : You were elected in September and the incident happened in August. Was it part of your original briefing as the minister, or not? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, it was not. I assume that the previous minister was informed and that both previous ministers were informed about both incidents. I was not informed about it when I took over as police minister. I assure the member that I have been through all the briefing notes, because I wanted to know, and it is not there.
Mr M. McGowan : When? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, the first part was “Who?” Mr J.R. Quigley : “When was the minister first advised of the incident?” Mr R.F. JOHNSON : When was I advised? I think the first I heard about this was back in May—this answers the second part of the question as well—when the Commissioner of Police told me verbally about a review into Taser use and he highlighted this incident as being a serious one. Was I ever shown the video? Let me tell the member that the first time I was ever shown the closed-circuit television coverage of this was on Saturday when I returned from leave. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You’re really on top of things, aren’t you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If this is a serious question, then listen to the answer without interruptions. Let us not forget this happened under the Labor government’s watch. The question should be: “Was the former Minister for Police made aware of this incident when it took place in August 2008?” Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Was the member for Girrawheen aware, when she was the Minister for Corrective Services in 2008, of the further CCTV coverage? I take it from the silence opposite that maybe they were aware but because there was an election coming up they took no action at all. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. I believe the member for Mindarie has asked a serious question in this place. I would like him to have the opportunity to hear the answer, but other members are preventing that from happening. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : This is a very serious issue—of course it is. I was first made aware of it, I think, in about May, by the Commissioner of Police when he was talking to me in general terms about a review into the use of Tasers. I think there were about five different incidents that he referred to. Of course, I did not know the severity of the incident at the Perth watch-house until I actually — Mr M.P. Whitely : Did you ask? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There was an internal investigation going on immediately after this incident took place, which I have got to commend the police for. Let us not forget that as soon as a senior officer saw the CCTV footage of this attack by the two officers with their Tasers against Mr Spratt, the senior officer immediately instigated an internal inquiry. That inquiry was overseen by the Deputy Commissioner of Police. When an inquiry is going on, it is not appropriate for the minister to get involved. However, I was made aware, I think in May this year, of the general context of five different events that took place. When was I shown the video? As I say, the first time I saw it—that CCTV coverage was held by the Corruption and Crime Commission—the police had initiated an immediate internal investigation. The police went to the Director of Public Prosecutions and asked the DPP whether the police should lay any charges in relation to the two police officers. As far as I understand, the DPP told the police, “You need a complainant. I suggest you go and talk to the complainant”, which the police did, along with the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia. The complainant was then in prison, as I understand. I understand also that the complainant did not want to prefer charges. He wanted the police to carry out an internal investigation and to deal with it internally. That is all the information I had at that time. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you do anything? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid question. Did I do anything? I was not even aware of this until the whole thing became public. I heard about the initial Taser incident in May, as I have said, but not the whole detail. It was not until this Saturday that I saw the CCTV footage, and I was horrified. Of course I was horrified, just like everyone else. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you know there was a CCC investigation underway? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I became aware that the CCC was carrying out an inquiry into the use of Tasers. Mr E.S. Ripper : When was that? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I think that was probably about May as well. During all this time, it has been either under an internal police investigation or under an investigation of the CCC. I could not be expected to have known about the details of this footage or to have sighted this footage—it would have been inappropriate for me to have done that—while an investigation was going on. Ms M.M. Quirk : Why? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member for Girrawheen was a minister when this event took place, and so was the member for Balcatta. What did they do about it? They covered it up because there was an election due. I am telling members the truth. The trouble is that the truth hurts. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That was not part of your initial briefing, as minister, from what I have seen. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What did the member say? Mrs M.H. Roberts : You were elected in September and the incident happened in August. Was it part of your original briefing as the minister, or not? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, it was not. I assume that the previous minister was informed and that both previous ministers were informed about both incidents. I was not informed about it when I took over as police minister. I assure the member that I have been through all the briefing notes, because I wanted to know, and it is not there.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, the first part was “Who?” Mr J.R. Quigley : “When was the minister first advised of the incident?” Mr R.F. JOHNSON : When was I advised? I think the first I heard about this was back in May—this answers the second part of the question as well—when the Commissioner of Police told me verbally about a review into Taser use and he highlighted this incident as being a serious one. Was I ever shown the video? Let me tell the member that the first time I was ever shown the closed-circuit television coverage of this was on Saturday when I returned from leave. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You’re really on top of things, aren’t you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If this is a serious question, then listen to the answer without interruptions. Let us not forget this happened under the Labor government’s watch. The question should be: “Was the former Minister for Police made aware of this incident when it took place in August 2008?” Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Was the member for Girrawheen aware, when she was the Minister for Corrective Services in 2008, of the further CCTV coverage? I take it from the silence opposite that maybe they were aware but because there was an election coming up they took no action at all. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. I believe the member for Mindarie has asked a serious question in this place. I would like him to have the opportunity to hear the answer, but other members are preventing that from happening. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : This is a very serious issue—of course it is. I was first made aware of it, I think, in about May, by the Commissioner of Police when he was talking to me in general terms about a review into the use of Tasers. I think there were about five different incidents that he referred to. Of course, I did not know the severity of the incident at the Perth watch-house until I actually — Mr M.P. Whitely : Did you ask? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There was an internal investigation going on immediately after this incident took place, which I have got to commend the police for. Let us not forget that as soon as a senior officer saw the CCTV footage of this attack by the two officers with their Tasers against Mr Spratt, the senior officer immediately instigated an internal inquiry. That inquiry was overseen by the Deputy Commissioner of Police. When an inquiry is going on, it is not appropriate for the minister to get involved. However, I was made aware, I think in May this year, of the general context of five different events that took place. When was I shown the video? As I say, the first time I saw it—that CCTV coverage was held by the Corruption and Crime Commission—the police had initiated an immediate internal investigation. The police went to the Director of Public Prosecutions and asked the DPP whether the police should lay any charges in relation to the two police officers. As far as I understand, the DPP told the police, “You need a complainant. I suggest you go and talk to the complainant”, which the police did, along with the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia. The complainant was then in prison, as I understand. I understand also that the complainant did not want to prefer charges. He wanted the police to carry out an internal investigation and to deal with it internally. That is all the information I had at that time. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you do anything? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid question. Did I do anything? I was not even aware of this until the whole thing became public. I heard about the initial Taser incident in May, as I have said, but not the whole detail. It was not until this Saturday that I saw the CCTV footage, and I was horrified. Of course I was horrified, just like everyone else. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you know there was a CCC investigation underway? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I became aware that the CCC was carrying out an inquiry into the use of Tasers. Mr E.S. Ripper : When was that? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I think that was probably about May as well. During all this time, it has been either under an internal police investigation or under an investigation of the CCC. I could not be expected to have known about the details of this footage or to have sighted this footage—it would have been inappropriate for me to have done that—while an investigation was going on. Ms M.M. Quirk : Why? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member for Girrawheen was a minister when this event took place, and so was the member for Balcatta. What did they do about it? They covered it up because there was an election due. I am telling members the truth. The trouble is that the truth hurts. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That was not part of your initial briefing, as minister, from what I have seen. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What did the member say? Mrs M.H. Roberts : You were elected in September and the incident happened in August. Was it part of your original briefing as the minister, or not? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, it was not. I assume that the previous minister was informed and that both previous ministers were informed about both incidents. I was not informed about it when I took over as police minister. I assure the member that I have been through all the briefing notes, because I wanted to know, and it is not there.
Mr J.R. Quigley : “When was the minister first advised of the incident?” Mr R.F. JOHNSON : When was I advised? I think the first I heard about this was back in May—this answers the second part of the question as well—when the Commissioner of Police told me verbally about a review into Taser use and he highlighted this incident as being a serious one. Was I ever shown the video? Let me tell the member that the first time I was ever shown the closed-circuit television coverage of this was on Saturday when I returned from leave. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You’re really on top of things, aren’t you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If this is a serious question, then listen to the answer without interruptions. Let us not forget this happened under the Labor government’s watch. The question should be: “Was the former Minister for Police made aware of this incident when it took place in August 2008?” Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Was the member for Girrawheen aware, when she was the Minister for Corrective Services in 2008, of the further CCTV coverage? I take it from the silence opposite that maybe they were aware but because there was an election coming up they took no action at all. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. I believe the member for Mindarie has asked a serious question in this place. I would like him to have the opportunity to hear the answer, but other members are preventing that from happening. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : This is a very serious issue—of course it is. I was first made aware of it, I think, in about May, by the Commissioner of Police when he was talking to me in general terms about a review into the use of Tasers. I think there were about five different incidents that he referred to. Of course, I did not know the severity of the incident at the Perth watch-house until I actually — Mr M.P. Whitely : Did you ask? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There was an internal investigation going on immediately after this incident took place, which I have got to commend the police for. Let us not forget that as soon as a senior officer saw the CCTV footage of this attack by the two officers with their Tasers against Mr Spratt, the senior officer immediately instigated an internal inquiry. That inquiry was overseen by the Deputy Commissioner of Police. When an inquiry is going on, it is not appropriate for the minister to get involved. However, I was made aware, I think in May this year, of the general context of five different events that took place. When was I shown the video? As I say, the first time I saw it—that CCTV coverage was held by the Corruption and Crime Commission—the police had initiated an immediate internal investigation. The police went to the Director of Public Prosecutions and asked the DPP whether the police should lay any charges in relation to the two police officers. As far as I understand, the DPP told the police, “You need a complainant. I suggest you go and talk to the complainant”, which the police did, along with the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia. The complainant was then in prison, as I understand. I understand also that the complainant did not want to prefer charges. He wanted the police to carry out an internal investigation and to deal with it internally. That is all the information I had at that time. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you do anything? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid question. Did I do anything? I was not even aware of this until the whole thing became public. I heard about the initial Taser incident in May, as I have said, but not the whole detail. It was not until this Saturday that I saw the CCTV footage, and I was horrified. Of course I was horrified, just like everyone else. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you know there was a CCC investigation underway? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I became aware that the CCC was carrying out an inquiry into the use of Tasers. Mr E.S. Ripper : When was that? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I think that was probably about May as well. During all this time, it has been either under an internal police investigation or under an investigation of the CCC. I could not be expected to have known about the details of this footage or to have sighted this footage—it would have been inappropriate for me to have done that—while an investigation was going on. Ms M.M. Quirk : Why? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member for Girrawheen was a minister when this event took place, and so was the member for Balcatta. What did they do about it? They covered it up because there was an election due. I am telling members the truth. The trouble is that the truth hurts. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That was not part of your initial briefing, as minister, from what I have seen. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What did the member say? Mrs M.H. Roberts : You were elected in September and the incident happened in August. Was it part of your original briefing as the minister, or not? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, it was not. I assume that the previous minister was informed and that both previous ministers were informed about both incidents. I was not informed about it when I took over as police minister. I assure the member that I have been through all the briefing notes, because I wanted to know, and it is not there.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : When was I advised? I think the first I heard about this was back in May—this answers the second part of the question as well—when the Commissioner of Police told me verbally about a review into Taser use and he highlighted this incident as being a serious one. Was I ever shown the video? Let me tell the member that the first time I was ever shown the closed-circuit television coverage of this was on Saturday when I returned from leave. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You’re really on top of things, aren’t you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If this is a serious question, then listen to the answer without interruptions. Let us not forget this happened under the Labor government’s watch. The question should be: “Was the former Minister for Police made aware of this incident when it took place in August 2008?” Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Was the member for Girrawheen aware, when she was the Minister for Corrective Services in 2008, of the further CCTV coverage? I take it from the silence opposite that maybe they were aware but because there was an election coming up they took no action at all. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. I believe the member for Mindarie has asked a serious question in this place. I would like him to have the opportunity to hear the answer, but other members are preventing that from happening. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : This is a very serious issue—of course it is. I was first made aware of it, I think, in about May, by the Commissioner of Police when he was talking to me in general terms about a review into the use of Tasers. I think there were about five different incidents that he referred to. Of course, I did not know the severity of the incident at the Perth watch-house until I actually — Mr M.P. Whitely : Did you ask? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There was an internal investigation going on immediately after this incident took place, which I have got to commend the police for. Let us not forget that as soon as a senior officer saw the CCTV footage of this attack by the two officers with their Tasers against Mr Spratt, the senior officer immediately instigated an internal inquiry. That inquiry was overseen by the Deputy Commissioner of Police. When an inquiry is going on, it is not appropriate for the minister to get involved. However, I was made aware, I think in May this year, of the general context of five different events that took place. When was I shown the video? As I say, the first time I saw it—that CCTV coverage was held by the Corruption and Crime Commission—the police had initiated an immediate internal investigation. The police went to the Director of Public Prosecutions and asked the DPP whether the police should lay any charges in relation to the two police officers. As far as I understand, the DPP told the police, “You need a complainant. I suggest you go and talk to the complainant”, which the police did, along with the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia. The complainant was then in prison, as I understand. I understand also that the complainant did not want to prefer charges. He wanted the police to carry out an internal investigation and to deal with it internally. That is all the information I had at that time. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you do anything? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid question. Did I do anything? I was not even aware of this until the whole thing became public. I heard about the initial Taser incident in May, as I have said, but not the whole detail. It was not until this Saturday that I saw the CCTV footage, and I was horrified. Of course I was horrified, just like everyone else. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you know there was a CCC investigation underway? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I became aware that the CCC was carrying out an inquiry into the use of Tasers. Mr E.S. Ripper : When was that? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I think that was probably about May as well. During all this time, it has been either under an internal police investigation or under an investigation of the CCC. I could not be expected to have known about the details of this footage or to have sighted this footage—it would have been inappropriate for me to have done that—while an investigation was going on. Ms M.M. Quirk : Why? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member for Girrawheen was a minister when this event took place, and so was the member for Balcatta. What did they do about it? They covered it up because there was an election due. I am telling members the truth. The trouble is that the truth hurts. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That was not part of your initial briefing, as minister, from what I have seen. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What did the member say? Mrs M.H. Roberts : You were elected in September and the incident happened in August. Was it part of your original briefing as the minister, or not? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, it was not. I assume that the previous minister was informed and that both previous ministers were informed about both incidents. I was not informed about it when I took over as police minister. I assure the member that I have been through all the briefing notes, because I wanted to know, and it is not there.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : You’re really on top of things, aren’t you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If this is a serious question, then listen to the answer without interruptions. Let us not forget this happened under the Labor government’s watch. The question should be: “Was the former Minister for Police made aware of this incident when it took place in August 2008?” Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Was the member for Girrawheen aware, when she was the Minister for Corrective Services in 2008, of the further CCTV coverage? I take it from the silence opposite that maybe they were aware but because there was an election coming up they took no action at all. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. I believe the member for Mindarie has asked a serious question in this place. I would like him to have the opportunity to hear the answer, but other members are preventing that from happening. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : This is a very serious issue—of course it is. I was first made aware of it, I think, in about May, by the Commissioner of Police when he was talking to me in general terms about a review into the use of Tasers. I think there were about five different incidents that he referred to. Of course, I did not know the severity of the incident at the Perth watch-house until I actually — Mr M.P. Whitely : Did you ask? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There was an internal investigation going on immediately after this incident took place, which I have got to commend the police for. Let us not forget that as soon as a senior officer saw the CCTV footage of this attack by the two officers with their Tasers against Mr Spratt, the senior officer immediately instigated an internal inquiry. That inquiry was overseen by the Deputy Commissioner of Police. When an inquiry is going on, it is not appropriate for the minister to get involved. However, I was made aware, I think in May this year, of the general context of five different events that took place. When was I shown the video? As I say, the first time I saw it—that CCTV coverage was held by the Corruption and Crime Commission—the police had initiated an immediate internal investigation. The police went to the Director of Public Prosecutions and asked the DPP whether the police should lay any charges in relation to the two police officers. As far as I understand, the DPP told the police, “You need a complainant. I suggest you go and talk to the complainant”, which the police did, along with the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia. The complainant was then in prison, as I understand. I understand also that the complainant did not want to prefer charges. He wanted the police to carry out an internal investigation and to deal with it internally. That is all the information I had at that time. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you do anything? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid question. Did I do anything? I was not even aware of this until the whole thing became public. I heard about the initial Taser incident in May, as I have said, but not the whole detail. It was not until this Saturday that I saw the CCTV footage, and I was horrified. Of course I was horrified, just like everyone else. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you know there was a CCC investigation underway? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I became aware that the CCC was carrying out an inquiry into the use of Tasers. Mr E.S. Ripper : When was that? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I think that was probably about May as well. During all this time, it has been either under an internal police investigation or under an investigation of the CCC. I could not be expected to have known about the details of this footage or to have sighted this footage—it would have been inappropriate for me to have done that—while an investigation was going on. Ms M.M. Quirk : Why? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member for Girrawheen was a minister when this event took place, and so was the member for Balcatta. What did they do about it? They covered it up because there was an election due. I am telling members the truth. The trouble is that the truth hurts. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That was not part of your initial briefing, as minister, from what I have seen. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What did the member say? Mrs M.H. Roberts : You were elected in September and the incident happened in August. Was it part of your original briefing as the minister, or not? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, it was not. I assume that the previous minister was informed and that both previous ministers were informed about both incidents. I was not informed about it when I took over as police minister. I assure the member that I have been through all the briefing notes, because I wanted to know, and it is not there.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If this is a serious question, then listen to the answer without interruptions. Let us not forget this happened under the Labor government’s watch. The question should be: “Was the former Minister for Police made aware of this incident when it took place in August 2008?” Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Was the member for Girrawheen aware, when she was the Minister for Corrective Services in 2008, of the further CCTV coverage? I take it from the silence opposite that maybe they were aware but because there was an election coming up they took no action at all. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. I believe the member for Mindarie has asked a serious question in this place. I would like him to have the opportunity to hear the answer, but other members are preventing that from happening. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : This is a very serious issue—of course it is. I was first made aware of it, I think, in about May, by the Commissioner of Police when he was talking to me in general terms about a review into the use of Tasers. I think there were about five different incidents that he referred to. Of course, I did not know the severity of the incident at the Perth watch-house until I actually — Mr M.P. Whitely : Did you ask? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There was an internal investigation going on immediately after this incident took place, which I have got to commend the police for. Let us not forget that as soon as a senior officer saw the CCTV footage of this attack by the two officers with their Tasers against Mr Spratt, the senior officer immediately instigated an internal inquiry. That inquiry was overseen by the Deputy Commissioner of Police. When an inquiry is going on, it is not appropriate for the minister to get involved. However, I was made aware, I think in May this year, of the general context of five different events that took place. When was I shown the video? As I say, the first time I saw it—that CCTV coverage was held by the Corruption and Crime Commission—the police had initiated an immediate internal investigation. The police went to the Director of Public Prosecutions and asked the DPP whether the police should lay any charges in relation to the two police officers. As far as I understand, the DPP told the police, “You need a complainant. I suggest you go and talk to the complainant”, which the police did, along with the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia. The complainant was then in prison, as I understand. I understand also that the complainant did not want to prefer charges. He wanted the police to carry out an internal investigation and to deal with it internally. That is all the information I had at that time. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you do anything? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid question. Did I do anything? I was not even aware of this until the whole thing became public. I heard about the initial Taser incident in May, as I have said, but not the whole detail. It was not until this Saturday that I saw the CCTV footage, and I was horrified. Of course I was horrified, just like everyone else. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you know there was a CCC investigation underway? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I became aware that the CCC was carrying out an inquiry into the use of Tasers. Mr E.S. Ripper : When was that? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I think that was probably about May as well. During all this time, it has been either under an internal police investigation or under an investigation of the CCC. I could not be expected to have known about the details of this footage or to have sighted this footage—it would have been inappropriate for me to have done that—while an investigation was going on. Ms M.M. Quirk : Why? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member for Girrawheen was a minister when this event took place, and so was the member for Balcatta. What did they do about it? They covered it up because there was an election due. I am telling members the truth. The trouble is that the truth hurts. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That was not part of your initial briefing, as minister, from what I have seen. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What did the member say? Mrs M.H. Roberts : You were elected in September and the incident happened in August. Was it part of your original briefing as the minister, or not? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, it was not. I assume that the previous minister was informed and that both previous ministers were informed about both incidents. I was not informed about it when I took over as police minister. I assure the member that I have been through all the briefing notes, because I wanted to know, and it is not there.
Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Was the member for Girrawheen aware, when she was the Minister for Corrective Services in 2008, of the further CCTV coverage? I take it from the silence opposite that maybe they were aware but because there was an election coming up they took no action at all. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. I believe the member for Mindarie has asked a serious question in this place. I would like him to have the opportunity to hear the answer, but other members are preventing that from happening. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : This is a very serious issue—of course it is. I was first made aware of it, I think, in about May, by the Commissioner of Police when he was talking to me in general terms about a review into the use of Tasers. I think there were about five different incidents that he referred to. Of course, I did not know the severity of the incident at the Perth watch-house until I actually — Mr M.P. Whitely : Did you ask? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There was an internal investigation going on immediately after this incident took place, which I have got to commend the police for. Let us not forget that as soon as a senior officer saw the CCTV footage of this attack by the two officers with their Tasers against Mr Spratt, the senior officer immediately instigated an internal inquiry. That inquiry was overseen by the Deputy Commissioner of Police. When an inquiry is going on, it is not appropriate for the minister to get involved. However, I was made aware, I think in May this year, of the general context of five different events that took place. When was I shown the video? As I say, the first time I saw it—that CCTV coverage was held by the Corruption and Crime Commission—the police had initiated an immediate internal investigation. The police went to the Director of Public Prosecutions and asked the DPP whether the police should lay any charges in relation to the two police officers. As far as I understand, the DPP told the police, “You need a complainant. I suggest you go and talk to the complainant”, which the police did, along with the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia. The complainant was then in prison, as I understand. I understand also that the complainant did not want to prefer charges. He wanted the police to carry out an internal investigation and to deal with it internally. That is all the information I had at that time. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you do anything? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid question. Did I do anything? I was not even aware of this until the whole thing became public. I heard about the initial Taser incident in May, as I have said, but not the whole detail. It was not until this Saturday that I saw the CCTV footage, and I was horrified. Of course I was horrified, just like everyone else. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you know there was a CCC investigation underway? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I became aware that the CCC was carrying out an inquiry into the use of Tasers. Mr E.S. Ripper : When was that? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I think that was probably about May as well. During all this time, it has been either under an internal police investigation or under an investigation of the CCC. I could not be expected to have known about the details of this footage or to have sighted this footage—it would have been inappropriate for me to have done that—while an investigation was going on. Ms M.M. Quirk : Why? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member for Girrawheen was a minister when this event took place, and so was the member for Balcatta. What did they do about it? They covered it up because there was an election due. I am telling members the truth. The trouble is that the truth hurts. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That was not part of your initial briefing, as minister, from what I have seen. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What did the member say? Mrs M.H. Roberts : You were elected in September and the incident happened in August. Was it part of your original briefing as the minister, or not? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, it was not. I assume that the previous minister was informed and that both previous ministers were informed about both incidents. I was not informed about it when I took over as police minister. I assure the member that I have been through all the briefing notes, because I wanted to know, and it is not there.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Was the member for Girrawheen aware, when she was the Minister for Corrective Services in 2008, of the further CCTV coverage? I take it from the silence opposite that maybe they were aware but because there was an election coming up they took no action at all. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. I believe the member for Mindarie has asked a serious question in this place. I would like him to have the opportunity to hear the answer, but other members are preventing that from happening. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : This is a very serious issue—of course it is. I was first made aware of it, I think, in about May, by the Commissioner of Police when he was talking to me in general terms about a review into the use of Tasers. I think there were about five different incidents that he referred to. Of course, I did not know the severity of the incident at the Perth watch-house until I actually — Mr M.P. Whitely : Did you ask? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There was an internal investigation going on immediately after this incident took place, which I have got to commend the police for. Let us not forget that as soon as a senior officer saw the CCTV footage of this attack by the two officers with their Tasers against Mr Spratt, the senior officer immediately instigated an internal inquiry. That inquiry was overseen by the Deputy Commissioner of Police. When an inquiry is going on, it is not appropriate for the minister to get involved. However, I was made aware, I think in May this year, of the general context of five different events that took place. When was I shown the video? As I say, the first time I saw it—that CCTV coverage was held by the Corruption and Crime Commission—the police had initiated an immediate internal investigation. The police went to the Director of Public Prosecutions and asked the DPP whether the police should lay any charges in relation to the two police officers. As far as I understand, the DPP told the police, “You need a complainant. I suggest you go and talk to the complainant”, which the police did, along with the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia. The complainant was then in prison, as I understand. I understand also that the complainant did not want to prefer charges. He wanted the police to carry out an internal investigation and to deal with it internally. That is all the information I had at that time. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you do anything? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid question. Did I do anything? I was not even aware of this until the whole thing became public. I heard about the initial Taser incident in May, as I have said, but not the whole detail. It was not until this Saturday that I saw the CCTV footage, and I was horrified. Of course I was horrified, just like everyone else. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you know there was a CCC investigation underway? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I became aware that the CCC was carrying out an inquiry into the use of Tasers. Mr E.S. Ripper : When was that? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I think that was probably about May as well. During all this time, it has been either under an internal police investigation or under an investigation of the CCC. I could not be expected to have known about the details of this footage or to have sighted this footage—it would have been inappropriate for me to have done that—while an investigation was going on. Ms M.M. Quirk : Why? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member for Girrawheen was a minister when this event took place, and so was the member for Balcatta. What did they do about it? They covered it up because there was an election due. I am telling members the truth. The trouble is that the truth hurts. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That was not part of your initial briefing, as minister, from what I have seen. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What did the member say? Mrs M.H. Roberts : You were elected in September and the incident happened in August. Was it part of your original briefing as the minister, or not? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, it was not. I assume that the previous minister was informed and that both previous ministers were informed about both incidents. I was not informed about it when I took over as police minister. I assure the member that I have been through all the briefing notes, because I wanted to know, and it is not there.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. I believe the member for Mindarie has asked a serious question in this place. I would like him to have the opportunity to hear the answer, but other members are preventing that from happening. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : This is a very serious issue—of course it is. I was first made aware of it, I think, in about May, by the Commissioner of Police when he was talking to me in general terms about a review into the use of Tasers. I think there were about five different incidents that he referred to. Of course, I did not know the severity of the incident at the Perth watch-house until I actually — Mr M.P. Whitely : Did you ask? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There was an internal investigation going on immediately after this incident took place, which I have got to commend the police for. Let us not forget that as soon as a senior officer saw the CCTV footage of this attack by the two officers with their Tasers against Mr Spratt, the senior officer immediately instigated an internal inquiry. That inquiry was overseen by the Deputy Commissioner of Police. When an inquiry is going on, it is not appropriate for the minister to get involved. However, I was made aware, I think in May this year, of the general context of five different events that took place. When was I shown the video? As I say, the first time I saw it—that CCTV coverage was held by the Corruption and Crime Commission—the police had initiated an immediate internal investigation. The police went to the Director of Public Prosecutions and asked the DPP whether the police should lay any charges in relation to the two police officers. As far as I understand, the DPP told the police, “You need a complainant. I suggest you go and talk to the complainant”, which the police did, along with the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia. The complainant was then in prison, as I understand. I understand also that the complainant did not want to prefer charges. He wanted the police to carry out an internal investigation and to deal with it internally. That is all the information I had at that time. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you do anything? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid question. Did I do anything? I was not even aware of this until the whole thing became public. I heard about the initial Taser incident in May, as I have said, but not the whole detail. It was not until this Saturday that I saw the CCTV footage, and I was horrified. Of course I was horrified, just like everyone else. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you know there was a CCC investigation underway? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I became aware that the CCC was carrying out an inquiry into the use of Tasers. Mr E.S. Ripper : When was that? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I think that was probably about May as well. During all this time, it has been either under an internal police investigation or under an investigation of the CCC. I could not be expected to have known about the details of this footage or to have sighted this footage—it would have been inappropriate for me to have done that—while an investigation was going on. Ms M.M. Quirk : Why? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member for Girrawheen was a minister when this event took place, and so was the member for Balcatta. What did they do about it? They covered it up because there was an election due. I am telling members the truth. The trouble is that the truth hurts. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That was not part of your initial briefing, as minister, from what I have seen. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What did the member say? Mrs M.H. Roberts : You were elected in September and the incident happened in August. Was it part of your original briefing as the minister, or not? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, it was not. I assume that the previous minister was informed and that both previous ministers were informed about both incidents. I was not informed about it when I took over as police minister. I assure the member that I have been through all the briefing notes, because I wanted to know, and it is not there.
The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. I believe the member for Mindarie has asked a serious question in this place. I would like him to have the opportunity to hear the answer, but other members are preventing that from happening. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : This is a very serious issue—of course it is. I was first made aware of it, I think, in about May, by the Commissioner of Police when he was talking to me in general terms about a review into the use of Tasers. I think there were about five different incidents that he referred to. Of course, I did not know the severity of the incident at the Perth watch-house until I actually — Mr M.P. Whitely : Did you ask? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There was an internal investigation going on immediately after this incident took place, which I have got to commend the police for. Let us not forget that as soon as a senior officer saw the CCTV footage of this attack by the two officers with their Tasers against Mr Spratt, the senior officer immediately instigated an internal inquiry. That inquiry was overseen by the Deputy Commissioner of Police. When an inquiry is going on, it is not appropriate for the minister to get involved. However, I was made aware, I think in May this year, of the general context of five different events that took place. When was I shown the video? As I say, the first time I saw it—that CCTV coverage was held by the Corruption and Crime Commission—the police had initiated an immediate internal investigation. The police went to the Director of Public Prosecutions and asked the DPP whether the police should lay any charges in relation to the two police officers. As far as I understand, the DPP told the police, “You need a complainant. I suggest you go and talk to the complainant”, which the police did, along with the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia. The complainant was then in prison, as I understand. I understand also that the complainant did not want to prefer charges. He wanted the police to carry out an internal investigation and to deal with it internally. That is all the information I had at that time. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you do anything? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid question. Did I do anything? I was not even aware of this until the whole thing became public. I heard about the initial Taser incident in May, as I have said, but not the whole detail. It was not until this Saturday that I saw the CCTV footage, and I was horrified. Of course I was horrified, just like everyone else. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you know there was a CCC investigation underway? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I became aware that the CCC was carrying out an inquiry into the use of Tasers. Mr E.S. Ripper : When was that? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I think that was probably about May as well. During all this time, it has been either under an internal police investigation or under an investigation of the CCC. I could not be expected to have known about the details of this footage or to have sighted this footage—it would have been inappropriate for me to have done that—while an investigation was going on. Ms M.M. Quirk : Why? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member for Girrawheen was a minister when this event took place, and so was the member for Balcatta. What did they do about it? They covered it up because there was an election due. I am telling members the truth. The trouble is that the truth hurts. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That was not part of your initial briefing, as minister, from what I have seen. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What did the member say? Mrs M.H. Roberts : You were elected in September and the incident happened in August. Was it part of your original briefing as the minister, or not? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, it was not. I assume that the previous minister was informed and that both previous ministers were informed about both incidents. I was not informed about it when I took over as police minister. I assure the member that I have been through all the briefing notes, because I wanted to know, and it is not there.
I believe the member for Mindarie has asked a serious question in this place. I would like him to have the opportunity to hear the answer, but other members are preventing that from happening. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : This is a very serious issue—of course it is. I was first made aware of it, I think, in about May, by the Commissioner of Police when he was talking to me in general terms about a review into the use of Tasers. I think there were about five different incidents that he referred to. Of course, I did not know the severity of the incident at the Perth watch-house until I actually — Mr M.P. Whitely : Did you ask? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There was an internal investigation going on immediately after this incident took place, which I have got to commend the police for. Let us not forget that as soon as a senior officer saw the CCTV footage of this attack by the two officers with their Tasers against Mr Spratt, the senior officer immediately instigated an internal inquiry. That inquiry was overseen by the Deputy Commissioner of Police. When an inquiry is going on, it is not appropriate for the minister to get involved. However, I was made aware, I think in May this year, of the general context of five different events that took place. When was I shown the video? As I say, the first time I saw it—that CCTV coverage was held by the Corruption and Crime Commission—the police had initiated an immediate internal investigation. The police went to the Director of Public Prosecutions and asked the DPP whether the police should lay any charges in relation to the two police officers. As far as I understand, the DPP told the police, “You need a complainant. I suggest you go and talk to the complainant”, which the police did, along with the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia. The complainant was then in prison, as I understand. I understand also that the complainant did not want to prefer charges. He wanted the police to carry out an internal investigation and to deal with it internally. That is all the information I had at that time. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you do anything? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid question. Did I do anything? I was not even aware of this until the whole thing became public. I heard about the initial Taser incident in May, as I have said, but not the whole detail. It was not until this Saturday that I saw the CCTV footage, and I was horrified. Of course I was horrified, just like everyone else. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you know there was a CCC investigation underway? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I became aware that the CCC was carrying out an inquiry into the use of Tasers. Mr E.S. Ripper : When was that? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I think that was probably about May as well. During all this time, it has been either under an internal police investigation or under an investigation of the CCC. I could not be expected to have known about the details of this footage or to have sighted this footage—it would have been inappropriate for me to have done that—while an investigation was going on. Ms M.M. Quirk : Why? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member for Girrawheen was a minister when this event took place, and so was the member for Balcatta. What did they do about it? They covered it up because there was an election due. I am telling members the truth. The trouble is that the truth hurts. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That was not part of your initial briefing, as minister, from what I have seen. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What did the member say? Mrs M.H. Roberts : You were elected in September and the incident happened in August. Was it part of your original briefing as the minister, or not? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, it was not. I assume that the previous minister was informed and that both previous ministers were informed about both incidents. I was not informed about it when I took over as police minister. I assure the member that I have been through all the briefing notes, because I wanted to know, and it is not there.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : This is a very serious issue—of course it is. I was first made aware of it, I think, in about May, by the Commissioner of Police when he was talking to me in general terms about a review into the use of Tasers. I think there were about five different incidents that he referred to. Of course, I did not know the severity of the incident at the Perth watch-house until I actually — Mr M.P. Whitely : Did you ask? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There was an internal investigation going on immediately after this incident took place, which I have got to commend the police for. Let us not forget that as soon as a senior officer saw the CCTV footage of this attack by the two officers with their Tasers against Mr Spratt, the senior officer immediately instigated an internal inquiry. That inquiry was overseen by the Deputy Commissioner of Police. When an inquiry is going on, it is not appropriate for the minister to get involved. However, I was made aware, I think in May this year, of the general context of five different events that took place. When was I shown the video? As I say, the first time I saw it—that CCTV coverage was held by the Corruption and Crime Commission—the police had initiated an immediate internal investigation. The police went to the Director of Public Prosecutions and asked the DPP whether the police should lay any charges in relation to the two police officers. As far as I understand, the DPP told the police, “You need a complainant. I suggest you go and talk to the complainant”, which the police did, along with the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia. The complainant was then in prison, as I understand. I understand also that the complainant did not want to prefer charges. He wanted the police to carry out an internal investigation and to deal with it internally. That is all the information I had at that time. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you do anything? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid question. Did I do anything? I was not even aware of this until the whole thing became public. I heard about the initial Taser incident in May, as I have said, but not the whole detail. It was not until this Saturday that I saw the CCTV footage, and I was horrified. Of course I was horrified, just like everyone else. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you know there was a CCC investigation underway? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I became aware that the CCC was carrying out an inquiry into the use of Tasers. Mr E.S. Ripper : When was that? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I think that was probably about May as well. During all this time, it has been either under an internal police investigation or under an investigation of the CCC. I could not be expected to have known about the details of this footage or to have sighted this footage—it would have been inappropriate for me to have done that—while an investigation was going on. Ms M.M. Quirk : Why? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member for Girrawheen was a minister when this event took place, and so was the member for Balcatta. What did they do about it? They covered it up because there was an election due. I am telling members the truth. The trouble is that the truth hurts. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That was not part of your initial briefing, as minister, from what I have seen. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What did the member say? Mrs M.H. Roberts : You were elected in September and the incident happened in August. Was it part of your original briefing as the minister, or not? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, it was not. I assume that the previous minister was informed and that both previous ministers were informed about both incidents. I was not informed about it when I took over as police minister. I assure the member that I have been through all the briefing notes, because I wanted to know, and it is not there.
Mr M.P. Whitely : Did you ask? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There was an internal investigation going on immediately after this incident took place, which I have got to commend the police for. Let us not forget that as soon as a senior officer saw the CCTV footage of this attack by the two officers with their Tasers against Mr Spratt, the senior officer immediately instigated an internal inquiry. That inquiry was overseen by the Deputy Commissioner of Police. When an inquiry is going on, it is not appropriate for the minister to get involved. However, I was made aware, I think in May this year, of the general context of five different events that took place. When was I shown the video? As I say, the first time I saw it—that CCTV coverage was held by the Corruption and Crime Commission—the police had initiated an immediate internal investigation. The police went to the Director of Public Prosecutions and asked the DPP whether the police should lay any charges in relation to the two police officers. As far as I understand, the DPP told the police, “You need a complainant. I suggest you go and talk to the complainant”, which the police did, along with the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia. The complainant was then in prison, as I understand. I understand also that the complainant did not want to prefer charges. He wanted the police to carry out an internal investigation and to deal with it internally. That is all the information I had at that time. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you do anything? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid question. Did I do anything? I was not even aware of this until the whole thing became public. I heard about the initial Taser incident in May, as I have said, but not the whole detail. It was not until this Saturday that I saw the CCTV footage, and I was horrified. Of course I was horrified, just like everyone else. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you know there was a CCC investigation underway? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I became aware that the CCC was carrying out an inquiry into the use of Tasers. Mr E.S. Ripper : When was that? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I think that was probably about May as well. During all this time, it has been either under an internal police investigation or under an investigation of the CCC. I could not be expected to have known about the details of this footage or to have sighted this footage—it would have been inappropriate for me to have done that—while an investigation was going on. Ms M.M. Quirk : Why? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member for Girrawheen was a minister when this event took place, and so was the member for Balcatta. What did they do about it? They covered it up because there was an election due. I am telling members the truth. The trouble is that the truth hurts. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That was not part of your initial briefing, as minister, from what I have seen. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What did the member say? Mrs M.H. Roberts : You were elected in September and the incident happened in August. Was it part of your original briefing as the minister, or not? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, it was not. I assume that the previous minister was informed and that both previous ministers were informed about both incidents. I was not informed about it when I took over as police minister. I assure the member that I have been through all the briefing notes, because I wanted to know, and it is not there.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There was an internal investigation going on immediately after this incident took place, which I have got to commend the police for. Let us not forget that as soon as a senior officer saw the CCTV footage of this attack by the two officers with their Tasers against Mr Spratt, the senior officer immediately instigated an internal inquiry. That inquiry was overseen by the Deputy Commissioner of Police. When an inquiry is going on, it is not appropriate for the minister to get involved. However, I was made aware, I think in May this year, of the general context of five different events that took place. When was I shown the video? As I say, the first time I saw it—that CCTV coverage was held by the Corruption and Crime Commission—the police had initiated an immediate internal investigation. The police went to the Director of Public Prosecutions and asked the DPP whether the police should lay any charges in relation to the two police officers. As far as I understand, the DPP told the police, “You need a complainant. I suggest you go and talk to the complainant”, which the police did, along with the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia. The complainant was then in prison, as I understand. I understand also that the complainant did not want to prefer charges. He wanted the police to carry out an internal investigation and to deal with it internally. That is all the information I had at that time. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you do anything? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid question. Did I do anything? I was not even aware of this until the whole thing became public. I heard about the initial Taser incident in May, as I have said, but not the whole detail. It was not until this Saturday that I saw the CCTV footage, and I was horrified. Of course I was horrified, just like everyone else. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you know there was a CCC investigation underway? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I became aware that the CCC was carrying out an inquiry into the use of Tasers. Mr E.S. Ripper : When was that? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I think that was probably about May as well. During all this time, it has been either under an internal police investigation or under an investigation of the CCC. I could not be expected to have known about the details of this footage or to have sighted this footage—it would have been inappropriate for me to have done that—while an investigation was going on. Ms M.M. Quirk : Why? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member for Girrawheen was a minister when this event took place, and so was the member for Balcatta. What did they do about it? They covered it up because there was an election due. I am telling members the truth. The trouble is that the truth hurts. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That was not part of your initial briefing, as minister, from what I have seen. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What did the member say? Mrs M.H. Roberts : You were elected in September and the incident happened in August. Was it part of your original briefing as the minister, or not? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, it was not. I assume that the previous minister was informed and that both previous ministers were informed about both incidents. I was not informed about it when I took over as police minister. I assure the member that I have been through all the briefing notes, because I wanted to know, and it is not there.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you do anything? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid question. Did I do anything? I was not even aware of this until the whole thing became public. I heard about the initial Taser incident in May, as I have said, but not the whole detail. It was not until this Saturday that I saw the CCTV footage, and I was horrified. Of course I was horrified, just like everyone else. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you know there was a CCC investigation underway? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I became aware that the CCC was carrying out an inquiry into the use of Tasers. Mr E.S. Ripper : When was that? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I think that was probably about May as well. During all this time, it has been either under an internal police investigation or under an investigation of the CCC. I could not be expected to have known about the details of this footage or to have sighted this footage—it would have been inappropriate for me to have done that—while an investigation was going on. Ms M.M. Quirk : Why? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member for Girrawheen was a minister when this event took place, and so was the member for Balcatta. What did they do about it? They covered it up because there was an election due. I am telling members the truth. The trouble is that the truth hurts. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That was not part of your initial briefing, as minister, from what I have seen. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What did the member say? Mrs M.H. Roberts : You were elected in September and the incident happened in August. Was it part of your original briefing as the minister, or not? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, it was not. I assume that the previous minister was informed and that both previous ministers were informed about both incidents. I was not informed about it when I took over as police minister. I assure the member that I have been through all the briefing notes, because I wanted to know, and it is not there.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid question. Did I do anything? I was not even aware of this until the whole thing became public. I heard about the initial Taser incident in May, as I have said, but not the whole detail. It was not until this Saturday that I saw the CCTV footage, and I was horrified. Of course I was horrified, just like everyone else. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you know there was a CCC investigation underway? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I became aware that the CCC was carrying out an inquiry into the use of Tasers. Mr E.S. Ripper : When was that? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I think that was probably about May as well. During all this time, it has been either under an internal police investigation or under an investigation of the CCC. I could not be expected to have known about the details of this footage or to have sighted this footage—it would have been inappropriate for me to have done that—while an investigation was going on. Ms M.M. Quirk : Why? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member for Girrawheen was a minister when this event took place, and so was the member for Balcatta. What did they do about it? They covered it up because there was an election due. I am telling members the truth. The trouble is that the truth hurts. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That was not part of your initial briefing, as minister, from what I have seen. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What did the member say? Mrs M.H. Roberts : You were elected in September and the incident happened in August. Was it part of your original briefing as the minister, or not? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, it was not. I assume that the previous minister was informed and that both previous ministers were informed about both incidents. I was not informed about it when I took over as police minister. I assure the member that I have been through all the briefing notes, because I wanted to know, and it is not there.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you know there was a CCC investigation underway? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I became aware that the CCC was carrying out an inquiry into the use of Tasers. Mr E.S. Ripper : When was that? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I think that was probably about May as well. During all this time, it has been either under an internal police investigation or under an investigation of the CCC. I could not be expected to have known about the details of this footage or to have sighted this footage—it would have been inappropriate for me to have done that—while an investigation was going on. Ms M.M. Quirk : Why? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member for Girrawheen was a minister when this event took place, and so was the member for Balcatta. What did they do about it? They covered it up because there was an election due. I am telling members the truth. The trouble is that the truth hurts. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That was not part of your initial briefing, as minister, from what I have seen. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What did the member say? Mrs M.H. Roberts : You were elected in September and the incident happened in August. Was it part of your original briefing as the minister, or not? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, it was not. I assume that the previous minister was informed and that both previous ministers were informed about both incidents. I was not informed about it when I took over as police minister. I assure the member that I have been through all the briefing notes, because I wanted to know, and it is not there.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I became aware that the CCC was carrying out an inquiry into the use of Tasers. Mr E.S. Ripper : When was that? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I think that was probably about May as well. During all this time, it has been either under an internal police investigation or under an investigation of the CCC. I could not be expected to have known about the details of this footage or to have sighted this footage—it would have been inappropriate for me to have done that—while an investigation was going on. Ms M.M. Quirk : Why? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member for Girrawheen was a minister when this event took place, and so was the member for Balcatta. What did they do about it? They covered it up because there was an election due. I am telling members the truth. The trouble is that the truth hurts. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That was not part of your initial briefing, as minister, from what I have seen. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What did the member say? Mrs M.H. Roberts : You were elected in September and the incident happened in August. Was it part of your original briefing as the minister, or not? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, it was not. I assume that the previous minister was informed and that both previous ministers were informed about both incidents. I was not informed about it when I took over as police minister. I assure the member that I have been through all the briefing notes, because I wanted to know, and it is not there.
Mr E.S. Ripper : When was that? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I think that was probably about May as well. During all this time, it has been either under an internal police investigation or under an investigation of the CCC. I could not be expected to have known about the details of this footage or to have sighted this footage—it would have been inappropriate for me to have done that—while an investigation was going on. Ms M.M. Quirk : Why? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member for Girrawheen was a minister when this event took place, and so was the member for Balcatta. What did they do about it? They covered it up because there was an election due. I am telling members the truth. The trouble is that the truth hurts. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That was not part of your initial briefing, as minister, from what I have seen. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What did the member say? Mrs M.H. Roberts : You were elected in September and the incident happened in August. Was it part of your original briefing as the minister, or not? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, it was not. I assume that the previous minister was informed and that both previous ministers were informed about both incidents. I was not informed about it when I took over as police minister. I assure the member that I have been through all the briefing notes, because I wanted to know, and it is not there.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I think that was probably about May as well. During all this time, it has been either under an internal police investigation or under an investigation of the CCC. I could not be expected to have known about the details of this footage or to have sighted this footage—it would have been inappropriate for me to have done that—while an investigation was going on. Ms M.M. Quirk : Why? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member for Girrawheen was a minister when this event took place, and so was the member for Balcatta. What did they do about it? They covered it up because there was an election due. I am telling members the truth. The trouble is that the truth hurts. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That was not part of your initial briefing, as minister, from what I have seen. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What did the member say? Mrs M.H. Roberts : You were elected in September and the incident happened in August. Was it part of your original briefing as the minister, or not? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, it was not. I assume that the previous minister was informed and that both previous ministers were informed about both incidents. I was not informed about it when I took over as police minister. I assure the member that I have been through all the briefing notes, because I wanted to know, and it is not there.
Ms M.M. Quirk : Why? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member for Girrawheen was a minister when this event took place, and so was the member for Balcatta. What did they do about it? They covered it up because there was an election due. I am telling members the truth. The trouble is that the truth hurts. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That was not part of your initial briefing, as minister, from what I have seen. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What did the member say? Mrs M.H. Roberts : You were elected in September and the incident happened in August. Was it part of your original briefing as the minister, or not? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, it was not. I assume that the previous minister was informed and that both previous ministers were informed about both incidents. I was not informed about it when I took over as police minister. I assure the member that I have been through all the briefing notes, because I wanted to know, and it is not there.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member for Girrawheen was a minister when this event took place, and so was the member for Balcatta. What did they do about it? They covered it up because there was an election due. I am telling members the truth. The trouble is that the truth hurts. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That was not part of your initial briefing, as minister, from what I have seen. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What did the member say? Mrs M.H. Roberts : You were elected in September and the incident happened in August. Was it part of your original briefing as the minister, or not? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, it was not. I assume that the previous minister was informed and that both previous ministers were informed about both incidents. I was not informed about it when I took over as police minister. I assure the member that I have been through all the briefing notes, because I wanted to know, and it is not there.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : That was not part of your initial briefing, as minister, from what I have seen. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What did the member say? Mrs M.H. Roberts : You were elected in September and the incident happened in August. Was it part of your original briefing as the minister, or not? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, it was not. I assume that the previous minister was informed and that both previous ministers were informed about both incidents. I was not informed about it when I took over as police minister. I assure the member that I have been through all the briefing notes, because I wanted to know, and it is not there.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What did the member say? Mrs M.H. Roberts : You were elected in September and the incident happened in August. Was it part of your original briefing as the minister, or not? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, it was not. I assume that the previous minister was informed and that both previous ministers were informed about both incidents. I was not informed about it when I took over as police minister. I assure the member that I have been through all the briefing notes, because I wanted to know, and it is not there.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : You were elected in September and the incident happened in August. Was it part of your original briefing as the minister, or not? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, it was not. I assume that the previous minister was informed and that both previous ministers were informed about both incidents. I was not informed about it when I took over as police minister. I assure the member that I have been through all the briefing notes, because I wanted to know, and it is not there.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, it was not. I assume that the previous minister was informed and that both previous ministers were informed about both incidents. I was not informed about it when I took over as police minister. I assure the member that I have been through all the briefing notes, because I wanted to know, and it is not there.
(1) When was the minister first advised of this incident? (2) By whom was the minister advised of this incident? (3) Was the minister shown the video of the incident by those who advised him? (4) Did the minister know about the Corruption and Crime Commission inquiry into this, and what did he do? Mr R.F. JOHNSON replied: I thank the member for the question. I was expecting that question to be asked by the shadow Minister for Police, but obviously there has been a change in portfolios in the Labor Party? Mrs M.H. Roberts : Answer the question! Mr J.R. Quigley : Answer the question! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am very happy to answer the question. Mr J.R. Quigley : It is a serious question. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : It is a serious question. The SPEAKER : There has been a question asked in this place, which I presume is serious. I do not need other people reminding other people of that. If members want answers, remain silent for a while. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There were four parts to the question. (1)–(4) The first part was — Mr M. McGowan : When? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, the first part was “Who?” Mr J.R. Quigley : “When was the minister first advised of the incident?” Mr R.F. JOHNSON : When was I advised? I think the first I heard about this was back in May—this answers the second part of the question as well—when the Commissioner of Police told me verbally about a review into Taser use and he highlighted this incident as being a serious one. Was I ever shown the video? Let me tell the member that the first time I was ever shown the closed-circuit television coverage of this was on Saturday when I returned from leave. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You’re really on top of things, aren’t you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If this is a serious question, then listen to the answer without interruptions. Let us not forget this happened under the Labor government’s watch. The question should be: “Was the former Minister for Police made aware of this incident when it took place in August 2008?” Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Was the member for Girrawheen aware, when she was the Minister for Corrective Services in 2008, of the further CCTV coverage? I take it from the silence opposite that maybe they were aware but because there was an election coming up they took no action at all. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. I believe the member for Mindarie has asked a serious question in this place. I would like him to have the opportunity to hear the answer, but other members are preventing that from happening. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : This is a very serious issue—of course it is. I was first made aware of it, I think, in about May, by the Commissioner of Police when he was talking to me in general terms about a review into the use of Tasers. I think there were about five different incidents that he referred to. Of course, I did not know the severity of the incident at the Perth watch-house until I actually — Mr M.P. Whitely : Did you ask? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There was an internal investigation going on immediately after this incident took place, which I have got to commend the police for. Let us not forget that as soon as a senior officer saw the CCTV footage of this attack by the two officers with their Tasers against Mr Spratt, the senior officer immediately instigated an internal inquiry. That inquiry was overseen by the Deputy Commissioner of Police. When an inquiry is going on, it is not appropriate for the minister to get involved. However, I was made aware, I think in May this year, of the general context of five different events that took place. When was I shown the video? As I say, the first time I saw it—that CCTV coverage was held by the Corruption and Crime Commission—the police had initiated an immediate internal investigation. The police went to the Director of Public Prosecutions and asked the DPP whether the police should lay any charges in relation to the two police officers. As far as I understand, the DPP told the police, “You need a complainant. I suggest you go and talk to the complainant”, which the police did, along with the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia. The complainant was then in prison, as I understand. I understand also that the complainant did not want to prefer charges. He wanted the police to carry out an internal investigation and to deal with it internally. That is all the information I had at that time. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you do anything? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid question. Did I do anything? I was not even aware of this until the whole thing became public. I heard about the initial Taser incident in May, as I have said, but not the whole detail. It was not until this Saturday that I saw the CCTV footage, and I was horrified. Of course I was horrified, just like everyone else. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you know there was a CCC investigation underway? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I became aware that the CCC was carrying out an inquiry into the use of Tasers. Mr E.S. Ripper : When was that? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I think that was probably about May as well. During all this time, it has been either under an internal police investigation or under an investigation of the CCC. I could not be expected to have known about the details of this footage or to have sighted this footage—it would have been inappropriate for me to have done that—while an investigation was going on. Ms M.M. Quirk : Why? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member for Girrawheen was a minister when this event took place, and so was the member for Balcatta. What did they do about it? They covered it up because there was an election due. I am telling members the truth. The trouble is that the truth hurts. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That was not part of your initial briefing, as minister, from what I have seen. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What did the member say? Mrs M.H. Roberts : You were elected in September and the incident happened in August. Was it part of your original briefing as the minister, or not? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, it was not. I assume that the previous minister was informed and that both previous ministers were informed about both incidents. I was not informed about it when I took over as police minister. I assure the member that I have been through all the briefing notes, because I wanted to know, and it is not there.
(2) By whom was the minister advised of this incident? (3) Was the minister shown the video of the incident by those who advised him? (4) Did the minister know about the Corruption and Crime Commission inquiry into this, and what did he do? Mr R.F. JOHNSON replied: I thank the member for the question. I was expecting that question to be asked by the shadow Minister for Police, but obviously there has been a change in portfolios in the Labor Party? Mrs M.H. Roberts : Answer the question! Mr J.R. Quigley : Answer the question! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am very happy to answer the question. Mr J.R. Quigley : It is a serious question. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : It is a serious question. The SPEAKER : There has been a question asked in this place, which I presume is serious. I do not need other people reminding other people of that. If members want answers, remain silent for a while. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There were four parts to the question. (1)–(4) The first part was — Mr M. McGowan : When? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, the first part was “Who?” Mr J.R. Quigley : “When was the minister first advised of the incident?” Mr R.F. JOHNSON : When was I advised? I think the first I heard about this was back in May—this answers the second part of the question as well—when the Commissioner of Police told me verbally about a review into Taser use and he highlighted this incident as being a serious one. Was I ever shown the video? Let me tell the member that the first time I was ever shown the closed-circuit television coverage of this was on Saturday when I returned from leave. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You’re really on top of things, aren’t you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If this is a serious question, then listen to the answer without interruptions. Let us not forget this happened under the Labor government’s watch. The question should be: “Was the former Minister for Police made aware of this incident when it took place in August 2008?” Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Was the member for Girrawheen aware, when she was the Minister for Corrective Services in 2008, of the further CCTV coverage? I take it from the silence opposite that maybe they were aware but because there was an election coming up they took no action at all. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. I believe the member for Mindarie has asked a serious question in this place. I would like him to have the opportunity to hear the answer, but other members are preventing that from happening. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : This is a very serious issue—of course it is. I was first made aware of it, I think, in about May, by the Commissioner of Police when he was talking to me in general terms about a review into the use of Tasers. I think there were about five different incidents that he referred to. Of course, I did not know the severity of the incident at the Perth watch-house until I actually — Mr M.P. Whitely : Did you ask? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There was an internal investigation going on immediately after this incident took place, which I have got to commend the police for. Let us not forget that as soon as a senior officer saw the CCTV footage of this attack by the two officers with their Tasers against Mr Spratt, the senior officer immediately instigated an internal inquiry. That inquiry was overseen by the Deputy Commissioner of Police. When an inquiry is going on, it is not appropriate for the minister to get involved. However, I was made aware, I think in May this year, of the general context of five different events that took place. When was I shown the video? As I say, the first time I saw it—that CCTV coverage was held by the Corruption and Crime Commission—the police had initiated an immediate internal investigation. The police went to the Director of Public Prosecutions and asked the DPP whether the police should lay any charges in relation to the two police officers. As far as I understand, the DPP told the police, “You need a complainant. I suggest you go and talk to the complainant”, which the police did, along with the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia. The complainant was then in prison, as I understand. I understand also that the complainant did not want to prefer charges. He wanted the police to carry out an internal investigation and to deal with it internally. That is all the information I had at that time. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you do anything? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid question. Did I do anything? I was not even aware of this until the whole thing became public. I heard about the initial Taser incident in May, as I have said, but not the whole detail. It was not until this Saturday that I saw the CCTV footage, and I was horrified. Of course I was horrified, just like everyone else. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you know there was a CCC investigation underway? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I became aware that the CCC was carrying out an inquiry into the use of Tasers. Mr E.S. Ripper : When was that? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I think that was probably about May as well. During all this time, it has been either under an internal police investigation or under an investigation of the CCC. I could not be expected to have known about the details of this footage or to have sighted this footage—it would have been inappropriate for me to have done that—while an investigation was going on. Ms M.M. Quirk : Why? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member for Girrawheen was a minister when this event took place, and so was the member for Balcatta. What did they do about it? They covered it up because there was an election due. I am telling members the truth. The trouble is that the truth hurts. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That was not part of your initial briefing, as minister, from what I have seen. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What did the member say? Mrs M.H. Roberts : You were elected in September and the incident happened in August. Was it part of your original briefing as the minister, or not? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, it was not. I assume that the previous minister was informed and that both previous ministers were informed about both incidents. I was not informed about it when I took over as police minister. I assure the member that I have been through all the briefing notes, because I wanted to know, and it is not there.
(3) Was the minister shown the video of the incident by those who advised him? (4) Did the minister know about the Corruption and Crime Commission inquiry into this, and what did he do? Mr R.F. JOHNSON replied: I thank the member for the question. I was expecting that question to be asked by the shadow Minister for Police, but obviously there has been a change in portfolios in the Labor Party? Mrs M.H. Roberts : Answer the question! Mr J.R. Quigley : Answer the question! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am very happy to answer the question. Mr J.R. Quigley : It is a serious question. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : It is a serious question. The SPEAKER : There has been a question asked in this place, which I presume is serious. I do not need other people reminding other people of that. If members want answers, remain silent for a while. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There were four parts to the question. (1)–(4) The first part was — Mr M. McGowan : When? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, the first part was “Who?” Mr J.R. Quigley : “When was the minister first advised of the incident?” Mr R.F. JOHNSON : When was I advised? I think the first I heard about this was back in May—this answers the second part of the question as well—when the Commissioner of Police told me verbally about a review into Taser use and he highlighted this incident as being a serious one. Was I ever shown the video? Let me tell the member that the first time I was ever shown the closed-circuit television coverage of this was on Saturday when I returned from leave. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You’re really on top of things, aren’t you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If this is a serious question, then listen to the answer without interruptions. Let us not forget this happened under the Labor government’s watch. The question should be: “Was the former Minister for Police made aware of this incident when it took place in August 2008?” Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Was the member for Girrawheen aware, when she was the Minister for Corrective Services in 2008, of the further CCTV coverage? I take it from the silence opposite that maybe they were aware but because there was an election coming up they took no action at all. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. I believe the member for Mindarie has asked a serious question in this place. I would like him to have the opportunity to hear the answer, but other members are preventing that from happening. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : This is a very serious issue—of course it is. I was first made aware of it, I think, in about May, by the Commissioner of Police when he was talking to me in general terms about a review into the use of Tasers. I think there were about five different incidents that he referred to. Of course, I did not know the severity of the incident at the Perth watch-house until I actually — Mr M.P. Whitely : Did you ask? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There was an internal investigation going on immediately after this incident took place, which I have got to commend the police for. Let us not forget that as soon as a senior officer saw the CCTV footage of this attack by the two officers with their Tasers against Mr Spratt, the senior officer immediately instigated an internal inquiry. That inquiry was overseen by the Deputy Commissioner of Police. When an inquiry is going on, it is not appropriate for the minister to get involved. However, I was made aware, I think in May this year, of the general context of five different events that took place. When was I shown the video? As I say, the first time I saw it—that CCTV coverage was held by the Corruption and Crime Commission—the police had initiated an immediate internal investigation. The police went to the Director of Public Prosecutions and asked the DPP whether the police should lay any charges in relation to the two police officers. As far as I understand, the DPP told the police, “You need a complainant. I suggest you go and talk to the complainant”, which the police did, along with the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia. The complainant was then in prison, as I understand. I understand also that the complainant did not want to prefer charges. He wanted the police to carry out an internal investigation and to deal with it internally. That is all the information I had at that time. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you do anything? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid question. Did I do anything? I was not even aware of this until the whole thing became public. I heard about the initial Taser incident in May, as I have said, but not the whole detail. It was not until this Saturday that I saw the CCTV footage, and I was horrified. Of course I was horrified, just like everyone else. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you know there was a CCC investigation underway? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I became aware that the CCC was carrying out an inquiry into the use of Tasers. Mr E.S. Ripper : When was that? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I think that was probably about May as well. During all this time, it has been either under an internal police investigation or under an investigation of the CCC. I could not be expected to have known about the details of this footage or to have sighted this footage—it would have been inappropriate for me to have done that—while an investigation was going on. Ms M.M. Quirk : Why? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member for Girrawheen was a minister when this event took place, and so was the member for Balcatta. What did they do about it? They covered it up because there was an election due. I am telling members the truth. The trouble is that the truth hurts. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That was not part of your initial briefing, as minister, from what I have seen. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What did the member say? Mrs M.H. Roberts : You were elected in September and the incident happened in August. Was it part of your original briefing as the minister, or not? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, it was not. I assume that the previous minister was informed and that both previous ministers were informed about both incidents. I was not informed about it when I took over as police minister. I assure the member that I have been through all the briefing notes, because I wanted to know, and it is not there.
(4) Did the minister know about the Corruption and Crime Commission inquiry into this, and what did he do? Mr R.F. JOHNSON replied: I thank the member for the question. I was expecting that question to be asked by the shadow Minister for Police, but obviously there has been a change in portfolios in the Labor Party? Mrs M.H. Roberts : Answer the question! Mr J.R. Quigley : Answer the question! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am very happy to answer the question. Mr J.R. Quigley : It is a serious question. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : It is a serious question. The SPEAKER : There has been a question asked in this place, which I presume is serious. I do not need other people reminding other people of that. If members want answers, remain silent for a while. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There were four parts to the question. (1)–(4) The first part was — Mr M. McGowan : When? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, the first part was “Who?” Mr J.R. Quigley : “When was the minister first advised of the incident?” Mr R.F. JOHNSON : When was I advised? I think the first I heard about this was back in May—this answers the second part of the question as well—when the Commissioner of Police told me verbally about a review into Taser use and he highlighted this incident as being a serious one. Was I ever shown the video? Let me tell the member that the first time I was ever shown the closed-circuit television coverage of this was on Saturday when I returned from leave. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You’re really on top of things, aren’t you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If this is a serious question, then listen to the answer without interruptions. Let us not forget this happened under the Labor government’s watch. The question should be: “Was the former Minister for Police made aware of this incident when it took place in August 2008?” Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Was the member for Girrawheen aware, when she was the Minister for Corrective Services in 2008, of the further CCTV coverage? I take it from the silence opposite that maybe they were aware but because there was an election coming up they took no action at all. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. I believe the member for Mindarie has asked a serious question in this place. I would like him to have the opportunity to hear the answer, but other members are preventing that from happening. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : This is a very serious issue—of course it is. I was first made aware of it, I think, in about May, by the Commissioner of Police when he was talking to me in general terms about a review into the use of Tasers. I think there were about five different incidents that he referred to. Of course, I did not know the severity of the incident at the Perth watch-house until I actually — Mr M.P. Whitely : Did you ask? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There was an internal investigation going on immediately after this incident took place, which I have got to commend the police for. Let us not forget that as soon as a senior officer saw the CCTV footage of this attack by the two officers with their Tasers against Mr Spratt, the senior officer immediately instigated an internal inquiry. That inquiry was overseen by the Deputy Commissioner of Police. When an inquiry is going on, it is not appropriate for the minister to get involved. However, I was made aware, I think in May this year, of the general context of five different events that took place. When was I shown the video? As I say, the first time I saw it—that CCTV coverage was held by the Corruption and Crime Commission—the police had initiated an immediate internal investigation. The police went to the Director of Public Prosecutions and asked the DPP whether the police should lay any charges in relation to the two police officers. As far as I understand, the DPP told the police, “You need a complainant. I suggest you go and talk to the complainant”, which the police did, along with the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia. The complainant was then in prison, as I understand. I understand also that the complainant did not want to prefer charges. He wanted the police to carry out an internal investigation and to deal with it internally. That is all the information I had at that time. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you do anything? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid question. Did I do anything? I was not even aware of this until the whole thing became public. I heard about the initial Taser incident in May, as I have said, but not the whole detail. It was not until this Saturday that I saw the CCTV footage, and I was horrified. Of course I was horrified, just like everyone else. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you know there was a CCC investigation underway? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I became aware that the CCC was carrying out an inquiry into the use of Tasers. Mr E.S. Ripper : When was that? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I think that was probably about May as well. During all this time, it has been either under an internal police investigation or under an investigation of the CCC. I could not be expected to have known about the details of this footage or to have sighted this footage—it would have been inappropriate for me to have done that—while an investigation was going on. Ms M.M. Quirk : Why? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member for Girrawheen was a minister when this event took place, and so was the member for Balcatta. What did they do about it? They covered it up because there was an election due. I am telling members the truth. The trouble is that the truth hurts. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That was not part of your initial briefing, as minister, from what I have seen. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What did the member say? Mrs M.H. Roberts : You were elected in September and the incident happened in August. Was it part of your original briefing as the minister, or not? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, it was not. I assume that the previous minister was informed and that both previous ministers were informed about both incidents. I was not informed about it when I took over as police minister. I assure the member that I have been through all the briefing notes, because I wanted to know, and it is not there.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON replied: I thank the member for the question. I was expecting that question to be asked by the shadow Minister for Police, but obviously there has been a change in portfolios in the Labor Party? Mrs M.H. Roberts : Answer the question! Mr J.R. Quigley : Answer the question! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am very happy to answer the question. Mr J.R. Quigley : It is a serious question. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : It is a serious question. The SPEAKER : There has been a question asked in this place, which I presume is serious. I do not need other people reminding other people of that. If members want answers, remain silent for a while. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There were four parts to the question. (1)–(4) The first part was — Mr M. McGowan : When? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, the first part was “Who?” Mr J.R. Quigley : “When was the minister first advised of the incident?” Mr R.F. JOHNSON : When was I advised? I think the first I heard about this was back in May—this answers the second part of the question as well—when the Commissioner of Police told me verbally about a review into Taser use and he highlighted this incident as being a serious one. Was I ever shown the video? Let me tell the member that the first time I was ever shown the closed-circuit television coverage of this was on Saturday when I returned from leave. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You’re really on top of things, aren’t you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If this is a serious question, then listen to the answer without interruptions. Let us not forget this happened under the Labor government’s watch. The question should be: “Was the former Minister for Police made aware of this incident when it took place in August 2008?” Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Was the member for Girrawheen aware, when she was the Minister for Corrective Services in 2008, of the further CCTV coverage? I take it from the silence opposite that maybe they were aware but because there was an election coming up they took no action at all. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. I believe the member for Mindarie has asked a serious question in this place. I would like him to have the opportunity to hear the answer, but other members are preventing that from happening. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : This is a very serious issue—of course it is. I was first made aware of it, I think, in about May, by the Commissioner of Police when he was talking to me in general terms about a review into the use of Tasers. I think there were about five different incidents that he referred to. Of course, I did not know the severity of the incident at the Perth watch-house until I actually — Mr M.P. Whitely : Did you ask? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There was an internal investigation going on immediately after this incident took place, which I have got to commend the police for. Let us not forget that as soon as a senior officer saw the CCTV footage of this attack by the two officers with their Tasers against Mr Spratt, the senior officer immediately instigated an internal inquiry. That inquiry was overseen by the Deputy Commissioner of Police. When an inquiry is going on, it is not appropriate for the minister to get involved. However, I was made aware, I think in May this year, of the general context of five different events that took place. When was I shown the video? As I say, the first time I saw it—that CCTV coverage was held by the Corruption and Crime Commission—the police had initiated an immediate internal investigation. The police went to the Director of Public Prosecutions and asked the DPP whether the police should lay any charges in relation to the two police officers. As far as I understand, the DPP told the police, “You need a complainant. I suggest you go and talk to the complainant”, which the police did, along with the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia. The complainant was then in prison, as I understand. I understand also that the complainant did not want to prefer charges. He wanted the police to carry out an internal investigation and to deal with it internally. That is all the information I had at that time. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you do anything? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid question. Did I do anything? I was not even aware of this until the whole thing became public. I heard about the initial Taser incident in May, as I have said, but not the whole detail. It was not until this Saturday that I saw the CCTV footage, and I was horrified. Of course I was horrified, just like everyone else. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you know there was a CCC investigation underway? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I became aware that the CCC was carrying out an inquiry into the use of Tasers. Mr E.S. Ripper : When was that? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I think that was probably about May as well. During all this time, it has been either under an internal police investigation or under an investigation of the CCC. I could not be expected to have known about the details of this footage or to have sighted this footage—it would have been inappropriate for me to have done that—while an investigation was going on. Ms M.M. Quirk : Why? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member for Girrawheen was a minister when this event took place, and so was the member for Balcatta. What did they do about it? They covered it up because there was an election due. I am telling members the truth. The trouble is that the truth hurts. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That was not part of your initial briefing, as minister, from what I have seen. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What did the member say? Mrs M.H. Roberts : You were elected in September and the incident happened in August. Was it part of your original briefing as the minister, or not? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, it was not. I assume that the previous minister was informed and that both previous ministers were informed about both incidents. I was not informed about it when I took over as police minister. I assure the member that I have been through all the briefing notes, because I wanted to know, and it is not there.
I thank the member for the question. I was expecting that question to be asked by the shadow Minister for Police, but obviously there has been a change in portfolios in the Labor Party? Mrs M.H. Roberts : Answer the question! Mr J.R. Quigley : Answer the question! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am very happy to answer the question. Mr J.R. Quigley : It is a serious question. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : It is a serious question. The SPEAKER : There has been a question asked in this place, which I presume is serious. I do not need other people reminding other people of that. If members want answers, remain silent for a while. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There were four parts to the question. (1)–(4) The first part was — Mr M. McGowan : When? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, the first part was “Who?” Mr J.R. Quigley : “When was the minister first advised of the incident?” Mr R.F. JOHNSON : When was I advised? I think the first I heard about this was back in May—this answers the second part of the question as well—when the Commissioner of Police told me verbally about a review into Taser use and he highlighted this incident as being a serious one. Was I ever shown the video? Let me tell the member that the first time I was ever shown the closed-circuit television coverage of this was on Saturday when I returned from leave. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You’re really on top of things, aren’t you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If this is a serious question, then listen to the answer without interruptions. Let us not forget this happened under the Labor government’s watch. The question should be: “Was the former Minister for Police made aware of this incident when it took place in August 2008?” Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Was the member for Girrawheen aware, when she was the Minister for Corrective Services in 2008, of the further CCTV coverage? I take it from the silence opposite that maybe they were aware but because there was an election coming up they took no action at all. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. I believe the member for Mindarie has asked a serious question in this place. I would like him to have the opportunity to hear the answer, but other members are preventing that from happening. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : This is a very serious issue—of course it is. I was first made aware of it, I think, in about May, by the Commissioner of Police when he was talking to me in general terms about a review into the use of Tasers. I think there were about five different incidents that he referred to. Of course, I did not know the severity of the incident at the Perth watch-house until I actually — Mr M.P. Whitely : Did you ask? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There was an internal investigation going on immediately after this incident took place, which I have got to commend the police for. Let us not forget that as soon as a senior officer saw the CCTV footage of this attack by the two officers with their Tasers against Mr Spratt, the senior officer immediately instigated an internal inquiry. That inquiry was overseen by the Deputy Commissioner of Police. When an inquiry is going on, it is not appropriate for the minister to get involved. However, I was made aware, I think in May this year, of the general context of five different events that took place. When was I shown the video? As I say, the first time I saw it—that CCTV coverage was held by the Corruption and Crime Commission—the police had initiated an immediate internal investigation. The police went to the Director of Public Prosecutions and asked the DPP whether the police should lay any charges in relation to the two police officers. As far as I understand, the DPP told the police, “You need a complainant. I suggest you go and talk to the complainant”, which the police did, along with the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia. The complainant was then in prison, as I understand. I understand also that the complainant did not want to prefer charges. He wanted the police to carry out an internal investigation and to deal with it internally. That is all the information I had at that time. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you do anything? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid question. Did I do anything? I was not even aware of this until the whole thing became public. I heard about the initial Taser incident in May, as I have said, but not the whole detail. It was not until this Saturday that I saw the CCTV footage, and I was horrified. Of course I was horrified, just like everyone else. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you know there was a CCC investigation underway? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I became aware that the CCC was carrying out an inquiry into the use of Tasers. Mr E.S. Ripper : When was that? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I think that was probably about May as well. During all this time, it has been either under an internal police investigation or under an investigation of the CCC. I could not be expected to have known about the details of this footage or to have sighted this footage—it would have been inappropriate for me to have done that—while an investigation was going on. Ms M.M. Quirk : Why? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member for Girrawheen was a minister when this event took place, and so was the member for Balcatta. What did they do about it? They covered it up because there was an election due. I am telling members the truth. The trouble is that the truth hurts. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That was not part of your initial briefing, as minister, from what I have seen. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What did the member say? Mrs M.H. Roberts : You were elected in September and the incident happened in August. Was it part of your original briefing as the minister, or not? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, it was not. I assume that the previous minister was informed and that both previous ministers were informed about both incidents. I was not informed about it when I took over as police minister. I assure the member that I have been through all the briefing notes, because I wanted to know, and it is not there.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : Answer the question! Mr J.R. Quigley : Answer the question! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am very happy to answer the question. Mr J.R. Quigley : It is a serious question. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : It is a serious question. The SPEAKER : There has been a question asked in this place, which I presume is serious. I do not need other people reminding other people of that. If members want answers, remain silent for a while. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There were four parts to the question. (1)–(4) The first part was — Mr M. McGowan : When? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, the first part was “Who?” Mr J.R. Quigley : “When was the minister first advised of the incident?” Mr R.F. JOHNSON : When was I advised? I think the first I heard about this was back in May—this answers the second part of the question as well—when the Commissioner of Police told me verbally about a review into Taser use and he highlighted this incident as being a serious one. Was I ever shown the video? Let me tell the member that the first time I was ever shown the closed-circuit television coverage of this was on Saturday when I returned from leave. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You’re really on top of things, aren’t you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If this is a serious question, then listen to the answer without interruptions. Let us not forget this happened under the Labor government’s watch. The question should be: “Was the former Minister for Police made aware of this incident when it took place in August 2008?” Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Was the member for Girrawheen aware, when she was the Minister for Corrective Services in 2008, of the further CCTV coverage? I take it from the silence opposite that maybe they were aware but because there was an election coming up they took no action at all. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. I believe the member for Mindarie has asked a serious question in this place. I would like him to have the opportunity to hear the answer, but other members are preventing that from happening. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : This is a very serious issue—of course it is. I was first made aware of it, I think, in about May, by the Commissioner of Police when he was talking to me in general terms about a review into the use of Tasers. I think there were about five different incidents that he referred to. Of course, I did not know the severity of the incident at the Perth watch-house until I actually — Mr M.P. Whitely : Did you ask? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There was an internal investigation going on immediately after this incident took place, which I have got to commend the police for. Let us not forget that as soon as a senior officer saw the CCTV footage of this attack by the two officers with their Tasers against Mr Spratt, the senior officer immediately instigated an internal inquiry. That inquiry was overseen by the Deputy Commissioner of Police. When an inquiry is going on, it is not appropriate for the minister to get involved. However, I was made aware, I think in May this year, of the general context of five different events that took place. When was I shown the video? As I say, the first time I saw it—that CCTV coverage was held by the Corruption and Crime Commission—the police had initiated an immediate internal investigation. The police went to the Director of Public Prosecutions and asked the DPP whether the police should lay any charges in relation to the two police officers. As far as I understand, the DPP told the police, “You need a complainant. I suggest you go and talk to the complainant”, which the police did, along with the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia. The complainant was then in prison, as I understand. I understand also that the complainant did not want to prefer charges. He wanted the police to carry out an internal investigation and to deal with it internally. That is all the information I had at that time. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you do anything? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid question. Did I do anything? I was not even aware of this until the whole thing became public. I heard about the initial Taser incident in May, as I have said, but not the whole detail. It was not until this Saturday that I saw the CCTV footage, and I was horrified. Of course I was horrified, just like everyone else. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you know there was a CCC investigation underway? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I became aware that the CCC was carrying out an inquiry into the use of Tasers. Mr E.S. Ripper : When was that? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I think that was probably about May as well. During all this time, it has been either under an internal police investigation or under an investigation of the CCC. I could not be expected to have known about the details of this footage or to have sighted this footage—it would have been inappropriate for me to have done that—while an investigation was going on. Ms M.M. Quirk : Why? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member for Girrawheen was a minister when this event took place, and so was the member for Balcatta. What did they do about it? They covered it up because there was an election due. I am telling members the truth. The trouble is that the truth hurts. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That was not part of your initial briefing, as minister, from what I have seen. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What did the member say? Mrs M.H. Roberts : You were elected in September and the incident happened in August. Was it part of your original briefing as the minister, or not? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, it was not. I assume that the previous minister was informed and that both previous ministers were informed about both incidents. I was not informed about it when I took over as police minister. I assure the member that I have been through all the briefing notes, because I wanted to know, and it is not there.
Mr J.R. Quigley : Answer the question! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am very happy to answer the question. Mr J.R. Quigley : It is a serious question. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : It is a serious question. The SPEAKER : There has been a question asked in this place, which I presume is serious. I do not need other people reminding other people of that. If members want answers, remain silent for a while. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There were four parts to the question. (1)–(4) The first part was — Mr M. McGowan : When? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, the first part was “Who?” Mr J.R. Quigley : “When was the minister first advised of the incident?” Mr R.F. JOHNSON : When was I advised? I think the first I heard about this was back in May—this answers the second part of the question as well—when the Commissioner of Police told me verbally about a review into Taser use and he highlighted this incident as being a serious one. Was I ever shown the video? Let me tell the member that the first time I was ever shown the closed-circuit television coverage of this was on Saturday when I returned from leave. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You’re really on top of things, aren’t you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If this is a serious question, then listen to the answer without interruptions. Let us not forget this happened under the Labor government’s watch. The question should be: “Was the former Minister for Police made aware of this incident when it took place in August 2008?” Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Was the member for Girrawheen aware, when she was the Minister for Corrective Services in 2008, of the further CCTV coverage? I take it from the silence opposite that maybe they were aware but because there was an election coming up they took no action at all. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. I believe the member for Mindarie has asked a serious question in this place. I would like him to have the opportunity to hear the answer, but other members are preventing that from happening. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : This is a very serious issue—of course it is. I was first made aware of it, I think, in about May, by the Commissioner of Police when he was talking to me in general terms about a review into the use of Tasers. I think there were about five different incidents that he referred to. Of course, I did not know the severity of the incident at the Perth watch-house until I actually — Mr M.P. Whitely : Did you ask? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There was an internal investigation going on immediately after this incident took place, which I have got to commend the police for. Let us not forget that as soon as a senior officer saw the CCTV footage of this attack by the two officers with their Tasers against Mr Spratt, the senior officer immediately instigated an internal inquiry. That inquiry was overseen by the Deputy Commissioner of Police. When an inquiry is going on, it is not appropriate for the minister to get involved. However, I was made aware, I think in May this year, of the general context of five different events that took place. When was I shown the video? As I say, the first time I saw it—that CCTV coverage was held by the Corruption and Crime Commission—the police had initiated an immediate internal investigation. The police went to the Director of Public Prosecutions and asked the DPP whether the police should lay any charges in relation to the two police officers. As far as I understand, the DPP told the police, “You need a complainant. I suggest you go and talk to the complainant”, which the police did, along with the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia. The complainant was then in prison, as I understand. I understand also that the complainant did not want to prefer charges. He wanted the police to carry out an internal investigation and to deal with it internally. That is all the information I had at that time. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you do anything? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid question. Did I do anything? I was not even aware of this until the whole thing became public. I heard about the initial Taser incident in May, as I have said, but not the whole detail. It was not until this Saturday that I saw the CCTV footage, and I was horrified. Of course I was horrified, just like everyone else. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you know there was a CCC investigation underway? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I became aware that the CCC was carrying out an inquiry into the use of Tasers. Mr E.S. Ripper : When was that? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I think that was probably about May as well. During all this time, it has been either under an internal police investigation or under an investigation of the CCC. I could not be expected to have known about the details of this footage or to have sighted this footage—it would have been inappropriate for me to have done that—while an investigation was going on. Ms M.M. Quirk : Why? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member for Girrawheen was a minister when this event took place, and so was the member for Balcatta. What did they do about it? They covered it up because there was an election due. I am telling members the truth. The trouble is that the truth hurts. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That was not part of your initial briefing, as minister, from what I have seen. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What did the member say? Mrs M.H. Roberts : You were elected in September and the incident happened in August. Was it part of your original briefing as the minister, or not? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, it was not. I assume that the previous minister was informed and that both previous ministers were informed about both incidents. I was not informed about it when I took over as police minister. I assure the member that I have been through all the briefing notes, because I wanted to know, and it is not there.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am very happy to answer the question. Mr J.R. Quigley : It is a serious question. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : It is a serious question. The SPEAKER : There has been a question asked in this place, which I presume is serious. I do not need other people reminding other people of that. If members want answers, remain silent for a while. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There were four parts to the question. (1)–(4) The first part was — Mr M. McGowan : When? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, the first part was “Who?” Mr J.R. Quigley : “When was the minister first advised of the incident?” Mr R.F. JOHNSON : When was I advised? I think the first I heard about this was back in May—this answers the second part of the question as well—when the Commissioner of Police told me verbally about a review into Taser use and he highlighted this incident as being a serious one. Was I ever shown the video? Let me tell the member that the first time I was ever shown the closed-circuit television coverage of this was on Saturday when I returned from leave. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You’re really on top of things, aren’t you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If this is a serious question, then listen to the answer without interruptions. Let us not forget this happened under the Labor government’s watch. The question should be: “Was the former Minister for Police made aware of this incident when it took place in August 2008?” Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Was the member for Girrawheen aware, when she was the Minister for Corrective Services in 2008, of the further CCTV coverage? I take it from the silence opposite that maybe they were aware but because there was an election coming up they took no action at all. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. I believe the member for Mindarie has asked a serious question in this place. I would like him to have the opportunity to hear the answer, but other members are preventing that from happening. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : This is a very serious issue—of course it is. I was first made aware of it, I think, in about May, by the Commissioner of Police when he was talking to me in general terms about a review into the use of Tasers. I think there were about five different incidents that he referred to. Of course, I did not know the severity of the incident at the Perth watch-house until I actually — Mr M.P. Whitely : Did you ask? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There was an internal investigation going on immediately after this incident took place, which I have got to commend the police for. Let us not forget that as soon as a senior officer saw the CCTV footage of this attack by the two officers with their Tasers against Mr Spratt, the senior officer immediately instigated an internal inquiry. That inquiry was overseen by the Deputy Commissioner of Police. When an inquiry is going on, it is not appropriate for the minister to get involved. However, I was made aware, I think in May this year, of the general context of five different events that took place. When was I shown the video? As I say, the first time I saw it—that CCTV coverage was held by the Corruption and Crime Commission—the police had initiated an immediate internal investigation. The police went to the Director of Public Prosecutions and asked the DPP whether the police should lay any charges in relation to the two police officers. As far as I understand, the DPP told the police, “You need a complainant. I suggest you go and talk to the complainant”, which the police did, along with the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia. The complainant was then in prison, as I understand. I understand also that the complainant did not want to prefer charges. He wanted the police to carry out an internal investigation and to deal with it internally. That is all the information I had at that time. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you do anything? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid question. Did I do anything? I was not even aware of this until the whole thing became public. I heard about the initial Taser incident in May, as I have said, but not the whole detail. It was not until this Saturday that I saw the CCTV footage, and I was horrified. Of course I was horrified, just like everyone else. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you know there was a CCC investigation underway? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I became aware that the CCC was carrying out an inquiry into the use of Tasers. Mr E.S. Ripper : When was that? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I think that was probably about May as well. During all this time, it has been either under an internal police investigation or under an investigation of the CCC. I could not be expected to have known about the details of this footage or to have sighted this footage—it would have been inappropriate for me to have done that—while an investigation was going on. Ms M.M. Quirk : Why? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member for Girrawheen was a minister when this event took place, and so was the member for Balcatta. What did they do about it? They covered it up because there was an election due. I am telling members the truth. The trouble is that the truth hurts. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That was not part of your initial briefing, as minister, from what I have seen. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What did the member say? Mrs M.H. Roberts : You were elected in September and the incident happened in August. Was it part of your original briefing as the minister, or not? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, it was not. I assume that the previous minister was informed and that both previous ministers were informed about both incidents. I was not informed about it when I took over as police minister. I assure the member that I have been through all the briefing notes, because I wanted to know, and it is not there.
Mr J.R. Quigley : It is a serious question. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : It is a serious question. The SPEAKER : There has been a question asked in this place, which I presume is serious. I do not need other people reminding other people of that. If members want answers, remain silent for a while. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There were four parts to the question. (1)–(4) The first part was — Mr M. McGowan : When? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, the first part was “Who?” Mr J.R. Quigley : “When was the minister first advised of the incident?” Mr R.F. JOHNSON : When was I advised? I think the first I heard about this was back in May—this answers the second part of the question as well—when the Commissioner of Police told me verbally about a review into Taser use and he highlighted this incident as being a serious one. Was I ever shown the video? Let me tell the member that the first time I was ever shown the closed-circuit television coverage of this was on Saturday when I returned from leave. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You’re really on top of things, aren’t you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If this is a serious question, then listen to the answer without interruptions. Let us not forget this happened under the Labor government’s watch. The question should be: “Was the former Minister for Police made aware of this incident when it took place in August 2008?” Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Was the member for Girrawheen aware, when she was the Minister for Corrective Services in 2008, of the further CCTV coverage? I take it from the silence opposite that maybe they were aware but because there was an election coming up they took no action at all. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. I believe the member for Mindarie has asked a serious question in this place. I would like him to have the opportunity to hear the answer, but other members are preventing that from happening. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : This is a very serious issue—of course it is. I was first made aware of it, I think, in about May, by the Commissioner of Police when he was talking to me in general terms about a review into the use of Tasers. I think there were about five different incidents that he referred to. Of course, I did not know the severity of the incident at the Perth watch-house until I actually — Mr M.P. Whitely : Did you ask? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There was an internal investigation going on immediately after this incident took place, which I have got to commend the police for. Let us not forget that as soon as a senior officer saw the CCTV footage of this attack by the two officers with their Tasers against Mr Spratt, the senior officer immediately instigated an internal inquiry. That inquiry was overseen by the Deputy Commissioner of Police. When an inquiry is going on, it is not appropriate for the minister to get involved. However, I was made aware, I think in May this year, of the general context of five different events that took place. When was I shown the video? As I say, the first time I saw it—that CCTV coverage was held by the Corruption and Crime Commission—the police had initiated an immediate internal investigation. The police went to the Director of Public Prosecutions and asked the DPP whether the police should lay any charges in relation to the two police officers. As far as I understand, the DPP told the police, “You need a complainant. I suggest you go and talk to the complainant”, which the police did, along with the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia. The complainant was then in prison, as I understand. I understand also that the complainant did not want to prefer charges. He wanted the police to carry out an internal investigation and to deal with it internally. That is all the information I had at that time. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you do anything? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid question. Did I do anything? I was not even aware of this until the whole thing became public. I heard about the initial Taser incident in May, as I have said, but not the whole detail. It was not until this Saturday that I saw the CCTV footage, and I was horrified. Of course I was horrified, just like everyone else. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you know there was a CCC investigation underway? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I became aware that the CCC was carrying out an inquiry into the use of Tasers. Mr E.S. Ripper : When was that? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I think that was probably about May as well. During all this time, it has been either under an internal police investigation or under an investigation of the CCC. I could not be expected to have known about the details of this footage or to have sighted this footage—it would have been inappropriate for me to have done that—while an investigation was going on. Ms M.M. Quirk : Why? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member for Girrawheen was a minister when this event took place, and so was the member for Balcatta. What did they do about it? They covered it up because there was an election due. I am telling members the truth. The trouble is that the truth hurts. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That was not part of your initial briefing, as minister, from what I have seen. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What did the member say? Mrs M.H. Roberts : You were elected in September and the incident happened in August. Was it part of your original briefing as the minister, or not? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, it was not. I assume that the previous minister was informed and that both previous ministers were informed about both incidents. I was not informed about it when I took over as police minister. I assure the member that I have been through all the briefing notes, because I wanted to know, and it is not there.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : It is a serious question. The SPEAKER : There has been a question asked in this place, which I presume is serious. I do not need other people reminding other people of that. If members want answers, remain silent for a while. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There were four parts to the question. (1)–(4) The first part was — Mr M. McGowan : When? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, the first part was “Who?” Mr J.R. Quigley : “When was the minister first advised of the incident?” Mr R.F. JOHNSON : When was I advised? I think the first I heard about this was back in May—this answers the second part of the question as well—when the Commissioner of Police told me verbally about a review into Taser use and he highlighted this incident as being a serious one. Was I ever shown the video? Let me tell the member that the first time I was ever shown the closed-circuit television coverage of this was on Saturday when I returned from leave. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You’re really on top of things, aren’t you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If this is a serious question, then listen to the answer without interruptions. Let us not forget this happened under the Labor government’s watch. The question should be: “Was the former Minister for Police made aware of this incident when it took place in August 2008?” Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Was the member for Girrawheen aware, when she was the Minister for Corrective Services in 2008, of the further CCTV coverage? I take it from the silence opposite that maybe they were aware but because there was an election coming up they took no action at all. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. I believe the member for Mindarie has asked a serious question in this place. I would like him to have the opportunity to hear the answer, but other members are preventing that from happening. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : This is a very serious issue—of course it is. I was first made aware of it, I think, in about May, by the Commissioner of Police when he was talking to me in general terms about a review into the use of Tasers. I think there were about five different incidents that he referred to. Of course, I did not know the severity of the incident at the Perth watch-house until I actually — Mr M.P. Whitely : Did you ask? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There was an internal investigation going on immediately after this incident took place, which I have got to commend the police for. Let us not forget that as soon as a senior officer saw the CCTV footage of this attack by the two officers with their Tasers against Mr Spratt, the senior officer immediately instigated an internal inquiry. That inquiry was overseen by the Deputy Commissioner of Police. When an inquiry is going on, it is not appropriate for the minister to get involved. However, I was made aware, I think in May this year, of the general context of five different events that took place. When was I shown the video? As I say, the first time I saw it—that CCTV coverage was held by the Corruption and Crime Commission—the police had initiated an immediate internal investigation. The police went to the Director of Public Prosecutions and asked the DPP whether the police should lay any charges in relation to the two police officers. As far as I understand, the DPP told the police, “You need a complainant. I suggest you go and talk to the complainant”, which the police did, along with the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia. The complainant was then in prison, as I understand. I understand also that the complainant did not want to prefer charges. He wanted the police to carry out an internal investigation and to deal with it internally. That is all the information I had at that time. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you do anything? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid question. Did I do anything? I was not even aware of this until the whole thing became public. I heard about the initial Taser incident in May, as I have said, but not the whole detail. It was not until this Saturday that I saw the CCTV footage, and I was horrified. Of course I was horrified, just like everyone else. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you know there was a CCC investigation underway? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I became aware that the CCC was carrying out an inquiry into the use of Tasers. Mr E.S. Ripper : When was that? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I think that was probably about May as well. During all this time, it has been either under an internal police investigation or under an investigation of the CCC. I could not be expected to have known about the details of this footage or to have sighted this footage—it would have been inappropriate for me to have done that—while an investigation was going on. Ms M.M. Quirk : Why? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member for Girrawheen was a minister when this event took place, and so was the member for Balcatta. What did they do about it? They covered it up because there was an election due. I am telling members the truth. The trouble is that the truth hurts. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That was not part of your initial briefing, as minister, from what I have seen. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What did the member say? Mrs M.H. Roberts : You were elected in September and the incident happened in August. Was it part of your original briefing as the minister, or not? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, it was not. I assume that the previous minister was informed and that both previous ministers were informed about both incidents. I was not informed about it when I took over as police minister. I assure the member that I have been through all the briefing notes, because I wanted to know, and it is not there.
The SPEAKER : There has been a question asked in this place, which I presume is serious. I do not need other people reminding other people of that. If members want answers, remain silent for a while. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There were four parts to the question. (1)–(4) The first part was — Mr M. McGowan : When? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, the first part was “Who?” Mr J.R. Quigley : “When was the minister first advised of the incident?” Mr R.F. JOHNSON : When was I advised? I think the first I heard about this was back in May—this answers the second part of the question as well—when the Commissioner of Police told me verbally about a review into Taser use and he highlighted this incident as being a serious one. Was I ever shown the video? Let me tell the member that the first time I was ever shown the closed-circuit television coverage of this was on Saturday when I returned from leave. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You’re really on top of things, aren’t you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If this is a serious question, then listen to the answer without interruptions. Let us not forget this happened under the Labor government’s watch. The question should be: “Was the former Minister for Police made aware of this incident when it took place in August 2008?” Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Was the member for Girrawheen aware, when she was the Minister for Corrective Services in 2008, of the further CCTV coverage? I take it from the silence opposite that maybe they were aware but because there was an election coming up they took no action at all. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. I believe the member for Mindarie has asked a serious question in this place. I would like him to have the opportunity to hear the answer, but other members are preventing that from happening. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : This is a very serious issue—of course it is. I was first made aware of it, I think, in about May, by the Commissioner of Police when he was talking to me in general terms about a review into the use of Tasers. I think there were about five different incidents that he referred to. Of course, I did not know the severity of the incident at the Perth watch-house until I actually — Mr M.P. Whitely : Did you ask? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There was an internal investigation going on immediately after this incident took place, which I have got to commend the police for. Let us not forget that as soon as a senior officer saw the CCTV footage of this attack by the two officers with their Tasers against Mr Spratt, the senior officer immediately instigated an internal inquiry. That inquiry was overseen by the Deputy Commissioner of Police. When an inquiry is going on, it is not appropriate for the minister to get involved. However, I was made aware, I think in May this year, of the general context of five different events that took place. When was I shown the video? As I say, the first time I saw it—that CCTV coverage was held by the Corruption and Crime Commission—the police had initiated an immediate internal investigation. The police went to the Director of Public Prosecutions and asked the DPP whether the police should lay any charges in relation to the two police officers. As far as I understand, the DPP told the police, “You need a complainant. I suggest you go and talk to the complainant”, which the police did, along with the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia. The complainant was then in prison, as I understand. I understand also that the complainant did not want to prefer charges. He wanted the police to carry out an internal investigation and to deal with it internally. That is all the information I had at that time. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you do anything? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid question. Did I do anything? I was not even aware of this until the whole thing became public. I heard about the initial Taser incident in May, as I have said, but not the whole detail. It was not until this Saturday that I saw the CCTV footage, and I was horrified. Of course I was horrified, just like everyone else. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you know there was a CCC investigation underway? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I became aware that the CCC was carrying out an inquiry into the use of Tasers. Mr E.S. Ripper : When was that? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I think that was probably about May as well. During all this time, it has been either under an internal police investigation or under an investigation of the CCC. I could not be expected to have known about the details of this footage or to have sighted this footage—it would have been inappropriate for me to have done that—while an investigation was going on. Ms M.M. Quirk : Why? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member for Girrawheen was a minister when this event took place, and so was the member for Balcatta. What did they do about it? They covered it up because there was an election due. I am telling members the truth. The trouble is that the truth hurts. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That was not part of your initial briefing, as minister, from what I have seen. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What did the member say? Mrs M.H. Roberts : You were elected in September and the incident happened in August. Was it part of your original briefing as the minister, or not? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, it was not. I assume that the previous minister was informed and that both previous ministers were informed about both incidents. I was not informed about it when I took over as police minister. I assure the member that I have been through all the briefing notes, because I wanted to know, and it is not there.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There were four parts to the question. (1)–(4) The first part was — Mr M. McGowan : When? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, the first part was “Who?” Mr J.R. Quigley : “When was the minister first advised of the incident?” Mr R.F. JOHNSON : When was I advised? I think the first I heard about this was back in May—this answers the second part of the question as well—when the Commissioner of Police told me verbally about a review into Taser use and he highlighted this incident as being a serious one. Was I ever shown the video? Let me tell the member that the first time I was ever shown the closed-circuit television coverage of this was on Saturday when I returned from leave. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You’re really on top of things, aren’t you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If this is a serious question, then listen to the answer without interruptions. Let us not forget this happened under the Labor government’s watch. The question should be: “Was the former Minister for Police made aware of this incident when it took place in August 2008?” Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Was the member for Girrawheen aware, when she was the Minister for Corrective Services in 2008, of the further CCTV coverage? I take it from the silence opposite that maybe they were aware but because there was an election coming up they took no action at all. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. I believe the member for Mindarie has asked a serious question in this place. I would like him to have the opportunity to hear the answer, but other members are preventing that from happening. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : This is a very serious issue—of course it is. I was first made aware of it, I think, in about May, by the Commissioner of Police when he was talking to me in general terms about a review into the use of Tasers. I think there were about five different incidents that he referred to. Of course, I did not know the severity of the incident at the Perth watch-house until I actually — Mr M.P. Whitely : Did you ask? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There was an internal investigation going on immediately after this incident took place, which I have got to commend the police for. Let us not forget that as soon as a senior officer saw the CCTV footage of this attack by the two officers with their Tasers against Mr Spratt, the senior officer immediately instigated an internal inquiry. That inquiry was overseen by the Deputy Commissioner of Police. When an inquiry is going on, it is not appropriate for the minister to get involved. However, I was made aware, I think in May this year, of the general context of five different events that took place. When was I shown the video? As I say, the first time I saw it—that CCTV coverage was held by the Corruption and Crime Commission—the police had initiated an immediate internal investigation. The police went to the Director of Public Prosecutions and asked the DPP whether the police should lay any charges in relation to the two police officers. As far as I understand, the DPP told the police, “You need a complainant. I suggest you go and talk to the complainant”, which the police did, along with the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia. The complainant was then in prison, as I understand. I understand also that the complainant did not want to prefer charges. He wanted the police to carry out an internal investigation and to deal with it internally. That is all the information I had at that time. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you do anything? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid question. Did I do anything? I was not even aware of this until the whole thing became public. I heard about the initial Taser incident in May, as I have said, but not the whole detail. It was not until this Saturday that I saw the CCTV footage, and I was horrified. Of course I was horrified, just like everyone else. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you know there was a CCC investigation underway? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I became aware that the CCC was carrying out an inquiry into the use of Tasers. Mr E.S. Ripper : When was that? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I think that was probably about May as well. During all this time, it has been either under an internal police investigation or under an investigation of the CCC. I could not be expected to have known about the details of this footage or to have sighted this footage—it would have been inappropriate for me to have done that—while an investigation was going on. Ms M.M. Quirk : Why? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member for Girrawheen was a minister when this event took place, and so was the member for Balcatta. What did they do about it? They covered it up because there was an election due. I am telling members the truth. The trouble is that the truth hurts. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That was not part of your initial briefing, as minister, from what I have seen. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What did the member say? Mrs M.H. Roberts : You were elected in September and the incident happened in August. Was it part of your original briefing as the minister, or not? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, it was not. I assume that the previous minister was informed and that both previous ministers were informed about both incidents. I was not informed about it when I took over as police minister. I assure the member that I have been through all the briefing notes, because I wanted to know, and it is not there.
(1)–(4) The first part was — Mr M. McGowan : When? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, the first part was “Who?” Mr J.R. Quigley : “When was the minister first advised of the incident?” Mr R.F. JOHNSON : When was I advised? I think the first I heard about this was back in May—this answers the second part of the question as well—when the Commissioner of Police told me verbally about a review into Taser use and he highlighted this incident as being a serious one. Was I ever shown the video? Let me tell the member that the first time I was ever shown the closed-circuit television coverage of this was on Saturday when I returned from leave. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You’re really on top of things, aren’t you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If this is a serious question, then listen to the answer without interruptions. Let us not forget this happened under the Labor government’s watch. The question should be: “Was the former Minister for Police made aware of this incident when it took place in August 2008?” Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Was the member for Girrawheen aware, when she was the Minister for Corrective Services in 2008, of the further CCTV coverage? I take it from the silence opposite that maybe they were aware but because there was an election coming up they took no action at all. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. I believe the member for Mindarie has asked a serious question in this place. I would like him to have the opportunity to hear the answer, but other members are preventing that from happening. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : This is a very serious issue—of course it is. I was first made aware of it, I think, in about May, by the Commissioner of Police when he was talking to me in general terms about a review into the use of Tasers. I think there were about five different incidents that he referred to. Of course, I did not know the severity of the incident at the Perth watch-house until I actually — Mr M.P. Whitely : Did you ask? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There was an internal investigation going on immediately after this incident took place, which I have got to commend the police for. Let us not forget that as soon as a senior officer saw the CCTV footage of this attack by the two officers with their Tasers against Mr Spratt, the senior officer immediately instigated an internal inquiry. That inquiry was overseen by the Deputy Commissioner of Police. When an inquiry is going on, it is not appropriate for the minister to get involved. However, I was made aware, I think in May this year, of the general context of five different events that took place. When was I shown the video? As I say, the first time I saw it—that CCTV coverage was held by the Corruption and Crime Commission—the police had initiated an immediate internal investigation. The police went to the Director of Public Prosecutions and asked the DPP whether the police should lay any charges in relation to the two police officers. As far as I understand, the DPP told the police, “You need a complainant. I suggest you go and talk to the complainant”, which the police did, along with the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia. The complainant was then in prison, as I understand. I understand also that the complainant did not want to prefer charges. He wanted the police to carry out an internal investigation and to deal with it internally. That is all the information I had at that time. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you do anything? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid question. Did I do anything? I was not even aware of this until the whole thing became public. I heard about the initial Taser incident in May, as I have said, but not the whole detail. It was not until this Saturday that I saw the CCTV footage, and I was horrified. Of course I was horrified, just like everyone else. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you know there was a CCC investigation underway? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I became aware that the CCC was carrying out an inquiry into the use of Tasers. Mr E.S. Ripper : When was that? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I think that was probably about May as well. During all this time, it has been either under an internal police investigation or under an investigation of the CCC. I could not be expected to have known about the details of this footage or to have sighted this footage—it would have been inappropriate for me to have done that—while an investigation was going on. Ms M.M. Quirk : Why? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member for Girrawheen was a minister when this event took place, and so was the member for Balcatta. What did they do about it? They covered it up because there was an election due. I am telling members the truth. The trouble is that the truth hurts. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That was not part of your initial briefing, as minister, from what I have seen. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What did the member say? Mrs M.H. Roberts : You were elected in September and the incident happened in August. Was it part of your original briefing as the minister, or not? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, it was not. I assume that the previous minister was informed and that both previous ministers were informed about both incidents. I was not informed about it when I took over as police minister. I assure the member that I have been through all the briefing notes, because I wanted to know, and it is not there.
Mr M. McGowan : When? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, the first part was “Who?” Mr J.R. Quigley : “When was the minister first advised of the incident?” Mr R.F. JOHNSON : When was I advised? I think the first I heard about this was back in May—this answers the second part of the question as well—when the Commissioner of Police told me verbally about a review into Taser use and he highlighted this incident as being a serious one. Was I ever shown the video? Let me tell the member that the first time I was ever shown the closed-circuit television coverage of this was on Saturday when I returned from leave. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You’re really on top of things, aren’t you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If this is a serious question, then listen to the answer without interruptions. Let us not forget this happened under the Labor government’s watch. The question should be: “Was the former Minister for Police made aware of this incident when it took place in August 2008?” Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Was the member for Girrawheen aware, when she was the Minister for Corrective Services in 2008, of the further CCTV coverage? I take it from the silence opposite that maybe they were aware but because there was an election coming up they took no action at all. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. I believe the member for Mindarie has asked a serious question in this place. I would like him to have the opportunity to hear the answer, but other members are preventing that from happening. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : This is a very serious issue—of course it is. I was first made aware of it, I think, in about May, by the Commissioner of Police when he was talking to me in general terms about a review into the use of Tasers. I think there were about five different incidents that he referred to. Of course, I did not know the severity of the incident at the Perth watch-house until I actually — Mr M.P. Whitely : Did you ask? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There was an internal investigation going on immediately after this incident took place, which I have got to commend the police for. Let us not forget that as soon as a senior officer saw the CCTV footage of this attack by the two officers with their Tasers against Mr Spratt, the senior officer immediately instigated an internal inquiry. That inquiry was overseen by the Deputy Commissioner of Police. When an inquiry is going on, it is not appropriate for the minister to get involved. However, I was made aware, I think in May this year, of the general context of five different events that took place. When was I shown the video? As I say, the first time I saw it—that CCTV coverage was held by the Corruption and Crime Commission—the police had initiated an immediate internal investigation. The police went to the Director of Public Prosecutions and asked the DPP whether the police should lay any charges in relation to the two police officers. As far as I understand, the DPP told the police, “You need a complainant. I suggest you go and talk to the complainant”, which the police did, along with the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia. The complainant was then in prison, as I understand. I understand also that the complainant did not want to prefer charges. He wanted the police to carry out an internal investigation and to deal with it internally. That is all the information I had at that time. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you do anything? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid question. Did I do anything? I was not even aware of this until the whole thing became public. I heard about the initial Taser incident in May, as I have said, but not the whole detail. It was not until this Saturday that I saw the CCTV footage, and I was horrified. Of course I was horrified, just like everyone else. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you know there was a CCC investigation underway? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I became aware that the CCC was carrying out an inquiry into the use of Tasers. Mr E.S. Ripper : When was that? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I think that was probably about May as well. During all this time, it has been either under an internal police investigation or under an investigation of the CCC. I could not be expected to have known about the details of this footage or to have sighted this footage—it would have been inappropriate for me to have done that—while an investigation was going on. Ms M.M. Quirk : Why? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member for Girrawheen was a minister when this event took place, and so was the member for Balcatta. What did they do about it? They covered it up because there was an election due. I am telling members the truth. The trouble is that the truth hurts. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That was not part of your initial briefing, as minister, from what I have seen. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What did the member say? Mrs M.H. Roberts : You were elected in September and the incident happened in August. Was it part of your original briefing as the minister, or not? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, it was not. I assume that the previous minister was informed and that both previous ministers were informed about both incidents. I was not informed about it when I took over as police minister. I assure the member that I have been through all the briefing notes, because I wanted to know, and it is not there.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, the first part was “Who?” Mr J.R. Quigley : “When was the minister first advised of the incident?” Mr R.F. JOHNSON : When was I advised? I think the first I heard about this was back in May—this answers the second part of the question as well—when the Commissioner of Police told me verbally about a review into Taser use and he highlighted this incident as being a serious one. Was I ever shown the video? Let me tell the member that the first time I was ever shown the closed-circuit television coverage of this was on Saturday when I returned from leave. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You’re really on top of things, aren’t you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If this is a serious question, then listen to the answer without interruptions. Let us not forget this happened under the Labor government’s watch. The question should be: “Was the former Minister for Police made aware of this incident when it took place in August 2008?” Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Was the member for Girrawheen aware, when she was the Minister for Corrective Services in 2008, of the further CCTV coverage? I take it from the silence opposite that maybe they were aware but because there was an election coming up they took no action at all. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. I believe the member for Mindarie has asked a serious question in this place. I would like him to have the opportunity to hear the answer, but other members are preventing that from happening. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : This is a very serious issue—of course it is. I was first made aware of it, I think, in about May, by the Commissioner of Police when he was talking to me in general terms about a review into the use of Tasers. I think there were about five different incidents that he referred to. Of course, I did not know the severity of the incident at the Perth watch-house until I actually — Mr M.P. Whitely : Did you ask? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There was an internal investigation going on immediately after this incident took place, which I have got to commend the police for. Let us not forget that as soon as a senior officer saw the CCTV footage of this attack by the two officers with their Tasers against Mr Spratt, the senior officer immediately instigated an internal inquiry. That inquiry was overseen by the Deputy Commissioner of Police. When an inquiry is going on, it is not appropriate for the minister to get involved. However, I was made aware, I think in May this year, of the general context of five different events that took place. When was I shown the video? As I say, the first time I saw it—that CCTV coverage was held by the Corruption and Crime Commission—the police had initiated an immediate internal investigation. The police went to the Director of Public Prosecutions and asked the DPP whether the police should lay any charges in relation to the two police officers. As far as I understand, the DPP told the police, “You need a complainant. I suggest you go and talk to the complainant”, which the police did, along with the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia. The complainant was then in prison, as I understand. I understand also that the complainant did not want to prefer charges. He wanted the police to carry out an internal investigation and to deal with it internally. That is all the information I had at that time. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you do anything? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid question. Did I do anything? I was not even aware of this until the whole thing became public. I heard about the initial Taser incident in May, as I have said, but not the whole detail. It was not until this Saturday that I saw the CCTV footage, and I was horrified. Of course I was horrified, just like everyone else. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you know there was a CCC investigation underway? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I became aware that the CCC was carrying out an inquiry into the use of Tasers. Mr E.S. Ripper : When was that? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I think that was probably about May as well. During all this time, it has been either under an internal police investigation or under an investigation of the CCC. I could not be expected to have known about the details of this footage or to have sighted this footage—it would have been inappropriate for me to have done that—while an investigation was going on. Ms M.M. Quirk : Why? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member for Girrawheen was a minister when this event took place, and so was the member for Balcatta. What did they do about it? They covered it up because there was an election due. I am telling members the truth. The trouble is that the truth hurts. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That was not part of your initial briefing, as minister, from what I have seen. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What did the member say? Mrs M.H. Roberts : You were elected in September and the incident happened in August. Was it part of your original briefing as the minister, or not? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, it was not. I assume that the previous minister was informed and that both previous ministers were informed about both incidents. I was not informed about it when I took over as police minister. I assure the member that I have been through all the briefing notes, because I wanted to know, and it is not there.
Mr J.R. Quigley : “When was the minister first advised of the incident?” Mr R.F. JOHNSON : When was I advised? I think the first I heard about this was back in May—this answers the second part of the question as well—when the Commissioner of Police told me verbally about a review into Taser use and he highlighted this incident as being a serious one. Was I ever shown the video? Let me tell the member that the first time I was ever shown the closed-circuit television coverage of this was on Saturday when I returned from leave. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You’re really on top of things, aren’t you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If this is a serious question, then listen to the answer without interruptions. Let us not forget this happened under the Labor government’s watch. The question should be: “Was the former Minister for Police made aware of this incident when it took place in August 2008?” Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Was the member for Girrawheen aware, when she was the Minister for Corrective Services in 2008, of the further CCTV coverage? I take it from the silence opposite that maybe they were aware but because there was an election coming up they took no action at all. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. I believe the member for Mindarie has asked a serious question in this place. I would like him to have the opportunity to hear the answer, but other members are preventing that from happening. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : This is a very serious issue—of course it is. I was first made aware of it, I think, in about May, by the Commissioner of Police when he was talking to me in general terms about a review into the use of Tasers. I think there were about five different incidents that he referred to. Of course, I did not know the severity of the incident at the Perth watch-house until I actually — Mr M.P. Whitely : Did you ask? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There was an internal investigation going on immediately after this incident took place, which I have got to commend the police for. Let us not forget that as soon as a senior officer saw the CCTV footage of this attack by the two officers with their Tasers against Mr Spratt, the senior officer immediately instigated an internal inquiry. That inquiry was overseen by the Deputy Commissioner of Police. When an inquiry is going on, it is not appropriate for the minister to get involved. However, I was made aware, I think in May this year, of the general context of five different events that took place. When was I shown the video? As I say, the first time I saw it—that CCTV coverage was held by the Corruption and Crime Commission—the police had initiated an immediate internal investigation. The police went to the Director of Public Prosecutions and asked the DPP whether the police should lay any charges in relation to the two police officers. As far as I understand, the DPP told the police, “You need a complainant. I suggest you go and talk to the complainant”, which the police did, along with the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia. The complainant was then in prison, as I understand. I understand also that the complainant did not want to prefer charges. He wanted the police to carry out an internal investigation and to deal with it internally. That is all the information I had at that time. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you do anything? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid question. Did I do anything? I was not even aware of this until the whole thing became public. I heard about the initial Taser incident in May, as I have said, but not the whole detail. It was not until this Saturday that I saw the CCTV footage, and I was horrified. Of course I was horrified, just like everyone else. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you know there was a CCC investigation underway? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I became aware that the CCC was carrying out an inquiry into the use of Tasers. Mr E.S. Ripper : When was that? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I think that was probably about May as well. During all this time, it has been either under an internal police investigation or under an investigation of the CCC. I could not be expected to have known about the details of this footage or to have sighted this footage—it would have been inappropriate for me to have done that—while an investigation was going on. Ms M.M. Quirk : Why? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member for Girrawheen was a minister when this event took place, and so was the member for Balcatta. What did they do about it? They covered it up because there was an election due. I am telling members the truth. The trouble is that the truth hurts. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That was not part of your initial briefing, as minister, from what I have seen. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What did the member say? Mrs M.H. Roberts : You were elected in September and the incident happened in August. Was it part of your original briefing as the minister, or not? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, it was not. I assume that the previous minister was informed and that both previous ministers were informed about both incidents. I was not informed about it when I took over as police minister. I assure the member that I have been through all the briefing notes, because I wanted to know, and it is not there.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : When was I advised? I think the first I heard about this was back in May—this answers the second part of the question as well—when the Commissioner of Police told me verbally about a review into Taser use and he highlighted this incident as being a serious one. Was I ever shown the video? Let me tell the member that the first time I was ever shown the closed-circuit television coverage of this was on Saturday when I returned from leave. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You’re really on top of things, aren’t you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If this is a serious question, then listen to the answer without interruptions. Let us not forget this happened under the Labor government’s watch. The question should be: “Was the former Minister for Police made aware of this incident when it took place in August 2008?” Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Was the member for Girrawheen aware, when she was the Minister for Corrective Services in 2008, of the further CCTV coverage? I take it from the silence opposite that maybe they were aware but because there was an election coming up they took no action at all. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. I believe the member for Mindarie has asked a serious question in this place. I would like him to have the opportunity to hear the answer, but other members are preventing that from happening. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : This is a very serious issue—of course it is. I was first made aware of it, I think, in about May, by the Commissioner of Police when he was talking to me in general terms about a review into the use of Tasers. I think there were about five different incidents that he referred to. Of course, I did not know the severity of the incident at the Perth watch-house until I actually — Mr M.P. Whitely : Did you ask? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There was an internal investigation going on immediately after this incident took place, which I have got to commend the police for. Let us not forget that as soon as a senior officer saw the CCTV footage of this attack by the two officers with their Tasers against Mr Spratt, the senior officer immediately instigated an internal inquiry. That inquiry was overseen by the Deputy Commissioner of Police. When an inquiry is going on, it is not appropriate for the minister to get involved. However, I was made aware, I think in May this year, of the general context of five different events that took place. When was I shown the video? As I say, the first time I saw it—that CCTV coverage was held by the Corruption and Crime Commission—the police had initiated an immediate internal investigation. The police went to the Director of Public Prosecutions and asked the DPP whether the police should lay any charges in relation to the two police officers. As far as I understand, the DPP told the police, “You need a complainant. I suggest you go and talk to the complainant”, which the police did, along with the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia. The complainant was then in prison, as I understand. I understand also that the complainant did not want to prefer charges. He wanted the police to carry out an internal investigation and to deal with it internally. That is all the information I had at that time. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you do anything? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid question. Did I do anything? I was not even aware of this until the whole thing became public. I heard about the initial Taser incident in May, as I have said, but not the whole detail. It was not until this Saturday that I saw the CCTV footage, and I was horrified. Of course I was horrified, just like everyone else. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you know there was a CCC investigation underway? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I became aware that the CCC was carrying out an inquiry into the use of Tasers. Mr E.S. Ripper : When was that? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I think that was probably about May as well. During all this time, it has been either under an internal police investigation or under an investigation of the CCC. I could not be expected to have known about the details of this footage or to have sighted this footage—it would have been inappropriate for me to have done that—while an investigation was going on. Ms M.M. Quirk : Why? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member for Girrawheen was a minister when this event took place, and so was the member for Balcatta. What did they do about it? They covered it up because there was an election due. I am telling members the truth. The trouble is that the truth hurts. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That was not part of your initial briefing, as minister, from what I have seen. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What did the member say? Mrs M.H. Roberts : You were elected in September and the incident happened in August. Was it part of your original briefing as the minister, or not? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, it was not. I assume that the previous minister was informed and that both previous ministers were informed about both incidents. I was not informed about it when I took over as police minister. I assure the member that I have been through all the briefing notes, because I wanted to know, and it is not there.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : You’re really on top of things, aren’t you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If this is a serious question, then listen to the answer without interruptions. Let us not forget this happened under the Labor government’s watch. The question should be: “Was the former Minister for Police made aware of this incident when it took place in August 2008?” Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Was the member for Girrawheen aware, when she was the Minister for Corrective Services in 2008, of the further CCTV coverage? I take it from the silence opposite that maybe they were aware but because there was an election coming up they took no action at all. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. I believe the member for Mindarie has asked a serious question in this place. I would like him to have the opportunity to hear the answer, but other members are preventing that from happening. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : This is a very serious issue—of course it is. I was first made aware of it, I think, in about May, by the Commissioner of Police when he was talking to me in general terms about a review into the use of Tasers. I think there were about five different incidents that he referred to. Of course, I did not know the severity of the incident at the Perth watch-house until I actually — Mr M.P. Whitely : Did you ask? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There was an internal investigation going on immediately after this incident took place, which I have got to commend the police for. Let us not forget that as soon as a senior officer saw the CCTV footage of this attack by the two officers with their Tasers against Mr Spratt, the senior officer immediately instigated an internal inquiry. That inquiry was overseen by the Deputy Commissioner of Police. When an inquiry is going on, it is not appropriate for the minister to get involved. However, I was made aware, I think in May this year, of the general context of five different events that took place. When was I shown the video? As I say, the first time I saw it—that CCTV coverage was held by the Corruption and Crime Commission—the police had initiated an immediate internal investigation. The police went to the Director of Public Prosecutions and asked the DPP whether the police should lay any charges in relation to the two police officers. As far as I understand, the DPP told the police, “You need a complainant. I suggest you go and talk to the complainant”, which the police did, along with the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia. The complainant was then in prison, as I understand. I understand also that the complainant did not want to prefer charges. He wanted the police to carry out an internal investigation and to deal with it internally. That is all the information I had at that time. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you do anything? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid question. Did I do anything? I was not even aware of this until the whole thing became public. I heard about the initial Taser incident in May, as I have said, but not the whole detail. It was not until this Saturday that I saw the CCTV footage, and I was horrified. Of course I was horrified, just like everyone else. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you know there was a CCC investigation underway? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I became aware that the CCC was carrying out an inquiry into the use of Tasers. Mr E.S. Ripper : When was that? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I think that was probably about May as well. During all this time, it has been either under an internal police investigation or under an investigation of the CCC. I could not be expected to have known about the details of this footage or to have sighted this footage—it would have been inappropriate for me to have done that—while an investigation was going on. Ms M.M. Quirk : Why? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member for Girrawheen was a minister when this event took place, and so was the member for Balcatta. What did they do about it? They covered it up because there was an election due. I am telling members the truth. The trouble is that the truth hurts. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That was not part of your initial briefing, as minister, from what I have seen. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What did the member say? Mrs M.H. Roberts : You were elected in September and the incident happened in August. Was it part of your original briefing as the minister, or not? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, it was not. I assume that the previous minister was informed and that both previous ministers were informed about both incidents. I was not informed about it when I took over as police minister. I assure the member that I have been through all the briefing notes, because I wanted to know, and it is not there.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If this is a serious question, then listen to the answer without interruptions. Let us not forget this happened under the Labor government’s watch. The question should be: “Was the former Minister for Police made aware of this incident when it took place in August 2008?” Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Was the member for Girrawheen aware, when she was the Minister for Corrective Services in 2008, of the further CCTV coverage? I take it from the silence opposite that maybe they were aware but because there was an election coming up they took no action at all. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. I believe the member for Mindarie has asked a serious question in this place. I would like him to have the opportunity to hear the answer, but other members are preventing that from happening. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : This is a very serious issue—of course it is. I was first made aware of it, I think, in about May, by the Commissioner of Police when he was talking to me in general terms about a review into the use of Tasers. I think there were about five different incidents that he referred to. Of course, I did not know the severity of the incident at the Perth watch-house until I actually — Mr M.P. Whitely : Did you ask? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There was an internal investigation going on immediately after this incident took place, which I have got to commend the police for. Let us not forget that as soon as a senior officer saw the CCTV footage of this attack by the two officers with their Tasers against Mr Spratt, the senior officer immediately instigated an internal inquiry. That inquiry was overseen by the Deputy Commissioner of Police. When an inquiry is going on, it is not appropriate for the minister to get involved. However, I was made aware, I think in May this year, of the general context of five different events that took place. When was I shown the video? As I say, the first time I saw it—that CCTV coverage was held by the Corruption and Crime Commission—the police had initiated an immediate internal investigation. The police went to the Director of Public Prosecutions and asked the DPP whether the police should lay any charges in relation to the two police officers. As far as I understand, the DPP told the police, “You need a complainant. I suggest you go and talk to the complainant”, which the police did, along with the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia. The complainant was then in prison, as I understand. I understand also that the complainant did not want to prefer charges. He wanted the police to carry out an internal investigation and to deal with it internally. That is all the information I had at that time. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you do anything? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid question. Did I do anything? I was not even aware of this until the whole thing became public. I heard about the initial Taser incident in May, as I have said, but not the whole detail. It was not until this Saturday that I saw the CCTV footage, and I was horrified. Of course I was horrified, just like everyone else. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you know there was a CCC investigation underway? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I became aware that the CCC was carrying out an inquiry into the use of Tasers. Mr E.S. Ripper : When was that? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I think that was probably about May as well. During all this time, it has been either under an internal police investigation or under an investigation of the CCC. I could not be expected to have known about the details of this footage or to have sighted this footage—it would have been inappropriate for me to have done that—while an investigation was going on. Ms M.M. Quirk : Why? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member for Girrawheen was a minister when this event took place, and so was the member for Balcatta. What did they do about it? They covered it up because there was an election due. I am telling members the truth. The trouble is that the truth hurts. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That was not part of your initial briefing, as minister, from what I have seen. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What did the member say? Mrs M.H. Roberts : You were elected in September and the incident happened in August. Was it part of your original briefing as the minister, or not? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, it was not. I assume that the previous minister was informed and that both previous ministers were informed about both incidents. I was not informed about it when I took over as police minister. I assure the member that I have been through all the briefing notes, because I wanted to know, and it is not there.
Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Was the member for Girrawheen aware, when she was the Minister for Corrective Services in 2008, of the further CCTV coverage? I take it from the silence opposite that maybe they were aware but because there was an election coming up they took no action at all. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. I believe the member for Mindarie has asked a serious question in this place. I would like him to have the opportunity to hear the answer, but other members are preventing that from happening. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : This is a very serious issue—of course it is. I was first made aware of it, I think, in about May, by the Commissioner of Police when he was talking to me in general terms about a review into the use of Tasers. I think there were about five different incidents that he referred to. Of course, I did not know the severity of the incident at the Perth watch-house until I actually — Mr M.P. Whitely : Did you ask? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There was an internal investigation going on immediately after this incident took place, which I have got to commend the police for. Let us not forget that as soon as a senior officer saw the CCTV footage of this attack by the two officers with their Tasers against Mr Spratt, the senior officer immediately instigated an internal inquiry. That inquiry was overseen by the Deputy Commissioner of Police. When an inquiry is going on, it is not appropriate for the minister to get involved. However, I was made aware, I think in May this year, of the general context of five different events that took place. When was I shown the video? As I say, the first time I saw it—that CCTV coverage was held by the Corruption and Crime Commission—the police had initiated an immediate internal investigation. The police went to the Director of Public Prosecutions and asked the DPP whether the police should lay any charges in relation to the two police officers. As far as I understand, the DPP told the police, “You need a complainant. I suggest you go and talk to the complainant”, which the police did, along with the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia. The complainant was then in prison, as I understand. I understand also that the complainant did not want to prefer charges. He wanted the police to carry out an internal investigation and to deal with it internally. That is all the information I had at that time. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you do anything? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid question. Did I do anything? I was not even aware of this until the whole thing became public. I heard about the initial Taser incident in May, as I have said, but not the whole detail. It was not until this Saturday that I saw the CCTV footage, and I was horrified. Of course I was horrified, just like everyone else. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you know there was a CCC investigation underway? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I became aware that the CCC was carrying out an inquiry into the use of Tasers. Mr E.S. Ripper : When was that? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I think that was probably about May as well. During all this time, it has been either under an internal police investigation or under an investigation of the CCC. I could not be expected to have known about the details of this footage or to have sighted this footage—it would have been inappropriate for me to have done that—while an investigation was going on. Ms M.M. Quirk : Why? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member for Girrawheen was a minister when this event took place, and so was the member for Balcatta. What did they do about it? They covered it up because there was an election due. I am telling members the truth. The trouble is that the truth hurts. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That was not part of your initial briefing, as minister, from what I have seen. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What did the member say? Mrs M.H. Roberts : You were elected in September and the incident happened in August. Was it part of your original briefing as the minister, or not? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, it was not. I assume that the previous minister was informed and that both previous ministers were informed about both incidents. I was not informed about it when I took over as police minister. I assure the member that I have been through all the briefing notes, because I wanted to know, and it is not there.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Was the member for Girrawheen aware, when she was the Minister for Corrective Services in 2008, of the further CCTV coverage? I take it from the silence opposite that maybe they were aware but because there was an election coming up they took no action at all. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. I believe the member for Mindarie has asked a serious question in this place. I would like him to have the opportunity to hear the answer, but other members are preventing that from happening. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : This is a very serious issue—of course it is. I was first made aware of it, I think, in about May, by the Commissioner of Police when he was talking to me in general terms about a review into the use of Tasers. I think there were about five different incidents that he referred to. Of course, I did not know the severity of the incident at the Perth watch-house until I actually — Mr M.P. Whitely : Did you ask? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There was an internal investigation going on immediately after this incident took place, which I have got to commend the police for. Let us not forget that as soon as a senior officer saw the CCTV footage of this attack by the two officers with their Tasers against Mr Spratt, the senior officer immediately instigated an internal inquiry. That inquiry was overseen by the Deputy Commissioner of Police. When an inquiry is going on, it is not appropriate for the minister to get involved. However, I was made aware, I think in May this year, of the general context of five different events that took place. When was I shown the video? As I say, the first time I saw it—that CCTV coverage was held by the Corruption and Crime Commission—the police had initiated an immediate internal investigation. The police went to the Director of Public Prosecutions and asked the DPP whether the police should lay any charges in relation to the two police officers. As far as I understand, the DPP told the police, “You need a complainant. I suggest you go and talk to the complainant”, which the police did, along with the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia. The complainant was then in prison, as I understand. I understand also that the complainant did not want to prefer charges. He wanted the police to carry out an internal investigation and to deal with it internally. That is all the information I had at that time. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you do anything? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid question. Did I do anything? I was not even aware of this until the whole thing became public. I heard about the initial Taser incident in May, as I have said, but not the whole detail. It was not until this Saturday that I saw the CCTV footage, and I was horrified. Of course I was horrified, just like everyone else. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you know there was a CCC investigation underway? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I became aware that the CCC was carrying out an inquiry into the use of Tasers. Mr E.S. Ripper : When was that? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I think that was probably about May as well. During all this time, it has been either under an internal police investigation or under an investigation of the CCC. I could not be expected to have known about the details of this footage or to have sighted this footage—it would have been inappropriate for me to have done that—while an investigation was going on. Ms M.M. Quirk : Why? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member for Girrawheen was a minister when this event took place, and so was the member for Balcatta. What did they do about it? They covered it up because there was an election due. I am telling members the truth. The trouble is that the truth hurts. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That was not part of your initial briefing, as minister, from what I have seen. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What did the member say? Mrs M.H. Roberts : You were elected in September and the incident happened in August. Was it part of your original briefing as the minister, or not? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, it was not. I assume that the previous minister was informed and that both previous ministers were informed about both incidents. I was not informed about it when I took over as police minister. I assure the member that I have been through all the briefing notes, because I wanted to know, and it is not there.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. I believe the member for Mindarie has asked a serious question in this place. I would like him to have the opportunity to hear the answer, but other members are preventing that from happening. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : This is a very serious issue—of course it is. I was first made aware of it, I think, in about May, by the Commissioner of Police when he was talking to me in general terms about a review into the use of Tasers. I think there were about five different incidents that he referred to. Of course, I did not know the severity of the incident at the Perth watch-house until I actually — Mr M.P. Whitely : Did you ask? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There was an internal investigation going on immediately after this incident took place, which I have got to commend the police for. Let us not forget that as soon as a senior officer saw the CCTV footage of this attack by the two officers with their Tasers against Mr Spratt, the senior officer immediately instigated an internal inquiry. That inquiry was overseen by the Deputy Commissioner of Police. When an inquiry is going on, it is not appropriate for the minister to get involved. However, I was made aware, I think in May this year, of the general context of five different events that took place. When was I shown the video? As I say, the first time I saw it—that CCTV coverage was held by the Corruption and Crime Commission—the police had initiated an immediate internal investigation. The police went to the Director of Public Prosecutions and asked the DPP whether the police should lay any charges in relation to the two police officers. As far as I understand, the DPP told the police, “You need a complainant. I suggest you go and talk to the complainant”, which the police did, along with the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia. The complainant was then in prison, as I understand. I understand also that the complainant did not want to prefer charges. He wanted the police to carry out an internal investigation and to deal with it internally. That is all the information I had at that time. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you do anything? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid question. Did I do anything? I was not even aware of this until the whole thing became public. I heard about the initial Taser incident in May, as I have said, but not the whole detail. It was not until this Saturday that I saw the CCTV footage, and I was horrified. Of course I was horrified, just like everyone else. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you know there was a CCC investigation underway? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I became aware that the CCC was carrying out an inquiry into the use of Tasers. Mr E.S. Ripper : When was that? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I think that was probably about May as well. During all this time, it has been either under an internal police investigation or under an investigation of the CCC. I could not be expected to have known about the details of this footage or to have sighted this footage—it would have been inappropriate for me to have done that—while an investigation was going on. Ms M.M. Quirk : Why? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member for Girrawheen was a minister when this event took place, and so was the member for Balcatta. What did they do about it? They covered it up because there was an election due. I am telling members the truth. The trouble is that the truth hurts. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That was not part of your initial briefing, as minister, from what I have seen. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What did the member say? Mrs M.H. Roberts : You were elected in September and the incident happened in August. Was it part of your original briefing as the minister, or not? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, it was not. I assume that the previous minister was informed and that both previous ministers were informed about both incidents. I was not informed about it when I took over as police minister. I assure the member that I have been through all the briefing notes, because I wanted to know, and it is not there.
The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. I believe the member for Mindarie has asked a serious question in this place. I would like him to have the opportunity to hear the answer, but other members are preventing that from happening. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : This is a very serious issue—of course it is. I was first made aware of it, I think, in about May, by the Commissioner of Police when he was talking to me in general terms about a review into the use of Tasers. I think there were about five different incidents that he referred to. Of course, I did not know the severity of the incident at the Perth watch-house until I actually — Mr M.P. Whitely : Did you ask? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There was an internal investigation going on immediately after this incident took place, which I have got to commend the police for. Let us not forget that as soon as a senior officer saw the CCTV footage of this attack by the two officers with their Tasers against Mr Spratt, the senior officer immediately instigated an internal inquiry. That inquiry was overseen by the Deputy Commissioner of Police. When an inquiry is going on, it is not appropriate for the minister to get involved. However, I was made aware, I think in May this year, of the general context of five different events that took place. When was I shown the video? As I say, the first time I saw it—that CCTV coverage was held by the Corruption and Crime Commission—the police had initiated an immediate internal investigation. The police went to the Director of Public Prosecutions and asked the DPP whether the police should lay any charges in relation to the two police officers. As far as I understand, the DPP told the police, “You need a complainant. I suggest you go and talk to the complainant”, which the police did, along with the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia. The complainant was then in prison, as I understand. I understand also that the complainant did not want to prefer charges. He wanted the police to carry out an internal investigation and to deal with it internally. That is all the information I had at that time. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you do anything? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid question. Did I do anything? I was not even aware of this until the whole thing became public. I heard about the initial Taser incident in May, as I have said, but not the whole detail. It was not until this Saturday that I saw the CCTV footage, and I was horrified. Of course I was horrified, just like everyone else. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you know there was a CCC investigation underway? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I became aware that the CCC was carrying out an inquiry into the use of Tasers. Mr E.S. Ripper : When was that? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I think that was probably about May as well. During all this time, it has been either under an internal police investigation or under an investigation of the CCC. I could not be expected to have known about the details of this footage or to have sighted this footage—it would have been inappropriate for me to have done that—while an investigation was going on. Ms M.M. Quirk : Why? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member for Girrawheen was a minister when this event took place, and so was the member for Balcatta. What did they do about it? They covered it up because there was an election due. I am telling members the truth. The trouble is that the truth hurts. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That was not part of your initial briefing, as minister, from what I have seen. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What did the member say? Mrs M.H. Roberts : You were elected in September and the incident happened in August. Was it part of your original briefing as the minister, or not? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, it was not. I assume that the previous minister was informed and that both previous ministers were informed about both incidents. I was not informed about it when I took over as police minister. I assure the member that I have been through all the briefing notes, because I wanted to know, and it is not there.
I believe the member for Mindarie has asked a serious question in this place. I would like him to have the opportunity to hear the answer, but other members are preventing that from happening. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : This is a very serious issue—of course it is. I was first made aware of it, I think, in about May, by the Commissioner of Police when he was talking to me in general terms about a review into the use of Tasers. I think there were about five different incidents that he referred to. Of course, I did not know the severity of the incident at the Perth watch-house until I actually — Mr M.P. Whitely : Did you ask? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There was an internal investigation going on immediately after this incident took place, which I have got to commend the police for. Let us not forget that as soon as a senior officer saw the CCTV footage of this attack by the two officers with their Tasers against Mr Spratt, the senior officer immediately instigated an internal inquiry. That inquiry was overseen by the Deputy Commissioner of Police. When an inquiry is going on, it is not appropriate for the minister to get involved. However, I was made aware, I think in May this year, of the general context of five different events that took place. When was I shown the video? As I say, the first time I saw it—that CCTV coverage was held by the Corruption and Crime Commission—the police had initiated an immediate internal investigation. The police went to the Director of Public Prosecutions and asked the DPP whether the police should lay any charges in relation to the two police officers. As far as I understand, the DPP told the police, “You need a complainant. I suggest you go and talk to the complainant”, which the police did, along with the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia. The complainant was then in prison, as I understand. I understand also that the complainant did not want to prefer charges. He wanted the police to carry out an internal investigation and to deal with it internally. That is all the information I had at that time. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you do anything? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid question. Did I do anything? I was not even aware of this until the whole thing became public. I heard about the initial Taser incident in May, as I have said, but not the whole detail. It was not until this Saturday that I saw the CCTV footage, and I was horrified. Of course I was horrified, just like everyone else. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you know there was a CCC investigation underway? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I became aware that the CCC was carrying out an inquiry into the use of Tasers. Mr E.S. Ripper : When was that? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I think that was probably about May as well. During all this time, it has been either under an internal police investigation or under an investigation of the CCC. I could not be expected to have known about the details of this footage or to have sighted this footage—it would have been inappropriate for me to have done that—while an investigation was going on. Ms M.M. Quirk : Why? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member for Girrawheen was a minister when this event took place, and so was the member for Balcatta. What did they do about it? They covered it up because there was an election due. I am telling members the truth. The trouble is that the truth hurts. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That was not part of your initial briefing, as minister, from what I have seen. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What did the member say? Mrs M.H. Roberts : You were elected in September and the incident happened in August. Was it part of your original briefing as the minister, or not? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, it was not. I assume that the previous minister was informed and that both previous ministers were informed about both incidents. I was not informed about it when I took over as police minister. I assure the member that I have been through all the briefing notes, because I wanted to know, and it is not there.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : This is a very serious issue—of course it is. I was first made aware of it, I think, in about May, by the Commissioner of Police when he was talking to me in general terms about a review into the use of Tasers. I think there were about five different incidents that he referred to. Of course, I did not know the severity of the incident at the Perth watch-house until I actually — Mr M.P. Whitely : Did you ask? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There was an internal investigation going on immediately after this incident took place, which I have got to commend the police for. Let us not forget that as soon as a senior officer saw the CCTV footage of this attack by the two officers with their Tasers against Mr Spratt, the senior officer immediately instigated an internal inquiry. That inquiry was overseen by the Deputy Commissioner of Police. When an inquiry is going on, it is not appropriate for the minister to get involved. However, I was made aware, I think in May this year, of the general context of five different events that took place. When was I shown the video? As I say, the first time I saw it—that CCTV coverage was held by the Corruption and Crime Commission—the police had initiated an immediate internal investigation. The police went to the Director of Public Prosecutions and asked the DPP whether the police should lay any charges in relation to the two police officers. As far as I understand, the DPP told the police, “You need a complainant. I suggest you go and talk to the complainant”, which the police did, along with the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia. The complainant was then in prison, as I understand. I understand also that the complainant did not want to prefer charges. He wanted the police to carry out an internal investigation and to deal with it internally. That is all the information I had at that time. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you do anything? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid question. Did I do anything? I was not even aware of this until the whole thing became public. I heard about the initial Taser incident in May, as I have said, but not the whole detail. It was not until this Saturday that I saw the CCTV footage, and I was horrified. Of course I was horrified, just like everyone else. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you know there was a CCC investigation underway? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I became aware that the CCC was carrying out an inquiry into the use of Tasers. Mr E.S. Ripper : When was that? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I think that was probably about May as well. During all this time, it has been either under an internal police investigation or under an investigation of the CCC. I could not be expected to have known about the details of this footage or to have sighted this footage—it would have been inappropriate for me to have done that—while an investigation was going on. Ms M.M. Quirk : Why? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member for Girrawheen was a minister when this event took place, and so was the member for Balcatta. What did they do about it? They covered it up because there was an election due. I am telling members the truth. The trouble is that the truth hurts. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That was not part of your initial briefing, as minister, from what I have seen. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What did the member say? Mrs M.H. Roberts : You were elected in September and the incident happened in August. Was it part of your original briefing as the minister, or not? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, it was not. I assume that the previous minister was informed and that both previous ministers were informed about both incidents. I was not informed about it when I took over as police minister. I assure the member that I have been through all the briefing notes, because I wanted to know, and it is not there.
Mr M.P. Whitely : Did you ask? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There was an internal investigation going on immediately after this incident took place, which I have got to commend the police for. Let us not forget that as soon as a senior officer saw the CCTV footage of this attack by the two officers with their Tasers against Mr Spratt, the senior officer immediately instigated an internal inquiry. That inquiry was overseen by the Deputy Commissioner of Police. When an inquiry is going on, it is not appropriate for the minister to get involved. However, I was made aware, I think in May this year, of the general context of five different events that took place. When was I shown the video? As I say, the first time I saw it—that CCTV coverage was held by the Corruption and Crime Commission—the police had initiated an immediate internal investigation. The police went to the Director of Public Prosecutions and asked the DPP whether the police should lay any charges in relation to the two police officers. As far as I understand, the DPP told the police, “You need a complainant. I suggest you go and talk to the complainant”, which the police did, along with the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia. The complainant was then in prison, as I understand. I understand also that the complainant did not want to prefer charges. He wanted the police to carry out an internal investigation and to deal with it internally. That is all the information I had at that time. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you do anything? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid question. Did I do anything? I was not even aware of this until the whole thing became public. I heard about the initial Taser incident in May, as I have said, but not the whole detail. It was not until this Saturday that I saw the CCTV footage, and I was horrified. Of course I was horrified, just like everyone else. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you know there was a CCC investigation underway? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I became aware that the CCC was carrying out an inquiry into the use of Tasers. Mr E.S. Ripper : When was that? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I think that was probably about May as well. During all this time, it has been either under an internal police investigation or under an investigation of the CCC. I could not be expected to have known about the details of this footage or to have sighted this footage—it would have been inappropriate for me to have done that—while an investigation was going on. Ms M.M. Quirk : Why? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member for Girrawheen was a minister when this event took place, and so was the member for Balcatta. What did they do about it? They covered it up because there was an election due. I am telling members the truth. The trouble is that the truth hurts. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That was not part of your initial briefing, as minister, from what I have seen. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What did the member say? Mrs M.H. Roberts : You were elected in September and the incident happened in August. Was it part of your original briefing as the minister, or not? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, it was not. I assume that the previous minister was informed and that both previous ministers were informed about both incidents. I was not informed about it when I took over as police minister. I assure the member that I have been through all the briefing notes, because I wanted to know, and it is not there.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : There was an internal investigation going on immediately after this incident took place, which I have got to commend the police for. Let us not forget that as soon as a senior officer saw the CCTV footage of this attack by the two officers with their Tasers against Mr Spratt, the senior officer immediately instigated an internal inquiry. That inquiry was overseen by the Deputy Commissioner of Police. When an inquiry is going on, it is not appropriate for the minister to get involved. However, I was made aware, I think in May this year, of the general context of five different events that took place. When was I shown the video? As I say, the first time I saw it—that CCTV coverage was held by the Corruption and Crime Commission—the police had initiated an immediate internal investigation. The police went to the Director of Public Prosecutions and asked the DPP whether the police should lay any charges in relation to the two police officers. As far as I understand, the DPP told the police, “You need a complainant. I suggest you go and talk to the complainant”, which the police did, along with the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia. The complainant was then in prison, as I understand. I understand also that the complainant did not want to prefer charges. He wanted the police to carry out an internal investigation and to deal with it internally. That is all the information I had at that time. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you do anything? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid question. Did I do anything? I was not even aware of this until the whole thing became public. I heard about the initial Taser incident in May, as I have said, but not the whole detail. It was not until this Saturday that I saw the CCTV footage, and I was horrified. Of course I was horrified, just like everyone else. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you know there was a CCC investigation underway? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I became aware that the CCC was carrying out an inquiry into the use of Tasers. Mr E.S. Ripper : When was that? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I think that was probably about May as well. During all this time, it has been either under an internal police investigation or under an investigation of the CCC. I could not be expected to have known about the details of this footage or to have sighted this footage—it would have been inappropriate for me to have done that—while an investigation was going on. Ms M.M. Quirk : Why? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member for Girrawheen was a minister when this event took place, and so was the member for Balcatta. What did they do about it? They covered it up because there was an election due. I am telling members the truth. The trouble is that the truth hurts. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That was not part of your initial briefing, as minister, from what I have seen. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What did the member say? Mrs M.H. Roberts : You were elected in September and the incident happened in August. Was it part of your original briefing as the minister, or not? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, it was not. I assume that the previous minister was informed and that both previous ministers were informed about both incidents. I was not informed about it when I took over as police minister. I assure the member that I have been through all the briefing notes, because I wanted to know, and it is not there.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you do anything? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid question. Did I do anything? I was not even aware of this until the whole thing became public. I heard about the initial Taser incident in May, as I have said, but not the whole detail. It was not until this Saturday that I saw the CCTV footage, and I was horrified. Of course I was horrified, just like everyone else. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you know there was a CCC investigation underway? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I became aware that the CCC was carrying out an inquiry into the use of Tasers. Mr E.S. Ripper : When was that? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I think that was probably about May as well. During all this time, it has been either under an internal police investigation or under an investigation of the CCC. I could not be expected to have known about the details of this footage or to have sighted this footage—it would have been inappropriate for me to have done that—while an investigation was going on. Ms M.M. Quirk : Why? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member for Girrawheen was a minister when this event took place, and so was the member for Balcatta. What did they do about it? They covered it up because there was an election due. I am telling members the truth. The trouble is that the truth hurts. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That was not part of your initial briefing, as minister, from what I have seen. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What did the member say? Mrs M.H. Roberts : You were elected in September and the incident happened in August. Was it part of your original briefing as the minister, or not? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, it was not. I assume that the previous minister was informed and that both previous ministers were informed about both incidents. I was not informed about it when I took over as police minister. I assure the member that I have been through all the briefing notes, because I wanted to know, and it is not there.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid question. Did I do anything? I was not even aware of this until the whole thing became public. I heard about the initial Taser incident in May, as I have said, but not the whole detail. It was not until this Saturday that I saw the CCTV footage, and I was horrified. Of course I was horrified, just like everyone else. Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you know there was a CCC investigation underway? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I became aware that the CCC was carrying out an inquiry into the use of Tasers. Mr E.S. Ripper : When was that? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I think that was probably about May as well. During all this time, it has been either under an internal police investigation or under an investigation of the CCC. I could not be expected to have known about the details of this footage or to have sighted this footage—it would have been inappropriate for me to have done that—while an investigation was going on. Ms M.M. Quirk : Why? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member for Girrawheen was a minister when this event took place, and so was the member for Balcatta. What did they do about it? They covered it up because there was an election due. I am telling members the truth. The trouble is that the truth hurts. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That was not part of your initial briefing, as minister, from what I have seen. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What did the member say? Mrs M.H. Roberts : You were elected in September and the incident happened in August. Was it part of your original briefing as the minister, or not? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, it was not. I assume that the previous minister was informed and that both previous ministers were informed about both incidents. I was not informed about it when I took over as police minister. I assure the member that I have been through all the briefing notes, because I wanted to know, and it is not there.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Did you know there was a CCC investigation underway? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I became aware that the CCC was carrying out an inquiry into the use of Tasers. Mr E.S. Ripper : When was that? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I think that was probably about May as well. During all this time, it has been either under an internal police investigation or under an investigation of the CCC. I could not be expected to have known about the details of this footage or to have sighted this footage—it would have been inappropriate for me to have done that—while an investigation was going on. Ms M.M. Quirk : Why? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member for Girrawheen was a minister when this event took place, and so was the member for Balcatta. What did they do about it? They covered it up because there was an election due. I am telling members the truth. The trouble is that the truth hurts. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That was not part of your initial briefing, as minister, from what I have seen. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What did the member say? Mrs M.H. Roberts : You were elected in September and the incident happened in August. Was it part of your original briefing as the minister, or not? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, it was not. I assume that the previous minister was informed and that both previous ministers were informed about both incidents. I was not informed about it when I took over as police minister. I assure the member that I have been through all the briefing notes, because I wanted to know, and it is not there.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I became aware that the CCC was carrying out an inquiry into the use of Tasers. Mr E.S. Ripper : When was that? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I think that was probably about May as well. During all this time, it has been either under an internal police investigation or under an investigation of the CCC. I could not be expected to have known about the details of this footage or to have sighted this footage—it would have been inappropriate for me to have done that—while an investigation was going on. Ms M.M. Quirk : Why? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member for Girrawheen was a minister when this event took place, and so was the member for Balcatta. What did they do about it? They covered it up because there was an election due. I am telling members the truth. The trouble is that the truth hurts. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That was not part of your initial briefing, as minister, from what I have seen. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What did the member say? Mrs M.H. Roberts : You were elected in September and the incident happened in August. Was it part of your original briefing as the minister, or not? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, it was not. I assume that the previous minister was informed and that both previous ministers were informed about both incidents. I was not informed about it when I took over as police minister. I assure the member that I have been through all the briefing notes, because I wanted to know, and it is not there.
Mr E.S. Ripper : When was that? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I think that was probably about May as well. During all this time, it has been either under an internal police investigation or under an investigation of the CCC. I could not be expected to have known about the details of this footage or to have sighted this footage—it would have been inappropriate for me to have done that—while an investigation was going on. Ms M.M. Quirk : Why? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member for Girrawheen was a minister when this event took place, and so was the member for Balcatta. What did they do about it? They covered it up because there was an election due. I am telling members the truth. The trouble is that the truth hurts. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That was not part of your initial briefing, as minister, from what I have seen. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What did the member say? Mrs M.H. Roberts : You were elected in September and the incident happened in August. Was it part of your original briefing as the minister, or not? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, it was not. I assume that the previous minister was informed and that both previous ministers were informed about both incidents. I was not informed about it when I took over as police minister. I assure the member that I have been through all the briefing notes, because I wanted to know, and it is not there.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I think that was probably about May as well. During all this time, it has been either under an internal police investigation or under an investigation of the CCC. I could not be expected to have known about the details of this footage or to have sighted this footage—it would have been inappropriate for me to have done that—while an investigation was going on. Ms M.M. Quirk : Why? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member for Girrawheen was a minister when this event took place, and so was the member for Balcatta. What did they do about it? They covered it up because there was an election due. I am telling members the truth. The trouble is that the truth hurts. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That was not part of your initial briefing, as minister, from what I have seen. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What did the member say? Mrs M.H. Roberts : You were elected in September and the incident happened in August. Was it part of your original briefing as the minister, or not? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, it was not. I assume that the previous minister was informed and that both previous ministers were informed about both incidents. I was not informed about it when I took over as police minister. I assure the member that I have been through all the briefing notes, because I wanted to know, and it is not there.
Ms M.M. Quirk : Why? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member for Girrawheen was a minister when this event took place, and so was the member for Balcatta. What did they do about it? They covered it up because there was an election due. I am telling members the truth. The trouble is that the truth hurts. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That was not part of your initial briefing, as minister, from what I have seen. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What did the member say? Mrs M.H. Roberts : You were elected in September and the incident happened in August. Was it part of your original briefing as the minister, or not? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, it was not. I assume that the previous minister was informed and that both previous ministers were informed about both incidents. I was not informed about it when I took over as police minister. I assure the member that I have been through all the briefing notes, because I wanted to know, and it is not there.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member for Girrawheen was a minister when this event took place, and so was the member for Balcatta. What did they do about it? They covered it up because there was an election due. I am telling members the truth. The trouble is that the truth hurts. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That was not part of your initial briefing, as minister, from what I have seen. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What did the member say? Mrs M.H. Roberts : You were elected in September and the incident happened in August. Was it part of your original briefing as the minister, or not? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, it was not. I assume that the previous minister was informed and that both previous ministers were informed about both incidents. I was not informed about it when I took over as police minister. I assure the member that I have been through all the briefing notes, because I wanted to know, and it is not there.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : That was not part of your initial briefing, as minister, from what I have seen. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What did the member say? Mrs M.H. Roberts : You were elected in September and the incident happened in August. Was it part of your original briefing as the minister, or not? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, it was not. I assume that the previous minister was informed and that both previous ministers were informed about both incidents. I was not informed about it when I took over as police minister. I assure the member that I have been through all the briefing notes, because I wanted to know, and it is not there.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What did the member say? Mrs M.H. Roberts : You were elected in September and the incident happened in August. Was it part of your original briefing as the minister, or not? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, it was not. I assume that the previous minister was informed and that both previous ministers were informed about both incidents. I was not informed about it when I took over as police minister. I assure the member that I have been through all the briefing notes, because I wanted to know, and it is not there.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : You were elected in September and the incident happened in August. Was it part of your original briefing as the minister, or not? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, it was not. I assume that the previous minister was informed and that both previous ministers were informed about both incidents. I was not informed about it when I took over as police minister. I assure the member that I have been through all the briefing notes, because I wanted to know, and it is not there.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, it was not. I assume that the previous minister was informed and that both previous ministers were informed about both incidents. I was not informed about it when I took over as police minister. I assure the member that I have been through all the briefing notes, because I wanted to know, and it is not there.
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