❓ The Leader of the Opposition questions the Premier's delay in deciding on the Police Commissioner's contract renewal, citing CCC reports and advice from the Public Sector Commissioner. The Premier assures that the report and advice will be tabled, allowing the Commissioner to respond, and affirms confidence in the Commissioner.
AnsweredQoN 362Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
COMMISSIONER OF POLICE — REAPPOINTMENT
362. Mr M. McGOWAN to the Premier:
I refer to the imminent deadline on
the Commissioner of Police's contract.
(1) Why has
the Premier not made a decision on the contract, given that he received the
second Corruption and Crime Commission report into the commissioner's
corporate credit card use in mid-July?
(2) Why has
the Premier not made a decision, given that he received advice from the Public
Sector Commissioner last week?
(3) Do the police
service and the Western Australian public not deserve certainty over the future
of the commissioner?
(4) Does the
Premier accept that the delay in Dr O'Callaghan's reappointment
and the Premier's own public statements in which he raised concerns
have caused damage to the police commissioner's reputation?
362. Mr M. McGOWAN to the Premier:
I refer to the imminent deadline on
the Commissioner of Police's contract.
(1) Why has
the Premier not made a decision on the contract, given that he received the
second Corruption and Crime Commission report into the commissioner's
corporate credit card use in mid-July?
(2) Why has
the Premier not made a decision, given that he received advice from the Public
Sector Commissioner last week?
(3) Do the police
service and the Western Australian public not deserve certainty over the future
of the commissioner?
(4) Does the
Premier accept that the delay in Dr O'Callaghan's reappointment
and the Premier's own public statements in which he raised concerns
have caused damage to the police commissioner's reputation?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the Leader of the Opposition
for the question.
(1)–(4)
As members are aware, the CCC initiated two investigations relating to the
Commissioner of Police—the first relating to the fires in the foothills
and the second relating to the use of a corporate credit card. As I said, that
put the government in a difficult situation, given that those reports had been
referred to in the media before they were completed. I urged the CCC to do all
that it could to complete those two investigations and to report to me, hoping
that that would be well in advance of the time for the renewal of the
commissioner's contract. That contract expires on 15 August, and I am endeavouring
to keep the two issues as separate as possible. Probably two to three weeks ago
I received the CCC's second report. It was sent to the Public Sector
Commissioner and then to me as Premier. I sought advice from the Public Sector
Commissioner. That advice has been received. During this week I intend to table
the CCC report, my correspondence to the Public Sector Commissioner and his
response to me. That will happen during this week, allowing the police
commissioner the opportunity to respond to what is in that report. I think that
is the appropriate way to deal with it. I again state that I have complete
confidence in the police commissioner, but we need to keep these two issues
separate, and that is what we are doing—behaving properly as a government
of integrity.
for the question.
(1)–(4)
As members are aware, the CCC initiated two investigations relating to the
Commissioner of Police—the first relating to the fires in the foothills
and the second relating to the use of a corporate credit card. As I said, that
put the government in a difficult situation, given that those reports had been
referred to in the media before they were completed. I urged the CCC to do all
that it could to complete those two investigations and to report to me, hoping
that that would be well in advance of the time for the renewal of the
commissioner's contract. That contract expires on 15 August, and I am endeavouring
to keep the two issues as separate as possible. Probably two to three weeks ago
I received the CCC's second report. It was sent to the Public Sector
Commissioner and then to me as Premier. I sought advice from the Public Sector
Commissioner. That advice has been received. During this week I intend to table
the CCC report, my correspondence to the Public Sector Commissioner and his
response to me. That will happen during this week, allowing the police
commissioner the opportunity to respond to what is in that report. I think that
is the appropriate way to deal with it. I again state that I have complete
confidence in the police commissioner, but we need to keep these two issues
separate, and that is what we are doing—behaving properly as a government
of integrity.
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