❓ Mrs Roberts questions the high number of UK police officers in a recent WA Police graduation, implying a snub to local workers. The Minister defends the recruitment strategy, highlighting the value of diverse experience and initiatives to increase Aboriginal representation.
AnsweredQoN 659Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
POLICE — RECRUITMENT
659. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS to the Minister for
Police:
I have a supplementary question.
Noting that 25 out of the 29 police officers who graduated last Friday were
from the United Kingdom, why has the minister snubbed Western Australian
workers?
659. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS to the Minister for
Police:
I have a supplementary question.
Noting that 25 out of the 29 police officers who graduated last Friday were
from the United Kingdom, why has the minister snubbed Western Australian
workers?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for that
supplementary question.
Mr
F.M. Logan interjected.
The
SPEAKER : That is enough, member for Cockburn.
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : This is actually a really interesting question, Mr Speaker.
Ms
M.M. Quirk interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen!
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : It is something that I think members of the house would like
to be informed of. WA Police has a strategy to ensure that we cross-pollinate
with other jurisdictions to keep our policing structure, policies and methods
contemporary.
Several members interjected.
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : As such, Mr Speaker, although we are not —
Several members interjected.
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : This is the attitude of members opposite to police and
policing. Every single measure put in place by WA Police to improve the way it
delivers services is criticised by members opposite.
Several members interjected.
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : They deride it whenever I try to stand up in this place and
talk about the work —
Mrs
M.H. Roberts interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Midland, I call you to order for the first time.
Through the Chair, a quick answer.
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : Mr Speaker, a couple of things —
Mrs
M.H. Roberts interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Through the Chair.
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : First of all —
Several members interjected.
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : When we get applications from police officers from other
jurisdictions, such as Ireland and the UK, we vet those quite closely.
Mr
F.M. Logan interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Cockburn, you just do not stop. I call you to order for
the second time.
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : We vet them quite closely because we know that if officers
have been employed in other jurisdictions for between three and five years,
they bring with them a suite of experiences that can value-add to the way that
we conduct our policing service in Western Australia. At present, we are not
actively recruiting from the UK and Ireland, but officers from those
jurisdictions apply to join WA Police through the web portal.
Several members interjected.
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : If they are qualified and have the experience that we feel we
need, and if they bring with them the right skill set —
Mrs
M.H. Roberts interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Midland!
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : — we would be mad to send them away and tell them that
we would not consider them for employment. I am really proud to say that, out
of the initiatives and some of the changes that we made to our recruitment
processes, over the last couple of police graduation ceremonies, Aboriginal
police officers, our first Sikh police officer and representatives from the
African community have graduated through the academy. There is also a proportionate
representation of female applicants; 30 per cent of our applicants are women
and 30 per cent of our graduates are now women. We are doing a good job to
diversify our police force and make sure that it is starting to be more
reflective of the community.
Several members interjected.
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : Mr Speaker, we recently announced an Aboriginal cadetship
program. This is a specific program aimed at Aboriginal youth —
Ms
M.M. Quirk interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen!
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : — to try to bring them up to the required skill level
to enter the academy. There were 70 applicants for 25 positions, so we are now
filling two recruitment squads of cadets to bring them up to standard so
Aboriginal people who want to join WA Police can progress through to the
academy. Lots of initiatives are in place.
Mrs
M.H. Roberts interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member!
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : I am proud of the work they are doing.
Mrs
M.H. Roberts interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Midland!
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : The diversification of our workforce to include people from
overseas, the Defence Force, or New Zealand—wherever it may be—value-adds
to our contemporary police force.
The
SPEAKER : That concludes question time.
supplementary question.
Mr
F.M. Logan interjected.
The
SPEAKER : That is enough, member for Cockburn.
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : This is actually a really interesting question, Mr Speaker.
Ms
M.M. Quirk interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen!
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : It is something that I think members of the house would like
to be informed of. WA Police has a strategy to ensure that we cross-pollinate
with other jurisdictions to keep our policing structure, policies and methods
contemporary.
Several members interjected.
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : As such, Mr Speaker, although we are not —
Several members interjected.
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : This is the attitude of members opposite to police and
policing. Every single measure put in place by WA Police to improve the way it
delivers services is criticised by members opposite.
Several members interjected.
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : They deride it whenever I try to stand up in this place and
talk about the work —
Mrs
M.H. Roberts interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Midland, I call you to order for the first time.
Through the Chair, a quick answer.
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : Mr Speaker, a couple of things —
Mrs
M.H. Roberts interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Through the Chair.
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : First of all —
Several members interjected.
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : When we get applications from police officers from other
jurisdictions, such as Ireland and the UK, we vet those quite closely.
Mr
F.M. Logan interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Cockburn, you just do not stop. I call you to order for
the second time.
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : We vet them quite closely because we know that if officers
have been employed in other jurisdictions for between three and five years,
they bring with them a suite of experiences that can value-add to the way that
we conduct our policing service in Western Australia. At present, we are not
actively recruiting from the UK and Ireland, but officers from those
jurisdictions apply to join WA Police through the web portal.
Several members interjected.
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : If they are qualified and have the experience that we feel we
need, and if they bring with them the right skill set —
Mrs
M.H. Roberts interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Midland!
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : — we would be mad to send them away and tell them that
we would not consider them for employment. I am really proud to say that, out
of the initiatives and some of the changes that we made to our recruitment
processes, over the last couple of police graduation ceremonies, Aboriginal
police officers, our first Sikh police officer and representatives from the
African community have graduated through the academy. There is also a proportionate
representation of female applicants; 30 per cent of our applicants are women
and 30 per cent of our graduates are now women. We are doing a good job to
diversify our police force and make sure that it is starting to be more
reflective of the community.
Several members interjected.
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : Mr Speaker, we recently announced an Aboriginal cadetship
program. This is a specific program aimed at Aboriginal youth —
Ms
M.M. Quirk interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen!
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : — to try to bring them up to the required skill level
to enter the academy. There were 70 applicants for 25 positions, so we are now
filling two recruitment squads of cadets to bring them up to standard so
Aboriginal people who want to join WA Police can progress through to the
academy. Lots of initiatives are in place.
Mrs
M.H. Roberts interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member!
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : I am proud of the work they are doing.
Mrs
M.H. Roberts interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Midland!
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : The diversification of our workforce to include people from
overseas, the Defence Force, or New Zealand—wherever it may be—value-adds
to our contemporary police force.
The
SPEAKER : That concludes question time.
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