❓ Hon Dr Brian Walker questions the Minister for Police regarding proposed warrantless search powers, specifically addressing concerns about potential misuse and the implementation of checks and balances. The Minister's response assures strict adherence and oversight but lacks specific details.
AnsweredQoN 537Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
POLICE — SEARCH POWERS
537. Hon Dr BRIAN WALKER to the minister representing the
Minister for Police:
I refer to comments attributed to the minister in an ABC
article by Rebecca Trigger, published online on Tuesday, 24 May 2022, in which he is reported to have said
that the proposed new warrantless search powers would be specific in
nature and that ''They're not going to be necessarily randomly
stopping people''.
(1) If the
powers were not necessarily a result of random stop–searches, is the minister
admitting that they could nevertheless conceivably be used in such a manner?
(2) If such
use is not the minister's intention, what checks and balances does he
propose to put in place to ensure that WA police are not permitted to use the
proposed powers as the fullest definition, as happened with the G2G PASS data
and the SafeWA app?
537. Hon Dr BRIAN WALKER to the minister representing the
Minister for Police:
I refer to comments attributed to the minister in an ABC
article by Rebecca Trigger, published online on Tuesday, 24 May 2022, in which he is reported to have said
that the proposed new warrantless search powers would be specific in
nature and that ''They're not going to be necessarily randomly
stopping people''.
(1) If the
powers were not necessarily a result of random stop–searches, is the minister
admitting that they could nevertheless conceivably be used in such a manner?
(2) If such
use is not the minister's intention, what checks and balances does he
propose to put in place to ensure that WA police are not permitted to use the
proposed powers as the fullest definition, as happened with the G2G PASS data
and the SafeWA app?
AnswerView source ↗
I answer on behalf of the minister representing. I thank the
member for some notice of the question. The following information has been
provided to me by the Minister for Police.
(1)–(2) The McGowan government is considering a number
of initiatives to keep the community safe by combating serious and
organised crime in Western Australia. Strict adherence and oversight measures
will be considered as part of any new legislation. I can assure Parliament and
the public that the only people who should be concerned about the proposed new
laws are criminals and outlaw motorcycle gang members.
The PRESIDENT : Hon Dr Brian Walker is seeking the call
and, further to conversations behind the chair, I have agreed to give him the
call to ask a question on behalf of another member who would ordinarily be in
the rotation.
member for some notice of the question. The following information has been
provided to me by the Minister for Police.
(1)–(2) The McGowan government is considering a number
of initiatives to keep the community safe by combating serious and
organised crime in Western Australia. Strict adherence and oversight measures
will be considered as part of any new legislation. I can assure Parliament and
the public that the only people who should be concerned about the proposed new
laws are criminals and outlaw motorcycle gang members.
The PRESIDENT : Hon Dr Brian Walker is seeking the call
and, further to conversations behind the chair, I have agreed to give him the
call to ask a question on behalf of another member who would ordinarily be in
the rotation.
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