❓ Mr. Johnson questions the Minister for Police regarding police support for Jason Wimbridge's parole/bail. The Minister relies on the Police Commissioner's advice, stating police opposed Wimbridge's release and a transcript is pending.
AnsweredQoN 581Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I ask - Mr E.S. Ripper : I thought it would have been addressed to me! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Treasurer thought he was going to get it, and the Attorney General thought he was going to get it, but it is for the Minister for Police. Mr E.S. Ripper : I was terrified! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Treasurer looks terrified - and so too did the Minister for Tourism in that plane! We all thought he had done something in his trousers judging by the look on his face! Several members interjected. The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : This is a very serious question. Several members interjected. The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order, members! Highly amusing as this is, this is actually question time, unless members wish me to finish it. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I refer to convicted armed robber Jason Wimbridge being granted parole and bail after he had committed further serious offences, including another armed robbery, which is a schedule 2 offence under the Bail Act. (1) Can the minister assure the house that no commissioned police officer or serving officer attended the parole or bail hearing in support of Wimbridge’s application for parole or bail? (2) Can the minister assure the house that no commissioned police officer or serving officer provided written documentation supporting an application to the Parole Board or the court for Wimbridge to be released on parole or bail? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(2) I thank the member for the question. Had I been given a little notice I probably could have given the member a more definitive answer on this matter. However, when this matter was in the media a couple of weeks ago, I did seek advice from the Commissioner of Police. Members would be aware that a member of the Police Service is a member of the Parole Board and either that person or his deputy attends every meeting of the Parole Board. The Commissioner of Police has assured me that the police were opposed to Wimbridge either receiving parole at the parole hearing or bail at the bail hearing. As members would be aware, the Commissioner of Police subsequently sought a transcript of what had occurred at the bail hearing. There was speculation that perhaps another police officer had been interviewed by the judge at the bail hearing and some questions had been asked, but the one thing about which the Commissioner of Police assured me was that the police position was to oppose bail and to oppose parole. The member asked me to assure him that no officer had somehow appeared at either of those hearings. I do not have the capacity to attend either parole or bail hearings. Mr R.F. Johnson : Why not? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I have not seen a transcript of the proceedings. I can go only on the advice I am given by the Commissioner of Police. The commissioner has requested a transcript. To the best of my knowledge he has not received one yet. He is the appropriate party to request that transcript. Mr M.J. Birney : You’re the minister. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Certainly. People are trying to make some fairly silly points about what is a serious matter. I am as interested as anyone in getting to the bottom of this matter. However, I am going through the appropriate processes by putting those questions to the Commissioner of Police. I understand that, at this stage, he has not received that transcript and has not read it. I will raise the matter with him again today, which is his first day back from leave.
Mr E.S. Ripper : I thought it would have been addressed to me! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Treasurer thought he was going to get it, and the Attorney General thought he was going to get it, but it is for the Minister for Police. Mr E.S. Ripper : I was terrified! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Treasurer looks terrified - and so too did the Minister for Tourism in that plane! We all thought he had done something in his trousers judging by the look on his face! Several members interjected. The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : This is a very serious question. Several members interjected. The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order, members! Highly amusing as this is, this is actually question time, unless members wish me to finish it. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I refer to convicted armed robber Jason Wimbridge being granted parole and bail after he had committed further serious offences, including another armed robbery, which is a schedule 2 offence under the Bail Act. (1) Can the minister assure the house that no commissioned police officer or serving officer attended the parole or bail hearing in support of Wimbridge’s application for parole or bail? (2) Can the minister assure the house that no commissioned police officer or serving officer provided written documentation supporting an application to the Parole Board or the court for Wimbridge to be released on parole or bail? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for the question. Had I been given a little notice I probably could have given the member a more definitive answer on this matter. However, when this matter was in the media a couple of weeks ago, I did seek advice from the Commissioner of Police. Members would be aware that a member of the Police Service is a member of the Parole Board and either that person or his deputy attends every meeting of the Parole Board. The Commissioner of Police has assured me that the police were opposed to Wimbridge either receiving parole at the parole hearing or bail at the bail hearing. As members would be aware, the Commissioner of Police subsequently sought a transcript of what had occurred at the bail hearing. There was speculation that perhaps another police officer had been interviewed by the judge at the bail hearing and some questions had been asked, but the one thing about which the Commissioner of Police assured me was that the police position was to oppose bail and to oppose parole. The member asked me to assure him that no officer had somehow appeared at either of those hearings. I do not have the capacity to attend either parole or bail hearings. Mr R.F. Johnson : Why not? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I have not seen a transcript of the proceedings. I can go only on the advice I am given by the Commissioner of Police. The commissioner has requested a transcript. To the best of my knowledge he has not received one yet. He is the appropriate party to request that transcript. Mr M.J. Birney : You’re the minister. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Certainly. People are trying to make some fairly silly points about what is a serious matter. I am as interested as anyone in getting to the bottom of this matter. However, I am going through the appropriate processes by putting those questions to the Commissioner of Police. I understand that, at this stage, he has not received that transcript and has not read it. I will raise the matter with him again today, which is his first day back from leave.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Treasurer thought he was going to get it, and the Attorney General thought he was going to get it, but it is for the Minister for Police. Mr E.S. Ripper : I was terrified! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Treasurer looks terrified - and so too did the Minister for Tourism in that plane! We all thought he had done something in his trousers judging by the look on his face! Several members interjected. The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : This is a very serious question. Several members interjected. The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order, members! Highly amusing as this is, this is actually question time, unless members wish me to finish it. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I refer to convicted armed robber Jason Wimbridge being granted parole and bail after he had committed further serious offences, including another armed robbery, which is a schedule 2 offence under the Bail Act. (1) Can the minister assure the house that no commissioned police officer or serving officer attended the parole or bail hearing in support of Wimbridge’s application for parole or bail? (2) Can the minister assure the house that no commissioned police officer or serving officer provided written documentation supporting an application to the Parole Board or the court for Wimbridge to be released on parole or bail? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for the question. Had I been given a little notice I probably could have given the member a more definitive answer on this matter. However, when this matter was in the media a couple of weeks ago, I did seek advice from the Commissioner of Police. Members would be aware that a member of the Police Service is a member of the Parole Board and either that person or his deputy attends every meeting of the Parole Board. The Commissioner of Police has assured me that the police were opposed to Wimbridge either receiving parole at the parole hearing or bail at the bail hearing. As members would be aware, the Commissioner of Police subsequently sought a transcript of what had occurred at the bail hearing. There was speculation that perhaps another police officer had been interviewed by the judge at the bail hearing and some questions had been asked, but the one thing about which the Commissioner of Police assured me was that the police position was to oppose bail and to oppose parole. The member asked me to assure him that no officer had somehow appeared at either of those hearings. I do not have the capacity to attend either parole or bail hearings. Mr R.F. Johnson : Why not? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I have not seen a transcript of the proceedings. I can go only on the advice I am given by the Commissioner of Police. The commissioner has requested a transcript. To the best of my knowledge he has not received one yet. He is the appropriate party to request that transcript. Mr M.J. Birney : You’re the minister. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Certainly. People are trying to make some fairly silly points about what is a serious matter. I am as interested as anyone in getting to the bottom of this matter. However, I am going through the appropriate processes by putting those questions to the Commissioner of Police. I understand that, at this stage, he has not received that transcript and has not read it. I will raise the matter with him again today, which is his first day back from leave.
Mr E.S. Ripper : I was terrified! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Treasurer looks terrified - and so too did the Minister for Tourism in that plane! We all thought he had done something in his trousers judging by the look on his face! Several members interjected. The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : This is a very serious question. Several members interjected. The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order, members! Highly amusing as this is, this is actually question time, unless members wish me to finish it. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I refer to convicted armed robber Jason Wimbridge being granted parole and bail after he had committed further serious offences, including another armed robbery, which is a schedule 2 offence under the Bail Act. (1) Can the minister assure the house that no commissioned police officer or serving officer attended the parole or bail hearing in support of Wimbridge’s application for parole or bail? (2) Can the minister assure the house that no commissioned police officer or serving officer provided written documentation supporting an application to the Parole Board or the court for Wimbridge to be released on parole or bail? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for the question. Had I been given a little notice I probably could have given the member a more definitive answer on this matter. However, when this matter was in the media a couple of weeks ago, I did seek advice from the Commissioner of Police. Members would be aware that a member of the Police Service is a member of the Parole Board and either that person or his deputy attends every meeting of the Parole Board. The Commissioner of Police has assured me that the police were opposed to Wimbridge either receiving parole at the parole hearing or bail at the bail hearing. As members would be aware, the Commissioner of Police subsequently sought a transcript of what had occurred at the bail hearing. There was speculation that perhaps another police officer had been interviewed by the judge at the bail hearing and some questions had been asked, but the one thing about which the Commissioner of Police assured me was that the police position was to oppose bail and to oppose parole. The member asked me to assure him that no officer had somehow appeared at either of those hearings. I do not have the capacity to attend either parole or bail hearings. Mr R.F. Johnson : Why not? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I have not seen a transcript of the proceedings. I can go only on the advice I am given by the Commissioner of Police. The commissioner has requested a transcript. To the best of my knowledge he has not received one yet. He is the appropriate party to request that transcript. Mr M.J. Birney : You’re the minister. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Certainly. People are trying to make some fairly silly points about what is a serious matter. I am as interested as anyone in getting to the bottom of this matter. However, I am going through the appropriate processes by putting those questions to the Commissioner of Police. I understand that, at this stage, he has not received that transcript and has not read it. I will raise the matter with him again today, which is his first day back from leave.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Treasurer looks terrified - and so too did the Minister for Tourism in that plane! We all thought he had done something in his trousers judging by the look on his face! Several members interjected. The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : This is a very serious question. Several members interjected. The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order, members! Highly amusing as this is, this is actually question time, unless members wish me to finish it. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I refer to convicted armed robber Jason Wimbridge being granted parole and bail after he had committed further serious offences, including another armed robbery, which is a schedule 2 offence under the Bail Act. (1) Can the minister assure the house that no commissioned police officer or serving officer attended the parole or bail hearing in support of Wimbridge’s application for parole or bail? (2) Can the minister assure the house that no commissioned police officer or serving officer provided written documentation supporting an application to the Parole Board or the court for Wimbridge to be released on parole or bail? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for the question. Had I been given a little notice I probably could have given the member a more definitive answer on this matter. However, when this matter was in the media a couple of weeks ago, I did seek advice from the Commissioner of Police. Members would be aware that a member of the Police Service is a member of the Parole Board and either that person or his deputy attends every meeting of the Parole Board. The Commissioner of Police has assured me that the police were opposed to Wimbridge either receiving parole at the parole hearing or bail at the bail hearing. As members would be aware, the Commissioner of Police subsequently sought a transcript of what had occurred at the bail hearing. There was speculation that perhaps another police officer had been interviewed by the judge at the bail hearing and some questions had been asked, but the one thing about which the Commissioner of Police assured me was that the police position was to oppose bail and to oppose parole. The member asked me to assure him that no officer had somehow appeared at either of those hearings. I do not have the capacity to attend either parole or bail hearings. Mr R.F. Johnson : Why not? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I have not seen a transcript of the proceedings. I can go only on the advice I am given by the Commissioner of Police. The commissioner has requested a transcript. To the best of my knowledge he has not received one yet. He is the appropriate party to request that transcript. Mr M.J. Birney : You’re the minister. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Certainly. People are trying to make some fairly silly points about what is a serious matter. I am as interested as anyone in getting to the bottom of this matter. However, I am going through the appropriate processes by putting those questions to the Commissioner of Police. I understand that, at this stage, he has not received that transcript and has not read it. I will raise the matter with him again today, which is his first day back from leave.
Several members interjected. The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : This is a very serious question. Several members interjected. The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order, members! Highly amusing as this is, this is actually question time, unless members wish me to finish it. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I refer to convicted armed robber Jason Wimbridge being granted parole and bail after he had committed further serious offences, including another armed robbery, which is a schedule 2 offence under the Bail Act. (1) Can the minister assure the house that no commissioned police officer or serving officer attended the parole or bail hearing in support of Wimbridge’s application for parole or bail? (2) Can the minister assure the house that no commissioned police officer or serving officer provided written documentation supporting an application to the Parole Board or the court for Wimbridge to be released on parole or bail? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for the question. Had I been given a little notice I probably could have given the member a more definitive answer on this matter. However, when this matter was in the media a couple of weeks ago, I did seek advice from the Commissioner of Police. Members would be aware that a member of the Police Service is a member of the Parole Board and either that person or his deputy attends every meeting of the Parole Board. The Commissioner of Police has assured me that the police were opposed to Wimbridge either receiving parole at the parole hearing or bail at the bail hearing. As members would be aware, the Commissioner of Police subsequently sought a transcript of what had occurred at the bail hearing. There was speculation that perhaps another police officer had been interviewed by the judge at the bail hearing and some questions had been asked, but the one thing about which the Commissioner of Police assured me was that the police position was to oppose bail and to oppose parole. The member asked me to assure him that no officer had somehow appeared at either of those hearings. I do not have the capacity to attend either parole or bail hearings. Mr R.F. Johnson : Why not? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I have not seen a transcript of the proceedings. I can go only on the advice I am given by the Commissioner of Police. The commissioner has requested a transcript. To the best of my knowledge he has not received one yet. He is the appropriate party to request that transcript. Mr M.J. Birney : You’re the minister. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Certainly. People are trying to make some fairly silly points about what is a serious matter. I am as interested as anyone in getting to the bottom of this matter. However, I am going through the appropriate processes by putting those questions to the Commissioner of Police. I understand that, at this stage, he has not received that transcript and has not read it. I will raise the matter with him again today, which is his first day back from leave.
The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : This is a very serious question. Several members interjected. The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order, members! Highly amusing as this is, this is actually question time, unless members wish me to finish it. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I refer to convicted armed robber Jason Wimbridge being granted parole and bail after he had committed further serious offences, including another armed robbery, which is a schedule 2 offence under the Bail Act. (1) Can the minister assure the house that no commissioned police officer or serving officer attended the parole or bail hearing in support of Wimbridge’s application for parole or bail? (2) Can the minister assure the house that no commissioned police officer or serving officer provided written documentation supporting an application to the Parole Board or the court for Wimbridge to be released on parole or bail? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for the question. Had I been given a little notice I probably could have given the member a more definitive answer on this matter. However, when this matter was in the media a couple of weeks ago, I did seek advice from the Commissioner of Police. Members would be aware that a member of the Police Service is a member of the Parole Board and either that person or his deputy attends every meeting of the Parole Board. The Commissioner of Police has assured me that the police were opposed to Wimbridge either receiving parole at the parole hearing or bail at the bail hearing. As members would be aware, the Commissioner of Police subsequently sought a transcript of what had occurred at the bail hearing. There was speculation that perhaps another police officer had been interviewed by the judge at the bail hearing and some questions had been asked, but the one thing about which the Commissioner of Police assured me was that the police position was to oppose bail and to oppose parole. The member asked me to assure him that no officer had somehow appeared at either of those hearings. I do not have the capacity to attend either parole or bail hearings. Mr R.F. Johnson : Why not? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I have not seen a transcript of the proceedings. I can go only on the advice I am given by the Commissioner of Police. The commissioner has requested a transcript. To the best of my knowledge he has not received one yet. He is the appropriate party to request that transcript. Mr M.J. Birney : You’re the minister. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Certainly. People are trying to make some fairly silly points about what is a serious matter. I am as interested as anyone in getting to the bottom of this matter. However, I am going through the appropriate processes by putting those questions to the Commissioner of Police. I understand that, at this stage, he has not received that transcript and has not read it. I will raise the matter with him again today, which is his first day back from leave.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : This is a very serious question. Several members interjected. The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order, members! Highly amusing as this is, this is actually question time, unless members wish me to finish it. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I refer to convicted armed robber Jason Wimbridge being granted parole and bail after he had committed further serious offences, including another armed robbery, which is a schedule 2 offence under the Bail Act. (1) Can the minister assure the house that no commissioned police officer or serving officer attended the parole or bail hearing in support of Wimbridge’s application for parole or bail? (2) Can the minister assure the house that no commissioned police officer or serving officer provided written documentation supporting an application to the Parole Board or the court for Wimbridge to be released on parole or bail? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for the question. Had I been given a little notice I probably could have given the member a more definitive answer on this matter. However, when this matter was in the media a couple of weeks ago, I did seek advice from the Commissioner of Police. Members would be aware that a member of the Police Service is a member of the Parole Board and either that person or his deputy attends every meeting of the Parole Board. The Commissioner of Police has assured me that the police were opposed to Wimbridge either receiving parole at the parole hearing or bail at the bail hearing. As members would be aware, the Commissioner of Police subsequently sought a transcript of what had occurred at the bail hearing. There was speculation that perhaps another police officer had been interviewed by the judge at the bail hearing and some questions had been asked, but the one thing about which the Commissioner of Police assured me was that the police position was to oppose bail and to oppose parole. The member asked me to assure him that no officer had somehow appeared at either of those hearings. I do not have the capacity to attend either parole or bail hearings. Mr R.F. Johnson : Why not? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I have not seen a transcript of the proceedings. I can go only on the advice I am given by the Commissioner of Police. The commissioner has requested a transcript. To the best of my knowledge he has not received one yet. He is the appropriate party to request that transcript. Mr M.J. Birney : You’re the minister. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Certainly. People are trying to make some fairly silly points about what is a serious matter. I am as interested as anyone in getting to the bottom of this matter. However, I am going through the appropriate processes by putting those questions to the Commissioner of Police. I understand that, at this stage, he has not received that transcript and has not read it. I will raise the matter with him again today, which is his first day back from leave.
Several members interjected. The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order, members! Highly amusing as this is, this is actually question time, unless members wish me to finish it. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I refer to convicted armed robber Jason Wimbridge being granted parole and bail after he had committed further serious offences, including another armed robbery, which is a schedule 2 offence under the Bail Act. (1) Can the minister assure the house that no commissioned police officer or serving officer attended the parole or bail hearing in support of Wimbridge’s application for parole or bail? (2) Can the minister assure the house that no commissioned police officer or serving officer provided written documentation supporting an application to the Parole Board or the court for Wimbridge to be released on parole or bail? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for the question. Had I been given a little notice I probably could have given the member a more definitive answer on this matter. However, when this matter was in the media a couple of weeks ago, I did seek advice from the Commissioner of Police. Members would be aware that a member of the Police Service is a member of the Parole Board and either that person or his deputy attends every meeting of the Parole Board. The Commissioner of Police has assured me that the police were opposed to Wimbridge either receiving parole at the parole hearing or bail at the bail hearing. As members would be aware, the Commissioner of Police subsequently sought a transcript of what had occurred at the bail hearing. There was speculation that perhaps another police officer had been interviewed by the judge at the bail hearing and some questions had been asked, but the one thing about which the Commissioner of Police assured me was that the police position was to oppose bail and to oppose parole. The member asked me to assure him that no officer had somehow appeared at either of those hearings. I do not have the capacity to attend either parole or bail hearings. Mr R.F. Johnson : Why not? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I have not seen a transcript of the proceedings. I can go only on the advice I am given by the Commissioner of Police. The commissioner has requested a transcript. To the best of my knowledge he has not received one yet. He is the appropriate party to request that transcript. Mr M.J. Birney : You’re the minister. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Certainly. People are trying to make some fairly silly points about what is a serious matter. I am as interested as anyone in getting to the bottom of this matter. However, I am going through the appropriate processes by putting those questions to the Commissioner of Police. I understand that, at this stage, he has not received that transcript and has not read it. I will raise the matter with him again today, which is his first day back from leave.
The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order, members! Highly amusing as this is, this is actually question time, unless members wish me to finish it. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I refer to convicted armed robber Jason Wimbridge being granted parole and bail after he had committed further serious offences, including another armed robbery, which is a schedule 2 offence under the Bail Act. (1) Can the minister assure the house that no commissioned police officer or serving officer attended the parole or bail hearing in support of Wimbridge’s application for parole or bail? (2) Can the minister assure the house that no commissioned police officer or serving officer provided written documentation supporting an application to the Parole Board or the court for Wimbridge to be released on parole or bail? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for the question. Had I been given a little notice I probably could have given the member a more definitive answer on this matter. However, when this matter was in the media a couple of weeks ago, I did seek advice from the Commissioner of Police. Members would be aware that a member of the Police Service is a member of the Parole Board and either that person or his deputy attends every meeting of the Parole Board. The Commissioner of Police has assured me that the police were opposed to Wimbridge either receiving parole at the parole hearing or bail at the bail hearing. As members would be aware, the Commissioner of Police subsequently sought a transcript of what had occurred at the bail hearing. There was speculation that perhaps another police officer had been interviewed by the judge at the bail hearing and some questions had been asked, but the one thing about which the Commissioner of Police assured me was that the police position was to oppose bail and to oppose parole. The member asked me to assure him that no officer had somehow appeared at either of those hearings. I do not have the capacity to attend either parole or bail hearings. Mr R.F. Johnson : Why not? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I have not seen a transcript of the proceedings. I can go only on the advice I am given by the Commissioner of Police. The commissioner has requested a transcript. To the best of my knowledge he has not received one yet. He is the appropriate party to request that transcript. Mr M.J. Birney : You’re the minister. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Certainly. People are trying to make some fairly silly points about what is a serious matter. I am as interested as anyone in getting to the bottom of this matter. However, I am going through the appropriate processes by putting those questions to the Commissioner of Police. I understand that, at this stage, he has not received that transcript and has not read it. I will raise the matter with him again today, which is his first day back from leave.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I refer to convicted armed robber Jason Wimbridge being granted parole and bail after he had committed further serious offences, including another armed robbery, which is a schedule 2 offence under the Bail Act. (1) Can the minister assure the house that no commissioned police officer or serving officer attended the parole or bail hearing in support of Wimbridge’s application for parole or bail? (2) Can the minister assure the house that no commissioned police officer or serving officer provided written documentation supporting an application to the Parole Board or the court for Wimbridge to be released on parole or bail? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for the question. Had I been given a little notice I probably could have given the member a more definitive answer on this matter. However, when this matter was in the media a couple of weeks ago, I did seek advice from the Commissioner of Police. Members would be aware that a member of the Police Service is a member of the Parole Board and either that person or his deputy attends every meeting of the Parole Board. The Commissioner of Police has assured me that the police were opposed to Wimbridge either receiving parole at the parole hearing or bail at the bail hearing. As members would be aware, the Commissioner of Police subsequently sought a transcript of what had occurred at the bail hearing. There was speculation that perhaps another police officer had been interviewed by the judge at the bail hearing and some questions had been asked, but the one thing about which the Commissioner of Police assured me was that the police position was to oppose bail and to oppose parole. The member asked me to assure him that no officer had somehow appeared at either of those hearings. I do not have the capacity to attend either parole or bail hearings. Mr R.F. Johnson : Why not? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I have not seen a transcript of the proceedings. I can go only on the advice I am given by the Commissioner of Police. The commissioner has requested a transcript. To the best of my knowledge he has not received one yet. He is the appropriate party to request that transcript. Mr M.J. Birney : You’re the minister. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Certainly. People are trying to make some fairly silly points about what is a serious matter. I am as interested as anyone in getting to the bottom of this matter. However, I am going through the appropriate processes by putting those questions to the Commissioner of Police. I understand that, at this stage, he has not received that transcript and has not read it. I will raise the matter with him again today, which is his first day back from leave.
I refer to convicted armed robber Jason Wimbridge being granted parole and bail after he had committed further serious offences, including another armed robbery, which is a schedule 2 offence under the Bail Act. (1) Can the minister assure the house that no commissioned police officer or serving officer attended the parole or bail hearing in support of Wimbridge’s application for parole or bail? (2) Can the minister assure the house that no commissioned police officer or serving officer provided written documentation supporting an application to the Parole Board or the court for Wimbridge to be released on parole or bail? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for the question. Had I been given a little notice I probably could have given the member a more definitive answer on this matter. However, when this matter was in the media a couple of weeks ago, I did seek advice from the Commissioner of Police. Members would be aware that a member of the Police Service is a member of the Parole Board and either that person or his deputy attends every meeting of the Parole Board. The Commissioner of Police has assured me that the police were opposed to Wimbridge either receiving parole at the parole hearing or bail at the bail hearing. As members would be aware, the Commissioner of Police subsequently sought a transcript of what had occurred at the bail hearing. There was speculation that perhaps another police officer had been interviewed by the judge at the bail hearing and some questions had been asked, but the one thing about which the Commissioner of Police assured me was that the police position was to oppose bail and to oppose parole. The member asked me to assure him that no officer had somehow appeared at either of those hearings. I do not have the capacity to attend either parole or bail hearings. Mr R.F. Johnson : Why not? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I have not seen a transcript of the proceedings. I can go only on the advice I am given by the Commissioner of Police. The commissioner has requested a transcript. To the best of my knowledge he has not received one yet. He is the appropriate party to request that transcript. Mr M.J. Birney : You’re the minister. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Certainly. People are trying to make some fairly silly points about what is a serious matter. I am as interested as anyone in getting to the bottom of this matter. However, I am going through the appropriate processes by putting those questions to the Commissioner of Police. I understand that, at this stage, he has not received that transcript and has not read it. I will raise the matter with him again today, which is his first day back from leave.
(1) Can the minister assure the house that no commissioned police officer or serving officer attended the parole or bail hearing in support of Wimbridge’s application for parole or bail? (2) Can the minister assure the house that no commissioned police officer or serving officer provided written documentation supporting an application to the Parole Board or the court for Wimbridge to be released on parole or bail? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for the question. Had I been given a little notice I probably could have given the member a more definitive answer on this matter. However, when this matter was in the media a couple of weeks ago, I did seek advice from the Commissioner of Police. Members would be aware that a member of the Police Service is a member of the Parole Board and either that person or his deputy attends every meeting of the Parole Board. The Commissioner of Police has assured me that the police were opposed to Wimbridge either receiving parole at the parole hearing or bail at the bail hearing. As members would be aware, the Commissioner of Police subsequently sought a transcript of what had occurred at the bail hearing. There was speculation that perhaps another police officer had been interviewed by the judge at the bail hearing and some questions had been asked, but the one thing about which the Commissioner of Police assured me was that the police position was to oppose bail and to oppose parole. The member asked me to assure him that no officer had somehow appeared at either of those hearings. I do not have the capacity to attend either parole or bail hearings. Mr R.F. Johnson : Why not? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I have not seen a transcript of the proceedings. I can go only on the advice I am given by the Commissioner of Police. The commissioner has requested a transcript. To the best of my knowledge he has not received one yet. He is the appropriate party to request that transcript. Mr M.J. Birney : You’re the minister. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Certainly. People are trying to make some fairly silly points about what is a serious matter. I am as interested as anyone in getting to the bottom of this matter. However, I am going through the appropriate processes by putting those questions to the Commissioner of Police. I understand that, at this stage, he has not received that transcript and has not read it. I will raise the matter with him again today, which is his first day back from leave.
(2) Can the minister assure the house that no commissioned police officer or serving officer provided written documentation supporting an application to the Parole Board or the court for Wimbridge to be released on parole or bail? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for the question. Had I been given a little notice I probably could have given the member a more definitive answer on this matter. However, when this matter was in the media a couple of weeks ago, I did seek advice from the Commissioner of Police. Members would be aware that a member of the Police Service is a member of the Parole Board and either that person or his deputy attends every meeting of the Parole Board. The Commissioner of Police has assured me that the police were opposed to Wimbridge either receiving parole at the parole hearing or bail at the bail hearing. As members would be aware, the Commissioner of Police subsequently sought a transcript of what had occurred at the bail hearing. There was speculation that perhaps another police officer had been interviewed by the judge at the bail hearing and some questions had been asked, but the one thing about which the Commissioner of Police assured me was that the police position was to oppose bail and to oppose parole. The member asked me to assure him that no officer had somehow appeared at either of those hearings. I do not have the capacity to attend either parole or bail hearings. Mr R.F. Johnson : Why not? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I have not seen a transcript of the proceedings. I can go only on the advice I am given by the Commissioner of Police. The commissioner has requested a transcript. To the best of my knowledge he has not received one yet. He is the appropriate party to request that transcript. Mr M.J. Birney : You’re the minister. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Certainly. People are trying to make some fairly silly points about what is a serious matter. I am as interested as anyone in getting to the bottom of this matter. However, I am going through the appropriate processes by putting those questions to the Commissioner of Police. I understand that, at this stage, he has not received that transcript and has not read it. I will raise the matter with him again today, which is his first day back from leave.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for the question. Had I been given a little notice I probably could have given the member a more definitive answer on this matter. However, when this matter was in the media a couple of weeks ago, I did seek advice from the Commissioner of Police. Members would be aware that a member of the Police Service is a member of the Parole Board and either that person or his deputy attends every meeting of the Parole Board. The Commissioner of Police has assured me that the police were opposed to Wimbridge either receiving parole at the parole hearing or bail at the bail hearing. As members would be aware, the Commissioner of Police subsequently sought a transcript of what had occurred at the bail hearing. There was speculation that perhaps another police officer had been interviewed by the judge at the bail hearing and some questions had been asked, but the one thing about which the Commissioner of Police assured me was that the police position was to oppose bail and to oppose parole. The member asked me to assure him that no officer had somehow appeared at either of those hearings. I do not have the capacity to attend either parole or bail hearings. Mr R.F. Johnson : Why not? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I have not seen a transcript of the proceedings. I can go only on the advice I am given by the Commissioner of Police. The commissioner has requested a transcript. To the best of my knowledge he has not received one yet. He is the appropriate party to request that transcript. Mr M.J. Birney : You’re the minister. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Certainly. People are trying to make some fairly silly points about what is a serious matter. I am as interested as anyone in getting to the bottom of this matter. However, I am going through the appropriate processes by putting those questions to the Commissioner of Police. I understand that, at this stage, he has not received that transcript and has not read it. I will raise the matter with him again today, which is his first day back from leave.
(1)-(2) I thank the member for the question. Had I been given a little notice I probably could have given the member a more definitive answer on this matter. However, when this matter was in the media a couple of weeks ago, I did seek advice from the Commissioner of Police. Members would be aware that a member of the Police Service is a member of the Parole Board and either that person or his deputy attends every meeting of the Parole Board. The Commissioner of Police has assured me that the police were opposed to Wimbridge either receiving parole at the parole hearing or bail at the bail hearing. As members would be aware, the Commissioner of Police subsequently sought a transcript of what had occurred at the bail hearing. There was speculation that perhaps another police officer had been interviewed by the judge at the bail hearing and some questions had been asked, but the one thing about which the Commissioner of Police assured me was that the police position was to oppose bail and to oppose parole. The member asked me to assure him that no officer had somehow appeared at either of those hearings. I do not have the capacity to attend either parole or bail hearings. Mr R.F. Johnson : Why not? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I have not seen a transcript of the proceedings. I can go only on the advice I am given by the Commissioner of Police. The commissioner has requested a transcript. To the best of my knowledge he has not received one yet. He is the appropriate party to request that transcript. Mr M.J. Birney : You’re the minister. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Certainly. People are trying to make some fairly silly points about what is a serious matter. I am as interested as anyone in getting to the bottom of this matter. However, I am going through the appropriate processes by putting those questions to the Commissioner of Police. I understand that, at this stage, he has not received that transcript and has not read it. I will raise the matter with him again today, which is his first day back from leave.
Mr R.F. Johnson : Why not? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I have not seen a transcript of the proceedings. I can go only on the advice I am given by the Commissioner of Police. The commissioner has requested a transcript. To the best of my knowledge he has not received one yet. He is the appropriate party to request that transcript. Mr M.J. Birney : You’re the minister. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Certainly. People are trying to make some fairly silly points about what is a serious matter. I am as interested as anyone in getting to the bottom of this matter. However, I am going through the appropriate processes by putting those questions to the Commissioner of Police. I understand that, at this stage, he has not received that transcript and has not read it. I will raise the matter with him again today, which is his first day back from leave.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I have not seen a transcript of the proceedings. I can go only on the advice I am given by the Commissioner of Police. The commissioner has requested a transcript. To the best of my knowledge he has not received one yet. He is the appropriate party to request that transcript. Mr M.J. Birney : You’re the minister. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Certainly. People are trying to make some fairly silly points about what is a serious matter. I am as interested as anyone in getting to the bottom of this matter. However, I am going through the appropriate processes by putting those questions to the Commissioner of Police. I understand that, at this stage, he has not received that transcript and has not read it. I will raise the matter with him again today, which is his first day back from leave.
Mr M.J. Birney : You’re the minister. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Certainly. People are trying to make some fairly silly points about what is a serious matter. I am as interested as anyone in getting to the bottom of this matter. However, I am going through the appropriate processes by putting those questions to the Commissioner of Police. I understand that, at this stage, he has not received that transcript and has not read it. I will raise the matter with him again today, which is his first day back from leave.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Certainly. People are trying to make some fairly silly points about what is a serious matter. I am as interested as anyone in getting to the bottom of this matter. However, I am going through the appropriate processes by putting those questions to the Commissioner of Police. I understand that, at this stage, he has not received that transcript and has not read it. I will raise the matter with him again today, which is his first day back from leave.
Mr E.S. Ripper : I thought it would have been addressed to me! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Treasurer thought he was going to get it, and the Attorney General thought he was going to get it, but it is for the Minister for Police. Mr E.S. Ripper : I was terrified! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Treasurer looks terrified - and so too did the Minister for Tourism in that plane! We all thought he had done something in his trousers judging by the look on his face! Several members interjected. The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : This is a very serious question. Several members interjected. The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order, members! Highly amusing as this is, this is actually question time, unless members wish me to finish it. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I refer to convicted armed robber Jason Wimbridge being granted parole and bail after he had committed further serious offences, including another armed robbery, which is a schedule 2 offence under the Bail Act. (1) Can the minister assure the house that no commissioned police officer or serving officer attended the parole or bail hearing in support of Wimbridge’s application for parole or bail? (2) Can the minister assure the house that no commissioned police officer or serving officer provided written documentation supporting an application to the Parole Board or the court for Wimbridge to be released on parole or bail? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for the question. Had I been given a little notice I probably could have given the member a more definitive answer on this matter. However, when this matter was in the media a couple of weeks ago, I did seek advice from the Commissioner of Police. Members would be aware that a member of the Police Service is a member of the Parole Board and either that person or his deputy attends every meeting of the Parole Board. The Commissioner of Police has assured me that the police were opposed to Wimbridge either receiving parole at the parole hearing or bail at the bail hearing. As members would be aware, the Commissioner of Police subsequently sought a transcript of what had occurred at the bail hearing. There was speculation that perhaps another police officer had been interviewed by the judge at the bail hearing and some questions had been asked, but the one thing about which the Commissioner of Police assured me was that the police position was to oppose bail and to oppose parole. The member asked me to assure him that no officer had somehow appeared at either of those hearings. I do not have the capacity to attend either parole or bail hearings. Mr R.F. Johnson : Why not? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I have not seen a transcript of the proceedings. I can go only on the advice I am given by the Commissioner of Police. The commissioner has requested a transcript. To the best of my knowledge he has not received one yet. He is the appropriate party to request that transcript. Mr M.J. Birney : You’re the minister. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Certainly. People are trying to make some fairly silly points about what is a serious matter. I am as interested as anyone in getting to the bottom of this matter. However, I am going through the appropriate processes by putting those questions to the Commissioner of Police. I understand that, at this stage, he has not received that transcript and has not read it. I will raise the matter with him again today, which is his first day back from leave.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Treasurer thought he was going to get it, and the Attorney General thought he was going to get it, but it is for the Minister for Police. Mr E.S. Ripper : I was terrified! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Treasurer looks terrified - and so too did the Minister for Tourism in that plane! We all thought he had done something in his trousers judging by the look on his face! Several members interjected. The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : This is a very serious question. Several members interjected. The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order, members! Highly amusing as this is, this is actually question time, unless members wish me to finish it. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I refer to convicted armed robber Jason Wimbridge being granted parole and bail after he had committed further serious offences, including another armed robbery, which is a schedule 2 offence under the Bail Act. (1) Can the minister assure the house that no commissioned police officer or serving officer attended the parole or bail hearing in support of Wimbridge’s application for parole or bail? (2) Can the minister assure the house that no commissioned police officer or serving officer provided written documentation supporting an application to the Parole Board or the court for Wimbridge to be released on parole or bail? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for the question. Had I been given a little notice I probably could have given the member a more definitive answer on this matter. However, when this matter was in the media a couple of weeks ago, I did seek advice from the Commissioner of Police. Members would be aware that a member of the Police Service is a member of the Parole Board and either that person or his deputy attends every meeting of the Parole Board. The Commissioner of Police has assured me that the police were opposed to Wimbridge either receiving parole at the parole hearing or bail at the bail hearing. As members would be aware, the Commissioner of Police subsequently sought a transcript of what had occurred at the bail hearing. There was speculation that perhaps another police officer had been interviewed by the judge at the bail hearing and some questions had been asked, but the one thing about which the Commissioner of Police assured me was that the police position was to oppose bail and to oppose parole. The member asked me to assure him that no officer had somehow appeared at either of those hearings. I do not have the capacity to attend either parole or bail hearings. Mr R.F. Johnson : Why not? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I have not seen a transcript of the proceedings. I can go only on the advice I am given by the Commissioner of Police. The commissioner has requested a transcript. To the best of my knowledge he has not received one yet. He is the appropriate party to request that transcript. Mr M.J. Birney : You’re the minister. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Certainly. People are trying to make some fairly silly points about what is a serious matter. I am as interested as anyone in getting to the bottom of this matter. However, I am going through the appropriate processes by putting those questions to the Commissioner of Police. I understand that, at this stage, he has not received that transcript and has not read it. I will raise the matter with him again today, which is his first day back from leave.
Mr E.S. Ripper : I was terrified! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Treasurer looks terrified - and so too did the Minister for Tourism in that plane! We all thought he had done something in his trousers judging by the look on his face! Several members interjected. The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : This is a very serious question. Several members interjected. The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order, members! Highly amusing as this is, this is actually question time, unless members wish me to finish it. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I refer to convicted armed robber Jason Wimbridge being granted parole and bail after he had committed further serious offences, including another armed robbery, which is a schedule 2 offence under the Bail Act. (1) Can the minister assure the house that no commissioned police officer or serving officer attended the parole or bail hearing in support of Wimbridge’s application for parole or bail? (2) Can the minister assure the house that no commissioned police officer or serving officer provided written documentation supporting an application to the Parole Board or the court for Wimbridge to be released on parole or bail? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for the question. Had I been given a little notice I probably could have given the member a more definitive answer on this matter. However, when this matter was in the media a couple of weeks ago, I did seek advice from the Commissioner of Police. Members would be aware that a member of the Police Service is a member of the Parole Board and either that person or his deputy attends every meeting of the Parole Board. The Commissioner of Police has assured me that the police were opposed to Wimbridge either receiving parole at the parole hearing or bail at the bail hearing. As members would be aware, the Commissioner of Police subsequently sought a transcript of what had occurred at the bail hearing. There was speculation that perhaps another police officer had been interviewed by the judge at the bail hearing and some questions had been asked, but the one thing about which the Commissioner of Police assured me was that the police position was to oppose bail and to oppose parole. The member asked me to assure him that no officer had somehow appeared at either of those hearings. I do not have the capacity to attend either parole or bail hearings. Mr R.F. Johnson : Why not? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I have not seen a transcript of the proceedings. I can go only on the advice I am given by the Commissioner of Police. The commissioner has requested a transcript. To the best of my knowledge he has not received one yet. He is the appropriate party to request that transcript. Mr M.J. Birney : You’re the minister. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Certainly. People are trying to make some fairly silly points about what is a serious matter. I am as interested as anyone in getting to the bottom of this matter. However, I am going through the appropriate processes by putting those questions to the Commissioner of Police. I understand that, at this stage, he has not received that transcript and has not read it. I will raise the matter with him again today, which is his first day back from leave.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Treasurer looks terrified - and so too did the Minister for Tourism in that plane! We all thought he had done something in his trousers judging by the look on his face! Several members interjected. The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : This is a very serious question. Several members interjected. The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order, members! Highly amusing as this is, this is actually question time, unless members wish me to finish it. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I refer to convicted armed robber Jason Wimbridge being granted parole and bail after he had committed further serious offences, including another armed robbery, which is a schedule 2 offence under the Bail Act. (1) Can the minister assure the house that no commissioned police officer or serving officer attended the parole or bail hearing in support of Wimbridge’s application for parole or bail? (2) Can the minister assure the house that no commissioned police officer or serving officer provided written documentation supporting an application to the Parole Board or the court for Wimbridge to be released on parole or bail? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for the question. Had I been given a little notice I probably could have given the member a more definitive answer on this matter. However, when this matter was in the media a couple of weeks ago, I did seek advice from the Commissioner of Police. Members would be aware that a member of the Police Service is a member of the Parole Board and either that person or his deputy attends every meeting of the Parole Board. The Commissioner of Police has assured me that the police were opposed to Wimbridge either receiving parole at the parole hearing or bail at the bail hearing. As members would be aware, the Commissioner of Police subsequently sought a transcript of what had occurred at the bail hearing. There was speculation that perhaps another police officer had been interviewed by the judge at the bail hearing and some questions had been asked, but the one thing about which the Commissioner of Police assured me was that the police position was to oppose bail and to oppose parole. The member asked me to assure him that no officer had somehow appeared at either of those hearings. I do not have the capacity to attend either parole or bail hearings. Mr R.F. Johnson : Why not? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I have not seen a transcript of the proceedings. I can go only on the advice I am given by the Commissioner of Police. The commissioner has requested a transcript. To the best of my knowledge he has not received one yet. He is the appropriate party to request that transcript. Mr M.J. Birney : You’re the minister. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Certainly. People are trying to make some fairly silly points about what is a serious matter. I am as interested as anyone in getting to the bottom of this matter. However, I am going through the appropriate processes by putting those questions to the Commissioner of Police. I understand that, at this stage, he has not received that transcript and has not read it. I will raise the matter with him again today, which is his first day back from leave.
Several members interjected. The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : This is a very serious question. Several members interjected. The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order, members! Highly amusing as this is, this is actually question time, unless members wish me to finish it. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I refer to convicted armed robber Jason Wimbridge being granted parole and bail after he had committed further serious offences, including another armed robbery, which is a schedule 2 offence under the Bail Act. (1) Can the minister assure the house that no commissioned police officer or serving officer attended the parole or bail hearing in support of Wimbridge’s application for parole or bail? (2) Can the minister assure the house that no commissioned police officer or serving officer provided written documentation supporting an application to the Parole Board or the court for Wimbridge to be released on parole or bail? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for the question. Had I been given a little notice I probably could have given the member a more definitive answer on this matter. However, when this matter was in the media a couple of weeks ago, I did seek advice from the Commissioner of Police. Members would be aware that a member of the Police Service is a member of the Parole Board and either that person or his deputy attends every meeting of the Parole Board. The Commissioner of Police has assured me that the police were opposed to Wimbridge either receiving parole at the parole hearing or bail at the bail hearing. As members would be aware, the Commissioner of Police subsequently sought a transcript of what had occurred at the bail hearing. There was speculation that perhaps another police officer had been interviewed by the judge at the bail hearing and some questions had been asked, but the one thing about which the Commissioner of Police assured me was that the police position was to oppose bail and to oppose parole. The member asked me to assure him that no officer had somehow appeared at either of those hearings. I do not have the capacity to attend either parole or bail hearings. Mr R.F. Johnson : Why not? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I have not seen a transcript of the proceedings. I can go only on the advice I am given by the Commissioner of Police. The commissioner has requested a transcript. To the best of my knowledge he has not received one yet. He is the appropriate party to request that transcript. Mr M.J. Birney : You’re the minister. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Certainly. People are trying to make some fairly silly points about what is a serious matter. I am as interested as anyone in getting to the bottom of this matter. However, I am going through the appropriate processes by putting those questions to the Commissioner of Police. I understand that, at this stage, he has not received that transcript and has not read it. I will raise the matter with him again today, which is his first day back from leave.
The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : This is a very serious question. Several members interjected. The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order, members! Highly amusing as this is, this is actually question time, unless members wish me to finish it. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I refer to convicted armed robber Jason Wimbridge being granted parole and bail after he had committed further serious offences, including another armed robbery, which is a schedule 2 offence under the Bail Act. (1) Can the minister assure the house that no commissioned police officer or serving officer attended the parole or bail hearing in support of Wimbridge’s application for parole or bail? (2) Can the minister assure the house that no commissioned police officer or serving officer provided written documentation supporting an application to the Parole Board or the court for Wimbridge to be released on parole or bail? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for the question. Had I been given a little notice I probably could have given the member a more definitive answer on this matter. However, when this matter was in the media a couple of weeks ago, I did seek advice from the Commissioner of Police. Members would be aware that a member of the Police Service is a member of the Parole Board and either that person or his deputy attends every meeting of the Parole Board. The Commissioner of Police has assured me that the police were opposed to Wimbridge either receiving parole at the parole hearing or bail at the bail hearing. As members would be aware, the Commissioner of Police subsequently sought a transcript of what had occurred at the bail hearing. There was speculation that perhaps another police officer had been interviewed by the judge at the bail hearing and some questions had been asked, but the one thing about which the Commissioner of Police assured me was that the police position was to oppose bail and to oppose parole. The member asked me to assure him that no officer had somehow appeared at either of those hearings. I do not have the capacity to attend either parole or bail hearings. Mr R.F. Johnson : Why not? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I have not seen a transcript of the proceedings. I can go only on the advice I am given by the Commissioner of Police. The commissioner has requested a transcript. To the best of my knowledge he has not received one yet. He is the appropriate party to request that transcript. Mr M.J. Birney : You’re the minister. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Certainly. People are trying to make some fairly silly points about what is a serious matter. I am as interested as anyone in getting to the bottom of this matter. However, I am going through the appropriate processes by putting those questions to the Commissioner of Police. I understand that, at this stage, he has not received that transcript and has not read it. I will raise the matter with him again today, which is his first day back from leave.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : This is a very serious question. Several members interjected. The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order, members! Highly amusing as this is, this is actually question time, unless members wish me to finish it. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I refer to convicted armed robber Jason Wimbridge being granted parole and bail after he had committed further serious offences, including another armed robbery, which is a schedule 2 offence under the Bail Act. (1) Can the minister assure the house that no commissioned police officer or serving officer attended the parole or bail hearing in support of Wimbridge’s application for parole or bail? (2) Can the minister assure the house that no commissioned police officer or serving officer provided written documentation supporting an application to the Parole Board or the court for Wimbridge to be released on parole or bail? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for the question. Had I been given a little notice I probably could have given the member a more definitive answer on this matter. However, when this matter was in the media a couple of weeks ago, I did seek advice from the Commissioner of Police. Members would be aware that a member of the Police Service is a member of the Parole Board and either that person or his deputy attends every meeting of the Parole Board. The Commissioner of Police has assured me that the police were opposed to Wimbridge either receiving parole at the parole hearing or bail at the bail hearing. As members would be aware, the Commissioner of Police subsequently sought a transcript of what had occurred at the bail hearing. There was speculation that perhaps another police officer had been interviewed by the judge at the bail hearing and some questions had been asked, but the one thing about which the Commissioner of Police assured me was that the police position was to oppose bail and to oppose parole. The member asked me to assure him that no officer had somehow appeared at either of those hearings. I do not have the capacity to attend either parole or bail hearings. Mr R.F. Johnson : Why not? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I have not seen a transcript of the proceedings. I can go only on the advice I am given by the Commissioner of Police. The commissioner has requested a transcript. To the best of my knowledge he has not received one yet. He is the appropriate party to request that transcript. Mr M.J. Birney : You’re the minister. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Certainly. People are trying to make some fairly silly points about what is a serious matter. I am as interested as anyone in getting to the bottom of this matter. However, I am going through the appropriate processes by putting those questions to the Commissioner of Police. I understand that, at this stage, he has not received that transcript and has not read it. I will raise the matter with him again today, which is his first day back from leave.
Several members interjected. The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order, members! Highly amusing as this is, this is actually question time, unless members wish me to finish it. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I refer to convicted armed robber Jason Wimbridge being granted parole and bail after he had committed further serious offences, including another armed robbery, which is a schedule 2 offence under the Bail Act. (1) Can the minister assure the house that no commissioned police officer or serving officer attended the parole or bail hearing in support of Wimbridge’s application for parole or bail? (2) Can the minister assure the house that no commissioned police officer or serving officer provided written documentation supporting an application to the Parole Board or the court for Wimbridge to be released on parole or bail? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for the question. Had I been given a little notice I probably could have given the member a more definitive answer on this matter. However, when this matter was in the media a couple of weeks ago, I did seek advice from the Commissioner of Police. Members would be aware that a member of the Police Service is a member of the Parole Board and either that person or his deputy attends every meeting of the Parole Board. The Commissioner of Police has assured me that the police were opposed to Wimbridge either receiving parole at the parole hearing or bail at the bail hearing. As members would be aware, the Commissioner of Police subsequently sought a transcript of what had occurred at the bail hearing. There was speculation that perhaps another police officer had been interviewed by the judge at the bail hearing and some questions had been asked, but the one thing about which the Commissioner of Police assured me was that the police position was to oppose bail and to oppose parole. The member asked me to assure him that no officer had somehow appeared at either of those hearings. I do not have the capacity to attend either parole or bail hearings. Mr R.F. Johnson : Why not? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I have not seen a transcript of the proceedings. I can go only on the advice I am given by the Commissioner of Police. The commissioner has requested a transcript. To the best of my knowledge he has not received one yet. He is the appropriate party to request that transcript. Mr M.J. Birney : You’re the minister. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Certainly. People are trying to make some fairly silly points about what is a serious matter. I am as interested as anyone in getting to the bottom of this matter. However, I am going through the appropriate processes by putting those questions to the Commissioner of Police. I understand that, at this stage, he has not received that transcript and has not read it. I will raise the matter with him again today, which is his first day back from leave.
The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order, members! Highly amusing as this is, this is actually question time, unless members wish me to finish it. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I refer to convicted armed robber Jason Wimbridge being granted parole and bail after he had committed further serious offences, including another armed robbery, which is a schedule 2 offence under the Bail Act. (1) Can the minister assure the house that no commissioned police officer or serving officer attended the parole or bail hearing in support of Wimbridge’s application for parole or bail? (2) Can the minister assure the house that no commissioned police officer or serving officer provided written documentation supporting an application to the Parole Board or the court for Wimbridge to be released on parole or bail? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for the question. Had I been given a little notice I probably could have given the member a more definitive answer on this matter. However, when this matter was in the media a couple of weeks ago, I did seek advice from the Commissioner of Police. Members would be aware that a member of the Police Service is a member of the Parole Board and either that person or his deputy attends every meeting of the Parole Board. The Commissioner of Police has assured me that the police were opposed to Wimbridge either receiving parole at the parole hearing or bail at the bail hearing. As members would be aware, the Commissioner of Police subsequently sought a transcript of what had occurred at the bail hearing. There was speculation that perhaps another police officer had been interviewed by the judge at the bail hearing and some questions had been asked, but the one thing about which the Commissioner of Police assured me was that the police position was to oppose bail and to oppose parole. The member asked me to assure him that no officer had somehow appeared at either of those hearings. I do not have the capacity to attend either parole or bail hearings. Mr R.F. Johnson : Why not? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I have not seen a transcript of the proceedings. I can go only on the advice I am given by the Commissioner of Police. The commissioner has requested a transcript. To the best of my knowledge he has not received one yet. He is the appropriate party to request that transcript. Mr M.J. Birney : You’re the minister. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Certainly. People are trying to make some fairly silly points about what is a serious matter. I am as interested as anyone in getting to the bottom of this matter. However, I am going through the appropriate processes by putting those questions to the Commissioner of Police. I understand that, at this stage, he has not received that transcript and has not read it. I will raise the matter with him again today, which is his first day back from leave.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I refer to convicted armed robber Jason Wimbridge being granted parole and bail after he had committed further serious offences, including another armed robbery, which is a schedule 2 offence under the Bail Act. (1) Can the minister assure the house that no commissioned police officer or serving officer attended the parole or bail hearing in support of Wimbridge’s application for parole or bail? (2) Can the minister assure the house that no commissioned police officer or serving officer provided written documentation supporting an application to the Parole Board or the court for Wimbridge to be released on parole or bail? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for the question. Had I been given a little notice I probably could have given the member a more definitive answer on this matter. However, when this matter was in the media a couple of weeks ago, I did seek advice from the Commissioner of Police. Members would be aware that a member of the Police Service is a member of the Parole Board and either that person or his deputy attends every meeting of the Parole Board. The Commissioner of Police has assured me that the police were opposed to Wimbridge either receiving parole at the parole hearing or bail at the bail hearing. As members would be aware, the Commissioner of Police subsequently sought a transcript of what had occurred at the bail hearing. There was speculation that perhaps another police officer had been interviewed by the judge at the bail hearing and some questions had been asked, but the one thing about which the Commissioner of Police assured me was that the police position was to oppose bail and to oppose parole. The member asked me to assure him that no officer had somehow appeared at either of those hearings. I do not have the capacity to attend either parole or bail hearings. Mr R.F. Johnson : Why not? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I have not seen a transcript of the proceedings. I can go only on the advice I am given by the Commissioner of Police. The commissioner has requested a transcript. To the best of my knowledge he has not received one yet. He is the appropriate party to request that transcript. Mr M.J. Birney : You’re the minister. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Certainly. People are trying to make some fairly silly points about what is a serious matter. I am as interested as anyone in getting to the bottom of this matter. However, I am going through the appropriate processes by putting those questions to the Commissioner of Police. I understand that, at this stage, he has not received that transcript and has not read it. I will raise the matter with him again today, which is his first day back from leave.
I refer to convicted armed robber Jason Wimbridge being granted parole and bail after he had committed further serious offences, including another armed robbery, which is a schedule 2 offence under the Bail Act. (1) Can the minister assure the house that no commissioned police officer or serving officer attended the parole or bail hearing in support of Wimbridge’s application for parole or bail? (2) Can the minister assure the house that no commissioned police officer or serving officer provided written documentation supporting an application to the Parole Board or the court for Wimbridge to be released on parole or bail? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for the question. Had I been given a little notice I probably could have given the member a more definitive answer on this matter. However, when this matter was in the media a couple of weeks ago, I did seek advice from the Commissioner of Police. Members would be aware that a member of the Police Service is a member of the Parole Board and either that person or his deputy attends every meeting of the Parole Board. The Commissioner of Police has assured me that the police were opposed to Wimbridge either receiving parole at the parole hearing or bail at the bail hearing. As members would be aware, the Commissioner of Police subsequently sought a transcript of what had occurred at the bail hearing. There was speculation that perhaps another police officer had been interviewed by the judge at the bail hearing and some questions had been asked, but the one thing about which the Commissioner of Police assured me was that the police position was to oppose bail and to oppose parole. The member asked me to assure him that no officer had somehow appeared at either of those hearings. I do not have the capacity to attend either parole or bail hearings. Mr R.F. Johnson : Why not? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I have not seen a transcript of the proceedings. I can go only on the advice I am given by the Commissioner of Police. The commissioner has requested a transcript. To the best of my knowledge he has not received one yet. He is the appropriate party to request that transcript. Mr M.J. Birney : You’re the minister. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Certainly. People are trying to make some fairly silly points about what is a serious matter. I am as interested as anyone in getting to the bottom of this matter. However, I am going through the appropriate processes by putting those questions to the Commissioner of Police. I understand that, at this stage, he has not received that transcript and has not read it. I will raise the matter with him again today, which is his first day back from leave.
(1) Can the minister assure the house that no commissioned police officer or serving officer attended the parole or bail hearing in support of Wimbridge’s application for parole or bail? (2) Can the minister assure the house that no commissioned police officer or serving officer provided written documentation supporting an application to the Parole Board or the court for Wimbridge to be released on parole or bail? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for the question. Had I been given a little notice I probably could have given the member a more definitive answer on this matter. However, when this matter was in the media a couple of weeks ago, I did seek advice from the Commissioner of Police. Members would be aware that a member of the Police Service is a member of the Parole Board and either that person or his deputy attends every meeting of the Parole Board. The Commissioner of Police has assured me that the police were opposed to Wimbridge either receiving parole at the parole hearing or bail at the bail hearing. As members would be aware, the Commissioner of Police subsequently sought a transcript of what had occurred at the bail hearing. There was speculation that perhaps another police officer had been interviewed by the judge at the bail hearing and some questions had been asked, but the one thing about which the Commissioner of Police assured me was that the police position was to oppose bail and to oppose parole. The member asked me to assure him that no officer had somehow appeared at either of those hearings. I do not have the capacity to attend either parole or bail hearings. Mr R.F. Johnson : Why not? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I have not seen a transcript of the proceedings. I can go only on the advice I am given by the Commissioner of Police. The commissioner has requested a transcript. To the best of my knowledge he has not received one yet. He is the appropriate party to request that transcript. Mr M.J. Birney : You’re the minister. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Certainly. People are trying to make some fairly silly points about what is a serious matter. I am as interested as anyone in getting to the bottom of this matter. However, I am going through the appropriate processes by putting those questions to the Commissioner of Police. I understand that, at this stage, he has not received that transcript and has not read it. I will raise the matter with him again today, which is his first day back from leave.
(2) Can the minister assure the house that no commissioned police officer or serving officer provided written documentation supporting an application to the Parole Board or the court for Wimbridge to be released on parole or bail? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for the question. Had I been given a little notice I probably could have given the member a more definitive answer on this matter. However, when this matter was in the media a couple of weeks ago, I did seek advice from the Commissioner of Police. Members would be aware that a member of the Police Service is a member of the Parole Board and either that person or his deputy attends every meeting of the Parole Board. The Commissioner of Police has assured me that the police were opposed to Wimbridge either receiving parole at the parole hearing or bail at the bail hearing. As members would be aware, the Commissioner of Police subsequently sought a transcript of what had occurred at the bail hearing. There was speculation that perhaps another police officer had been interviewed by the judge at the bail hearing and some questions had been asked, but the one thing about which the Commissioner of Police assured me was that the police position was to oppose bail and to oppose parole. The member asked me to assure him that no officer had somehow appeared at either of those hearings. I do not have the capacity to attend either parole or bail hearings. Mr R.F. Johnson : Why not? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I have not seen a transcript of the proceedings. I can go only on the advice I am given by the Commissioner of Police. The commissioner has requested a transcript. To the best of my knowledge he has not received one yet. He is the appropriate party to request that transcript. Mr M.J. Birney : You’re the minister. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Certainly. People are trying to make some fairly silly points about what is a serious matter. I am as interested as anyone in getting to the bottom of this matter. However, I am going through the appropriate processes by putting those questions to the Commissioner of Police. I understand that, at this stage, he has not received that transcript and has not read it. I will raise the matter with him again today, which is his first day back from leave.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for the question. Had I been given a little notice I probably could have given the member a more definitive answer on this matter. However, when this matter was in the media a couple of weeks ago, I did seek advice from the Commissioner of Police. Members would be aware that a member of the Police Service is a member of the Parole Board and either that person or his deputy attends every meeting of the Parole Board. The Commissioner of Police has assured me that the police were opposed to Wimbridge either receiving parole at the parole hearing or bail at the bail hearing. As members would be aware, the Commissioner of Police subsequently sought a transcript of what had occurred at the bail hearing. There was speculation that perhaps another police officer had been interviewed by the judge at the bail hearing and some questions had been asked, but the one thing about which the Commissioner of Police assured me was that the police position was to oppose bail and to oppose parole. The member asked me to assure him that no officer had somehow appeared at either of those hearings. I do not have the capacity to attend either parole or bail hearings. Mr R.F. Johnson : Why not? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I have not seen a transcript of the proceedings. I can go only on the advice I am given by the Commissioner of Police. The commissioner has requested a transcript. To the best of my knowledge he has not received one yet. He is the appropriate party to request that transcript. Mr M.J. Birney : You’re the minister. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Certainly. People are trying to make some fairly silly points about what is a serious matter. I am as interested as anyone in getting to the bottom of this matter. However, I am going through the appropriate processes by putting those questions to the Commissioner of Police. I understand that, at this stage, he has not received that transcript and has not read it. I will raise the matter with him again today, which is his first day back from leave.
(1)-(2) I thank the member for the question. Had I been given a little notice I probably could have given the member a more definitive answer on this matter. However, when this matter was in the media a couple of weeks ago, I did seek advice from the Commissioner of Police. Members would be aware that a member of the Police Service is a member of the Parole Board and either that person or his deputy attends every meeting of the Parole Board. The Commissioner of Police has assured me that the police were opposed to Wimbridge either receiving parole at the parole hearing or bail at the bail hearing. As members would be aware, the Commissioner of Police subsequently sought a transcript of what had occurred at the bail hearing. There was speculation that perhaps another police officer had been interviewed by the judge at the bail hearing and some questions had been asked, but the one thing about which the Commissioner of Police assured me was that the police position was to oppose bail and to oppose parole. The member asked me to assure him that no officer had somehow appeared at either of those hearings. I do not have the capacity to attend either parole or bail hearings. Mr R.F. Johnson : Why not? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I have not seen a transcript of the proceedings. I can go only on the advice I am given by the Commissioner of Police. The commissioner has requested a transcript. To the best of my knowledge he has not received one yet. He is the appropriate party to request that transcript. Mr M.J. Birney : You’re the minister. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Certainly. People are trying to make some fairly silly points about what is a serious matter. I am as interested as anyone in getting to the bottom of this matter. However, I am going through the appropriate processes by putting those questions to the Commissioner of Police. I understand that, at this stage, he has not received that transcript and has not read it. I will raise the matter with him again today, which is his first day back from leave.
Mr R.F. Johnson : Why not? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I have not seen a transcript of the proceedings. I can go only on the advice I am given by the Commissioner of Police. The commissioner has requested a transcript. To the best of my knowledge he has not received one yet. He is the appropriate party to request that transcript. Mr M.J. Birney : You’re the minister. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Certainly. People are trying to make some fairly silly points about what is a serious matter. I am as interested as anyone in getting to the bottom of this matter. However, I am going through the appropriate processes by putting those questions to the Commissioner of Police. I understand that, at this stage, he has not received that transcript and has not read it. I will raise the matter with him again today, which is his first day back from leave.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I have not seen a transcript of the proceedings. I can go only on the advice I am given by the Commissioner of Police. The commissioner has requested a transcript. To the best of my knowledge he has not received one yet. He is the appropriate party to request that transcript. Mr M.J. Birney : You’re the minister. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Certainly. People are trying to make some fairly silly points about what is a serious matter. I am as interested as anyone in getting to the bottom of this matter. However, I am going through the appropriate processes by putting those questions to the Commissioner of Police. I understand that, at this stage, he has not received that transcript and has not read it. I will raise the matter with him again today, which is his first day back from leave.
Mr M.J. Birney : You’re the minister. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Certainly. People are trying to make some fairly silly points about what is a serious matter. I am as interested as anyone in getting to the bottom of this matter. However, I am going through the appropriate processes by putting those questions to the Commissioner of Police. I understand that, at this stage, he has not received that transcript and has not read it. I will raise the matter with him again today, which is his first day back from leave.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Certainly. People are trying to make some fairly silly points about what is a serious matter. I am as interested as anyone in getting to the bottom of this matter. However, I am going through the appropriate processes by putting those questions to the Commissioner of Police. I understand that, at this stage, he has not received that transcript and has not read it. I will raise the matter with him again today, which is his first day back from leave.
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