❓ Ms. Farrer questions the Minister for Police on how the McGowan government's funding boost for PCYCs will reduce juvenile crime and address previous funding cuts. The Minister details funding allocations and criticizes the previous government's actions.
AnsweredQoN 318Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
POLICE AND COMMUNITY YOUTH CENTRES —
FUNDING
318. Ms J. FARRER to the Minister for Police:
Can the minister outline to this
house how the McGowan Labor government's $11.3 million funding boost
for police and community youth centres will support the critical role they play
in reducing juvenile crime; and can the minister advise the house how the
funding will make up for the cuts imposed by the previous Liberal–National
government?
FUNDING
318. Ms J. FARRER to the Minister for Police:
Can the minister outline to this
house how the McGowan Labor government's $11.3 million funding boost
for police and community youth centres will support the critical role they play
in reducing juvenile crime; and can the minister advise the house how the
funding will make up for the cuts imposed by the previous Liberal–National
government?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Kimberley
for her excellent question.
Mrs L.M. Harvey interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Scarborough, I call you to order for the first time.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : The member
for Scarborough is already squealing, squealing with embarrassment because the
PCYC has been a fantastic institution —
Several government members
interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members, your
minister is on her feet—be silent.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Police and
community youth centres have been a fantastic institution in this state for
nearly 80 years. They were formerly known as police and citizens youth centres.
Mrs L.M. Harvey interjected.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : The member
for Scarborough is still interjecting.
The SPEAKER : So is the
member for Armadale. I call him to order.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : The member
for Scarborough is not going to drown me out from that little chair there.
The fact of the matter is that the
former government should be embarrassed. After the 2012 Browne review, it took
the police out of PCYCs—it pulled the rug out from right under them—which
has meant a $4 million a year deficiency for PCYCs. After the actions of the
member for Scarborough, PCYCs had to sell property to survive; they have had to
sell PCYCs in order to pay their recurrent bills. That is the situation that
the member for Scarborough placed them in. Shame. Did we see PCYCs expand under
her watch? No—not at all.
Ms S.E. Winton interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Wanneroo, I call you to order for the first time.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : We saw all
those FTEs taken out of the police and community youth centres, which left them
with ongoing deficiencies of about $4 million a year. That stands in stark
contrast, member for Kimberley, to the support that the McGowan government has
been giving PCYCs. This year, we are proud to announce that an additional $11.3
million will be going into PCYCs, of which $7 million will help put them back
on the sustainable basis, which was taken away from them by the former Liberal–National
government.
I
thank the member for Kimberley for her advocacy for PCYCs. We will be able to
expand PCYCs in the Kimberley . Nearly $2 million has been allocated for
an East Kimberley PCYC in Kununurra to provide PCYC services, which will be a first.
It is great to see that under our government, PCYCs will be put in a sustainable
position and will be able to expand—but it does not end there. Over $1
million is in the budget for the Carnarvon Police and Community Youth Centre so
that we can upgrade its facility.
Mr V.A. Catania interjected.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Under the
Nationals government, the Carnarvon PCYC did not get anything—nothing—and
that is why we need to spend $1 million to bring it up to standard.
Mr V.A. Catania interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
North West Central, I call you to order for the first time.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : The former
government left PCYCs $4 million a year in debt, but opposition members are
complaining that they are not getting more. The Carnarvon PCYC is getting a $1
million upgrade. In addition, $1.3 million has been allocated for stage 1 of
the West Kimberley Youth and Resilience Hub, which is based in Broome. That
will provide a safe space for young people to participate in a whole range of
activities and build their life skills and experience. We know that there are
real issues with young people in the Kimberley. We know that centres Kununurra
in the East Kimberley and Broome in the West Kimberley have a real need for
these services. We want to support all the kids there. We know a large number
of Indigenous kids there will really benefit from the services that PCYCs will
deliver to those communities.
for her excellent question.
Mrs L.M. Harvey interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Scarborough, I call you to order for the first time.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : The member
for Scarborough is already squealing, squealing with embarrassment because the
PCYC has been a fantastic institution —
Several government members
interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members, your
minister is on her feet—be silent.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Police and
community youth centres have been a fantastic institution in this state for
nearly 80 years. They were formerly known as police and citizens youth centres.
Mrs L.M. Harvey interjected.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : The member
for Scarborough is still interjecting.
The SPEAKER : So is the
member for Armadale. I call him to order.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : The member
for Scarborough is not going to drown me out from that little chair there.
The fact of the matter is that the
former government should be embarrassed. After the 2012 Browne review, it took
the police out of PCYCs—it pulled the rug out from right under them—which
has meant a $4 million a year deficiency for PCYCs. After the actions of the
member for Scarborough, PCYCs had to sell property to survive; they have had to
sell PCYCs in order to pay their recurrent bills. That is the situation that
the member for Scarborough placed them in. Shame. Did we see PCYCs expand under
her watch? No—not at all.
Ms S.E. Winton interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Wanneroo, I call you to order for the first time.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : We saw all
those FTEs taken out of the police and community youth centres, which left them
with ongoing deficiencies of about $4 million a year. That stands in stark
contrast, member for Kimberley, to the support that the McGowan government has
been giving PCYCs. This year, we are proud to announce that an additional $11.3
million will be going into PCYCs, of which $7 million will help put them back
on the sustainable basis, which was taken away from them by the former Liberal–National
government.
I
thank the member for Kimberley for her advocacy for PCYCs. We will be able to
expand PCYCs in the Kimberley . Nearly $2 million has been allocated for
an East Kimberley PCYC in Kununurra to provide PCYC services, which will be a first.
It is great to see that under our government, PCYCs will be put in a sustainable
position and will be able to expand—but it does not end there. Over $1
million is in the budget for the Carnarvon Police and Community Youth Centre so
that we can upgrade its facility.
Mr V.A. Catania interjected.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Under the
Nationals government, the Carnarvon PCYC did not get anything—nothing—and
that is why we need to spend $1 million to bring it up to standard.
Mr V.A. Catania interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
North West Central, I call you to order for the first time.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : The former
government left PCYCs $4 million a year in debt, but opposition members are
complaining that they are not getting more. The Carnarvon PCYC is getting a $1
million upgrade. In addition, $1.3 million has been allocated for stage 1 of
the West Kimberley Youth and Resilience Hub, which is based in Broome. That
will provide a safe space for young people to participate in a whole range of
activities and build their life skills and experience. We know that there are
real issues with young people in the Kimberley. We know that centres Kununurra
in the East Kimberley and Broome in the West Kimberley have a real need for
these services. We want to support all the kids there. We know a large number
of Indigenous kids there will really benefit from the services that PCYCs will
deliver to those communities.
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