Opposition questions the Minister for Police regarding the government's relationship with the Police Commissioner after public criticism. The Minister affirms confidence in the Commissioner and highlights her role in addressing community concerns about policing.

AnsweredQoN 1036Legislative Council
Asked
20 February 2002
Portfolio
Police and Emergency Services

QuestionView source ↗

COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, RELATIONSHIP WITH MINISTER FOR POLICE
I refer to the recent criticism by the Premier and the Minister for Police of police and policing in Western Australia, the fact that the Commissioner of Police has found it necessary to defend himself in today’s newspapers, and the concerns this has raised about the Government’s relationship with the commissioner. (1) Will the police minister join with the Opposition in expressing confidence in the Commissioner of Police and expressing the view that the commissioner is the most competent, able, qualified and professional person in a long time to hold the position? (2) Will the minister clarify the line of division she envisages between the responsibilities of the minister and the commissioner on operational matters? (3) Are there any operational matters in which the minister considers herself to be better qualified than the commissioner to make judgment; and, if so, what are they? (4) What constructive suggestions has the minister made to the commissioner to assist with combating gangs? Hon N.D. GRIFFITHS

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for notice of that most interesting question. (1)-(4) The Commissioner of Police continues to enjoy the confidence of the Premier and the Minister for Police and Emergency Services. Hon Peter Foss: Hear, hear! Hon N.D. GRIFFITHS: The minister had both an obligation and responsibility to make certain that community concerns regarding policing were brought to the forefront to ensure that maximum effort is devoted to enhancing the community’s safety and security. The Government welcomes the deployment of more than 20 officers to work on the weekend’s tragic homicide.
(1) Will the police minister join with the Opposition in expressing confidence in the Commissioner of Police and expressing the view that the commissioner is the most competent, able, qualified and professional person in a long time to hold the position? (2) Will the minister clarify the line of division she envisages between the responsibilities of the minister and the commissioner on operational matters? (3) Are there any operational matters in which the minister considers herself to be better qualified than the commissioner to make judgment; and, if so, what are they? (4) What constructive suggestions has the minister made to the commissioner to assist with combating gangs? Hon N.D. GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for notice of that most interesting question. (1)-(4) The Commissioner of Police continues to enjoy the confidence of the Premier and the Minister for Police and Emergency Services. Hon Peter Foss: Hear, hear! Hon N.D. GRIFFITHS: The minister had both an obligation and responsibility to make certain that community concerns regarding policing were brought to the forefront to ensure that maximum effort is devoted to enhancing the community’s safety and security. The Government welcomes the deployment of more than 20 officers to work on the weekend’s tragic homicide.
(2) Will the minister clarify the line of division she envisages between the responsibilities of the minister and the commissioner on operational matters? (3) Are there any operational matters in which the minister considers herself to be better qualified than the commissioner to make judgment; and, if so, what are they? (4) What constructive suggestions has the minister made to the commissioner to assist with combating gangs? Hon N.D. GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for notice of that most interesting question. (1)-(4) The Commissioner of Police continues to enjoy the confidence of the Premier and the Minister for Police and Emergency Services. Hon Peter Foss: Hear, hear! Hon N.D. GRIFFITHS: The minister had both an obligation and responsibility to make certain that community concerns regarding policing were brought to the forefront to ensure that maximum effort is devoted to enhancing the community’s safety and security. The Government welcomes the deployment of more than 20 officers to work on the weekend’s tragic homicide.
(3) Are there any operational matters in which the minister considers herself to be better qualified than the commissioner to make judgment; and, if so, what are they? (4) What constructive suggestions has the minister made to the commissioner to assist with combating gangs? Hon N.D. GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for notice of that most interesting question. (1)-(4) The Commissioner of Police continues to enjoy the confidence of the Premier and the Minister for Police and Emergency Services. Hon Peter Foss: Hear, hear! Hon N.D. GRIFFITHS: The minister had both an obligation and responsibility to make certain that community concerns regarding policing were brought to the forefront to ensure that maximum effort is devoted to enhancing the community’s safety and security. The Government welcomes the deployment of more than 20 officers to work on the weekend’s tragic homicide.
(4) What constructive suggestions has the minister made to the commissioner to assist with combating gangs? Hon N.D. GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for notice of that most interesting question. (1)-(4) The Commissioner of Police continues to enjoy the confidence of the Premier and the Minister for Police and Emergency Services. Hon Peter Foss: Hear, hear! Hon N.D. GRIFFITHS: The minister had both an obligation and responsibility to make certain that community concerns regarding policing were brought to the forefront to ensure that maximum effort is devoted to enhancing the community’s safety and security. The Government welcomes the deployment of more than 20 officers to work on the weekend’s tragic homicide.
Hon N.D. GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for notice of that most interesting question. (1)-(4) The Commissioner of Police continues to enjoy the confidence of the Premier and the Minister for Police and Emergency Services. Hon Peter Foss: Hear, hear! Hon N.D. GRIFFITHS: The minister had both an obligation and responsibility to make certain that community concerns regarding policing were brought to the forefront to ensure that maximum effort is devoted to enhancing the community’s safety and security. The Government welcomes the deployment of more than 20 officers to work on the weekend’s tragic homicide.
I thank the member for notice of that most interesting question. (1)-(4) The Commissioner of Police continues to enjoy the confidence of the Premier and the Minister for Police and Emergency Services. Hon Peter Foss: Hear, hear! Hon N.D. GRIFFITHS: The minister had both an obligation and responsibility to make certain that community concerns regarding policing were brought to the forefront to ensure that maximum effort is devoted to enhancing the community’s safety and security. The Government welcomes the deployment of more than 20 officers to work on the weekend’s tragic homicide.
(1)-(4) The Commissioner of Police continues to enjoy the confidence of the Premier and the Minister for Police and Emergency Services. Hon Peter Foss: Hear, hear! Hon N.D. GRIFFITHS: The minister had both an obligation and responsibility to make certain that community concerns regarding policing were brought to the forefront to ensure that maximum effort is devoted to enhancing the community’s safety and security. The Government welcomes the deployment of more than 20 officers to work on the weekend’s tragic homicide.
Hon Peter Foss: Hear, hear! Hon N.D. GRIFFITHS: The minister had both an obligation and responsibility to make certain that community concerns regarding policing were brought to the forefront to ensure that maximum effort is devoted to enhancing the community’s safety and security. The Government welcomes the deployment of more than 20 officers to work on the weekend’s tragic homicide.
Hon N.D. GRIFFITHS: The minister had both an obligation and responsibility to make certain that community concerns regarding policing were brought to the forefront to ensure that maximum effort is devoted to enhancing the community’s safety and security. The Government welcomes the deployment of more than 20 officers to work on the weekend’s tragic homicide.

Explore WA Government Data

Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.

Explore more