❓ A WA parliamentary question addresses the "black Friday" traffic chaos, questioning emergency plans, police resource allocation, and the Minister's response. The Minister's answer outlines the emergency management policy used and the considerations made by the Police Service.
AnsweredQoN 159Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer the minister to the so-called black Friday traffic chaos of last week. Mr Speaker, members opposite obviously find it amusing that hundreds of thousands of Western Australians were put to enormous trouble and risk. The SPEAKER : Please ask the question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I would love to ask my question. (1) Is an emergency management plan in place that allows for the rapid movement of people from the central business district in the event that transport infrastructure is compromised by an accident or terrorist attack, and was that plan enacted last Friday? (2) How is it that hundreds of police can be mobilised to watch over a bikie funeral and yet only 22 police were visibly present to facilitate traffic movement last Friday? (3) Where was the minister during this period, and what action did she take to personally monitor the situation and coordinate resources so that people could get to their homes? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(3) I thank the member for Hillarys for his question. The fact of the matter is that the event was coordinated - Mr R.F. Johnson interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Would the member like to hear an answer? If so, perhaps he could be quiet for a while. The coordination plan that was utilised last Friday - and the plan that is used in similar emergency situations - was the state emergency management policy No 7. Obviously, it depends on the emergency and what is happening. An event that may occur in South Perth is very different from an event that may occur at the Perth railway station and so on. A range of options was considered by the Police Service on Friday afternoon. By and large, the police managed what was a very difficult situation reasonably well. Commuters generally kept their cool; there was not one incident of road rage reported to the Police Service. I thank the broader community for that. Many things were considered, including utilising the bus lane on the freeway. It was determined that, in the event there might be other emergencies, the bus lane should remain open so that it could be used by emergency vehicles if the need arose. Other highway infrastructure was considered, such as using a contra lane to ease the flow of traffic out of central Perth. An operational decision was taken by the Police Service that that would be more dangerous than what it chose to do. It managed a very difficult situation as safely as was possible. Had there been other emergencies, the Police Service would have been able to respond.
The SPEAKER : Please ask the question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I would love to ask my question. (1) Is an emergency management plan in place that allows for the rapid movement of people from the central business district in the event that transport infrastructure is compromised by an accident or terrorist attack, and was that plan enacted last Friday? (2) How is it that hundreds of police can be mobilised to watch over a bikie funeral and yet only 22 police were visibly present to facilitate traffic movement last Friday? (3) Where was the minister during this period, and what action did she take to personally monitor the situation and coordinate resources so that people could get to their homes? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(3) I thank the member for Hillarys for his question. The fact of the matter is that the event was coordinated - Mr R.F. Johnson interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Would the member like to hear an answer? If so, perhaps he could be quiet for a while. The coordination plan that was utilised last Friday - and the plan that is used in similar emergency situations - was the state emergency management policy No 7. Obviously, it depends on the emergency and what is happening. An event that may occur in South Perth is very different from an event that may occur at the Perth railway station and so on. A range of options was considered by the Police Service on Friday afternoon. By and large, the police managed what was a very difficult situation reasonably well. Commuters generally kept their cool; there was not one incident of road rage reported to the Police Service. I thank the broader community for that. Many things were considered, including utilising the bus lane on the freeway. It was determined that, in the event there might be other emergencies, the bus lane should remain open so that it could be used by emergency vehicles if the need arose. Other highway infrastructure was considered, such as using a contra lane to ease the flow of traffic out of central Perth. An operational decision was taken by the Police Service that that would be more dangerous than what it chose to do. It managed a very difficult situation as safely as was possible. Had there been other emergencies, the Police Service would have been able to respond.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I would love to ask my question. (1) Is an emergency management plan in place that allows for the rapid movement of people from the central business district in the event that transport infrastructure is compromised by an accident or terrorist attack, and was that plan enacted last Friday? (2) How is it that hundreds of police can be mobilised to watch over a bikie funeral and yet only 22 police were visibly present to facilitate traffic movement last Friday? (3) Where was the minister during this period, and what action did she take to personally monitor the situation and coordinate resources so that people could get to their homes? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(3) I thank the member for Hillarys for his question. The fact of the matter is that the event was coordinated - Mr R.F. Johnson interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Would the member like to hear an answer? If so, perhaps he could be quiet for a while. The coordination plan that was utilised last Friday - and the plan that is used in similar emergency situations - was the state emergency management policy No 7. Obviously, it depends on the emergency and what is happening. An event that may occur in South Perth is very different from an event that may occur at the Perth railway station and so on. A range of options was considered by the Police Service on Friday afternoon. By and large, the police managed what was a very difficult situation reasonably well. Commuters generally kept their cool; there was not one incident of road rage reported to the Police Service. I thank the broader community for that. Many things were considered, including utilising the bus lane on the freeway. It was determined that, in the event there might be other emergencies, the bus lane should remain open so that it could be used by emergency vehicles if the need arose. Other highway infrastructure was considered, such as using a contra lane to ease the flow of traffic out of central Perth. An operational decision was taken by the Police Service that that would be more dangerous than what it chose to do. It managed a very difficult situation as safely as was possible. Had there been other emergencies, the Police Service would have been able to respond.
The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I would love to ask my question. (1) Is an emergency management plan in place that allows for the rapid movement of people from the central business district in the event that transport infrastructure is compromised by an accident or terrorist attack, and was that plan enacted last Friday? (2) How is it that hundreds of police can be mobilised to watch over a bikie funeral and yet only 22 police were visibly present to facilitate traffic movement last Friday? (3) Where was the minister during this period, and what action did she take to personally monitor the situation and coordinate resources so that people could get to their homes? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(3) I thank the member for Hillarys for his question. The fact of the matter is that the event was coordinated - Mr R.F. Johnson interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Would the member like to hear an answer? If so, perhaps he could be quiet for a while. The coordination plan that was utilised last Friday - and the plan that is used in similar emergency situations - was the state emergency management policy No 7. Obviously, it depends on the emergency and what is happening. An event that may occur in South Perth is very different from an event that may occur at the Perth railway station and so on. A range of options was considered by the Police Service on Friday afternoon. By and large, the police managed what was a very difficult situation reasonably well. Commuters generally kept their cool; there was not one incident of road rage reported to the Police Service. I thank the broader community for that. Many things were considered, including utilising the bus lane on the freeway. It was determined that, in the event there might be other emergencies, the bus lane should remain open so that it could be used by emergency vehicles if the need arose. Other highway infrastructure was considered, such as using a contra lane to ease the flow of traffic out of central Perth. An operational decision was taken by the Police Service that that would be more dangerous than what it chose to do. It managed a very difficult situation as safely as was possible. Had there been other emergencies, the Police Service would have been able to respond.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I would love to ask my question. (1) Is an emergency management plan in place that allows for the rapid movement of people from the central business district in the event that transport infrastructure is compromised by an accident or terrorist attack, and was that plan enacted last Friday? (2) How is it that hundreds of police can be mobilised to watch over a bikie funeral and yet only 22 police were visibly present to facilitate traffic movement last Friday? (3) Where was the minister during this period, and what action did she take to personally monitor the situation and coordinate resources so that people could get to their homes? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(3) I thank the member for Hillarys for his question. The fact of the matter is that the event was coordinated - Mr R.F. Johnson interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Would the member like to hear an answer? If so, perhaps he could be quiet for a while. The coordination plan that was utilised last Friday - and the plan that is used in similar emergency situations - was the state emergency management policy No 7. Obviously, it depends on the emergency and what is happening. An event that may occur in South Perth is very different from an event that may occur at the Perth railway station and so on. A range of options was considered by the Police Service on Friday afternoon. By and large, the police managed what was a very difficult situation reasonably well. Commuters generally kept their cool; there was not one incident of road rage reported to the Police Service. I thank the broader community for that. Many things were considered, including utilising the bus lane on the freeway. It was determined that, in the event there might be other emergencies, the bus lane should remain open so that it could be used by emergency vehicles if the need arose. Other highway infrastructure was considered, such as using a contra lane to ease the flow of traffic out of central Perth. An operational decision was taken by the Police Service that that would be more dangerous than what it chose to do. It managed a very difficult situation as safely as was possible. Had there been other emergencies, the Police Service would have been able to respond.
(1) Is an emergency management plan in place that allows for the rapid movement of people from the central business district in the event that transport infrastructure is compromised by an accident or terrorist attack, and was that plan enacted last Friday? (2) How is it that hundreds of police can be mobilised to watch over a bikie funeral and yet only 22 police were visibly present to facilitate traffic movement last Friday? (3) Where was the minister during this period, and what action did she take to personally monitor the situation and coordinate resources so that people could get to their homes? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(3) I thank the member for Hillarys for his question. The fact of the matter is that the event was coordinated - Mr R.F. Johnson interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Would the member like to hear an answer? If so, perhaps he could be quiet for a while. The coordination plan that was utilised last Friday - and the plan that is used in similar emergency situations - was the state emergency management policy No 7. Obviously, it depends on the emergency and what is happening. An event that may occur in South Perth is very different from an event that may occur at the Perth railway station and so on. A range of options was considered by the Police Service on Friday afternoon. By and large, the police managed what was a very difficult situation reasonably well. Commuters generally kept their cool; there was not one incident of road rage reported to the Police Service. I thank the broader community for that. Many things were considered, including utilising the bus lane on the freeway. It was determined that, in the event there might be other emergencies, the bus lane should remain open so that it could be used by emergency vehicles if the need arose. Other highway infrastructure was considered, such as using a contra lane to ease the flow of traffic out of central Perth. An operational decision was taken by the Police Service that that would be more dangerous than what it chose to do. It managed a very difficult situation as safely as was possible. Had there been other emergencies, the Police Service would have been able to respond.
(2) How is it that hundreds of police can be mobilised to watch over a bikie funeral and yet only 22 police were visibly present to facilitate traffic movement last Friday? (3) Where was the minister during this period, and what action did she take to personally monitor the situation and coordinate resources so that people could get to their homes? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(3) I thank the member for Hillarys for his question. The fact of the matter is that the event was coordinated - Mr R.F. Johnson interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Would the member like to hear an answer? If so, perhaps he could be quiet for a while. The coordination plan that was utilised last Friday - and the plan that is used in similar emergency situations - was the state emergency management policy No 7. Obviously, it depends on the emergency and what is happening. An event that may occur in South Perth is very different from an event that may occur at the Perth railway station and so on. A range of options was considered by the Police Service on Friday afternoon. By and large, the police managed what was a very difficult situation reasonably well. Commuters generally kept their cool; there was not one incident of road rage reported to the Police Service. I thank the broader community for that. Many things were considered, including utilising the bus lane on the freeway. It was determined that, in the event there might be other emergencies, the bus lane should remain open so that it could be used by emergency vehicles if the need arose. Other highway infrastructure was considered, such as using a contra lane to ease the flow of traffic out of central Perth. An operational decision was taken by the Police Service that that would be more dangerous than what it chose to do. It managed a very difficult situation as safely as was possible. Had there been other emergencies, the Police Service would have been able to respond.
(3) Where was the minister during this period, and what action did she take to personally monitor the situation and coordinate resources so that people could get to their homes? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(3) I thank the member for Hillarys for his question. The fact of the matter is that the event was coordinated - Mr R.F. Johnson interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Would the member like to hear an answer? If so, perhaps he could be quiet for a while. The coordination plan that was utilised last Friday - and the plan that is used in similar emergency situations - was the state emergency management policy No 7. Obviously, it depends on the emergency and what is happening. An event that may occur in South Perth is very different from an event that may occur at the Perth railway station and so on. A range of options was considered by the Police Service on Friday afternoon. By and large, the police managed what was a very difficult situation reasonably well. Commuters generally kept their cool; there was not one incident of road rage reported to the Police Service. I thank the broader community for that. Many things were considered, including utilising the bus lane on the freeway. It was determined that, in the event there might be other emergencies, the bus lane should remain open so that it could be used by emergency vehicles if the need arose. Other highway infrastructure was considered, such as using a contra lane to ease the flow of traffic out of central Perth. An operational decision was taken by the Police Service that that would be more dangerous than what it chose to do. It managed a very difficult situation as safely as was possible. Had there been other emergencies, the Police Service would have been able to respond.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(3) I thank the member for Hillarys for his question. The fact of the matter is that the event was coordinated - Mr R.F. Johnson interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Would the member like to hear an answer? If so, perhaps he could be quiet for a while. The coordination plan that was utilised last Friday - and the plan that is used in similar emergency situations - was the state emergency management policy No 7. Obviously, it depends on the emergency and what is happening. An event that may occur in South Perth is very different from an event that may occur at the Perth railway station and so on. A range of options was considered by the Police Service on Friday afternoon. By and large, the police managed what was a very difficult situation reasonably well. Commuters generally kept their cool; there was not one incident of road rage reported to the Police Service. I thank the broader community for that. Many things were considered, including utilising the bus lane on the freeway. It was determined that, in the event there might be other emergencies, the bus lane should remain open so that it could be used by emergency vehicles if the need arose. Other highway infrastructure was considered, such as using a contra lane to ease the flow of traffic out of central Perth. An operational decision was taken by the Police Service that that would be more dangerous than what it chose to do. It managed a very difficult situation as safely as was possible. Had there been other emergencies, the Police Service would have been able to respond.
(1)-(3) I thank the member for Hillarys for his question. The fact of the matter is that the event was coordinated - Mr R.F. Johnson interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Would the member like to hear an answer? If so, perhaps he could be quiet for a while. The coordination plan that was utilised last Friday - and the plan that is used in similar emergency situations - was the state emergency management policy No 7. Obviously, it depends on the emergency and what is happening. An event that may occur in South Perth is very different from an event that may occur at the Perth railway station and so on. A range of options was considered by the Police Service on Friday afternoon. By and large, the police managed what was a very difficult situation reasonably well. Commuters generally kept their cool; there was not one incident of road rage reported to the Police Service. I thank the broader community for that. Many things were considered, including utilising the bus lane on the freeway. It was determined that, in the event there might be other emergencies, the bus lane should remain open so that it could be used by emergency vehicles if the need arose. Other highway infrastructure was considered, such as using a contra lane to ease the flow of traffic out of central Perth. An operational decision was taken by the Police Service that that would be more dangerous than what it chose to do. It managed a very difficult situation as safely as was possible. Had there been other emergencies, the Police Service would have been able to respond.
Mr R.F. Johnson interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Would the member like to hear an answer? If so, perhaps he could be quiet for a while. The coordination plan that was utilised last Friday - and the plan that is used in similar emergency situations - was the state emergency management policy No 7. Obviously, it depends on the emergency and what is happening. An event that may occur in South Perth is very different from an event that may occur at the Perth railway station and so on. A range of options was considered by the Police Service on Friday afternoon. By and large, the police managed what was a very difficult situation reasonably well. Commuters generally kept their cool; there was not one incident of road rage reported to the Police Service. I thank the broader community for that. Many things were considered, including utilising the bus lane on the freeway. It was determined that, in the event there might be other emergencies, the bus lane should remain open so that it could be used by emergency vehicles if the need arose. Other highway infrastructure was considered, such as using a contra lane to ease the flow of traffic out of central Perth. An operational decision was taken by the Police Service that that would be more dangerous than what it chose to do. It managed a very difficult situation as safely as was possible. Had there been other emergencies, the Police Service would have been able to respond.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Would the member like to hear an answer? If so, perhaps he could be quiet for a while. The coordination plan that was utilised last Friday - and the plan that is used in similar emergency situations - was the state emergency management policy No 7. Obviously, it depends on the emergency and what is happening. An event that may occur in South Perth is very different from an event that may occur at the Perth railway station and so on. A range of options was considered by the Police Service on Friday afternoon. By and large, the police managed what was a very difficult situation reasonably well. Commuters generally kept their cool; there was not one incident of road rage reported to the Police Service. I thank the broader community for that. Many things were considered, including utilising the bus lane on the freeway. It was determined that, in the event there might be other emergencies, the bus lane should remain open so that it could be used by emergency vehicles if the need arose. Other highway infrastructure was considered, such as using a contra lane to ease the flow of traffic out of central Perth. An operational decision was taken by the Police Service that that would be more dangerous than what it chose to do. It managed a very difficult situation as safely as was possible. Had there been other emergencies, the Police Service would have been able to respond.
The coordination plan that was utilised last Friday - and the plan that is used in similar emergency situations - was the state emergency management policy No 7. Obviously, it depends on the emergency and what is happening. An event that may occur in South Perth is very different from an event that may occur at the Perth railway station and so on. A range of options was considered by the Police Service on Friday afternoon. By and large, the police managed what was a very difficult situation reasonably well. Commuters generally kept their cool; there was not one incident of road rage reported to the Police Service. I thank the broader community for that. Many things were considered, including utilising the bus lane on the freeway. It was determined that, in the event there might be other emergencies, the bus lane should remain open so that it could be used by emergency vehicles if the need arose. Other highway infrastructure was considered, such as using a contra lane to ease the flow of traffic out of central Perth. An operational decision was taken by the Police Service that that would be more dangerous than what it chose to do. It managed a very difficult situation as safely as was possible. Had there been other emergencies, the Police Service would have been able to respond.
Many things were considered, including utilising the bus lane on the freeway. It was determined that, in the event there might be other emergencies, the bus lane should remain open so that it could be used by emergency vehicles if the need arose. Other highway infrastructure was considered, such as using a contra lane to ease the flow of traffic out of central Perth. An operational decision was taken by the Police Service that that would be more dangerous than what it chose to do. It managed a very difficult situation as safely as was possible. Had there been other emergencies, the Police Service would have been able to respond.
The SPEAKER : Please ask the question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I would love to ask my question. (1) Is an emergency management plan in place that allows for the rapid movement of people from the central business district in the event that transport infrastructure is compromised by an accident or terrorist attack, and was that plan enacted last Friday? (2) How is it that hundreds of police can be mobilised to watch over a bikie funeral and yet only 22 police were visibly present to facilitate traffic movement last Friday? (3) Where was the minister during this period, and what action did she take to personally monitor the situation and coordinate resources so that people could get to their homes? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(3) I thank the member for Hillarys for his question. The fact of the matter is that the event was coordinated - Mr R.F. Johnson interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Would the member like to hear an answer? If so, perhaps he could be quiet for a while. The coordination plan that was utilised last Friday - and the plan that is used in similar emergency situations - was the state emergency management policy No 7. Obviously, it depends on the emergency and what is happening. An event that may occur in South Perth is very different from an event that may occur at the Perth railway station and so on. A range of options was considered by the Police Service on Friday afternoon. By and large, the police managed what was a very difficult situation reasonably well. Commuters generally kept their cool; there was not one incident of road rage reported to the Police Service. I thank the broader community for that. Many things were considered, including utilising the bus lane on the freeway. It was determined that, in the event there might be other emergencies, the bus lane should remain open so that it could be used by emergency vehicles if the need arose. Other highway infrastructure was considered, such as using a contra lane to ease the flow of traffic out of central Perth. An operational decision was taken by the Police Service that that would be more dangerous than what it chose to do. It managed a very difficult situation as safely as was possible. Had there been other emergencies, the Police Service would have been able to respond.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I would love to ask my question. (1) Is an emergency management plan in place that allows for the rapid movement of people from the central business district in the event that transport infrastructure is compromised by an accident or terrorist attack, and was that plan enacted last Friday? (2) How is it that hundreds of police can be mobilised to watch over a bikie funeral and yet only 22 police were visibly present to facilitate traffic movement last Friday? (3) Where was the minister during this period, and what action did she take to personally monitor the situation and coordinate resources so that people could get to their homes? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(3) I thank the member for Hillarys for his question. The fact of the matter is that the event was coordinated - Mr R.F. Johnson interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Would the member like to hear an answer? If so, perhaps he could be quiet for a while. The coordination plan that was utilised last Friday - and the plan that is used in similar emergency situations - was the state emergency management policy No 7. Obviously, it depends on the emergency and what is happening. An event that may occur in South Perth is very different from an event that may occur at the Perth railway station and so on. A range of options was considered by the Police Service on Friday afternoon. By and large, the police managed what was a very difficult situation reasonably well. Commuters generally kept their cool; there was not one incident of road rage reported to the Police Service. I thank the broader community for that. Many things were considered, including utilising the bus lane on the freeway. It was determined that, in the event there might be other emergencies, the bus lane should remain open so that it could be used by emergency vehicles if the need arose. Other highway infrastructure was considered, such as using a contra lane to ease the flow of traffic out of central Perth. An operational decision was taken by the Police Service that that would be more dangerous than what it chose to do. It managed a very difficult situation as safely as was possible. Had there been other emergencies, the Police Service would have been able to respond.
The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I would love to ask my question. (1) Is an emergency management plan in place that allows for the rapid movement of people from the central business district in the event that transport infrastructure is compromised by an accident or terrorist attack, and was that plan enacted last Friday? (2) How is it that hundreds of police can be mobilised to watch over a bikie funeral and yet only 22 police were visibly present to facilitate traffic movement last Friday? (3) Where was the minister during this period, and what action did she take to personally monitor the situation and coordinate resources so that people could get to their homes? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(3) I thank the member for Hillarys for his question. The fact of the matter is that the event was coordinated - Mr R.F. Johnson interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Would the member like to hear an answer? If so, perhaps he could be quiet for a while. The coordination plan that was utilised last Friday - and the plan that is used in similar emergency situations - was the state emergency management policy No 7. Obviously, it depends on the emergency and what is happening. An event that may occur in South Perth is very different from an event that may occur at the Perth railway station and so on. A range of options was considered by the Police Service on Friday afternoon. By and large, the police managed what was a very difficult situation reasonably well. Commuters generally kept their cool; there was not one incident of road rage reported to the Police Service. I thank the broader community for that. Many things were considered, including utilising the bus lane on the freeway. It was determined that, in the event there might be other emergencies, the bus lane should remain open so that it could be used by emergency vehicles if the need arose. Other highway infrastructure was considered, such as using a contra lane to ease the flow of traffic out of central Perth. An operational decision was taken by the Police Service that that would be more dangerous than what it chose to do. It managed a very difficult situation as safely as was possible. Had there been other emergencies, the Police Service would have been able to respond.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I would love to ask my question. (1) Is an emergency management plan in place that allows for the rapid movement of people from the central business district in the event that transport infrastructure is compromised by an accident or terrorist attack, and was that plan enacted last Friday? (2) How is it that hundreds of police can be mobilised to watch over a bikie funeral and yet only 22 police were visibly present to facilitate traffic movement last Friday? (3) Where was the minister during this period, and what action did she take to personally monitor the situation and coordinate resources so that people could get to their homes? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(3) I thank the member for Hillarys for his question. The fact of the matter is that the event was coordinated - Mr R.F. Johnson interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Would the member like to hear an answer? If so, perhaps he could be quiet for a while. The coordination plan that was utilised last Friday - and the plan that is used in similar emergency situations - was the state emergency management policy No 7. Obviously, it depends on the emergency and what is happening. An event that may occur in South Perth is very different from an event that may occur at the Perth railway station and so on. A range of options was considered by the Police Service on Friday afternoon. By and large, the police managed what was a very difficult situation reasonably well. Commuters generally kept their cool; there was not one incident of road rage reported to the Police Service. I thank the broader community for that. Many things were considered, including utilising the bus lane on the freeway. It was determined that, in the event there might be other emergencies, the bus lane should remain open so that it could be used by emergency vehicles if the need arose. Other highway infrastructure was considered, such as using a contra lane to ease the flow of traffic out of central Perth. An operational decision was taken by the Police Service that that would be more dangerous than what it chose to do. It managed a very difficult situation as safely as was possible. Had there been other emergencies, the Police Service would have been able to respond.
(1) Is an emergency management plan in place that allows for the rapid movement of people from the central business district in the event that transport infrastructure is compromised by an accident or terrorist attack, and was that plan enacted last Friday? (2) How is it that hundreds of police can be mobilised to watch over a bikie funeral and yet only 22 police were visibly present to facilitate traffic movement last Friday? (3) Where was the minister during this period, and what action did she take to personally monitor the situation and coordinate resources so that people could get to their homes? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(3) I thank the member for Hillarys for his question. The fact of the matter is that the event was coordinated - Mr R.F. Johnson interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Would the member like to hear an answer? If so, perhaps he could be quiet for a while. The coordination plan that was utilised last Friday - and the plan that is used in similar emergency situations - was the state emergency management policy No 7. Obviously, it depends on the emergency and what is happening. An event that may occur in South Perth is very different from an event that may occur at the Perth railway station and so on. A range of options was considered by the Police Service on Friday afternoon. By and large, the police managed what was a very difficult situation reasonably well. Commuters generally kept their cool; there was not one incident of road rage reported to the Police Service. I thank the broader community for that. Many things were considered, including utilising the bus lane on the freeway. It was determined that, in the event there might be other emergencies, the bus lane should remain open so that it could be used by emergency vehicles if the need arose. Other highway infrastructure was considered, such as using a contra lane to ease the flow of traffic out of central Perth. An operational decision was taken by the Police Service that that would be more dangerous than what it chose to do. It managed a very difficult situation as safely as was possible. Had there been other emergencies, the Police Service would have been able to respond.
(2) How is it that hundreds of police can be mobilised to watch over a bikie funeral and yet only 22 police were visibly present to facilitate traffic movement last Friday? (3) Where was the minister during this period, and what action did she take to personally monitor the situation and coordinate resources so that people could get to their homes? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(3) I thank the member for Hillarys for his question. The fact of the matter is that the event was coordinated - Mr R.F. Johnson interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Would the member like to hear an answer? If so, perhaps he could be quiet for a while. The coordination plan that was utilised last Friday - and the plan that is used in similar emergency situations - was the state emergency management policy No 7. Obviously, it depends on the emergency and what is happening. An event that may occur in South Perth is very different from an event that may occur at the Perth railway station and so on. A range of options was considered by the Police Service on Friday afternoon. By and large, the police managed what was a very difficult situation reasonably well. Commuters generally kept their cool; there was not one incident of road rage reported to the Police Service. I thank the broader community for that. Many things were considered, including utilising the bus lane on the freeway. It was determined that, in the event there might be other emergencies, the bus lane should remain open so that it could be used by emergency vehicles if the need arose. Other highway infrastructure was considered, such as using a contra lane to ease the flow of traffic out of central Perth. An operational decision was taken by the Police Service that that would be more dangerous than what it chose to do. It managed a very difficult situation as safely as was possible. Had there been other emergencies, the Police Service would have been able to respond.
(3) Where was the minister during this period, and what action did she take to personally monitor the situation and coordinate resources so that people could get to their homes? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(3) I thank the member for Hillarys for his question. The fact of the matter is that the event was coordinated - Mr R.F. Johnson interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Would the member like to hear an answer? If so, perhaps he could be quiet for a while. The coordination plan that was utilised last Friday - and the plan that is used in similar emergency situations - was the state emergency management policy No 7. Obviously, it depends on the emergency and what is happening. An event that may occur in South Perth is very different from an event that may occur at the Perth railway station and so on. A range of options was considered by the Police Service on Friday afternoon. By and large, the police managed what was a very difficult situation reasonably well. Commuters generally kept their cool; there was not one incident of road rage reported to the Police Service. I thank the broader community for that. Many things were considered, including utilising the bus lane on the freeway. It was determined that, in the event there might be other emergencies, the bus lane should remain open so that it could be used by emergency vehicles if the need arose. Other highway infrastructure was considered, such as using a contra lane to ease the flow of traffic out of central Perth. An operational decision was taken by the Police Service that that would be more dangerous than what it chose to do. It managed a very difficult situation as safely as was possible. Had there been other emergencies, the Police Service would have been able to respond.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(3) I thank the member for Hillarys for his question. The fact of the matter is that the event was coordinated - Mr R.F. Johnson interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Would the member like to hear an answer? If so, perhaps he could be quiet for a while. The coordination plan that was utilised last Friday - and the plan that is used in similar emergency situations - was the state emergency management policy No 7. Obviously, it depends on the emergency and what is happening. An event that may occur in South Perth is very different from an event that may occur at the Perth railway station and so on. A range of options was considered by the Police Service on Friday afternoon. By and large, the police managed what was a very difficult situation reasonably well. Commuters generally kept their cool; there was not one incident of road rage reported to the Police Service. I thank the broader community for that. Many things were considered, including utilising the bus lane on the freeway. It was determined that, in the event there might be other emergencies, the bus lane should remain open so that it could be used by emergency vehicles if the need arose. Other highway infrastructure was considered, such as using a contra lane to ease the flow of traffic out of central Perth. An operational decision was taken by the Police Service that that would be more dangerous than what it chose to do. It managed a very difficult situation as safely as was possible. Had there been other emergencies, the Police Service would have been able to respond.
(1)-(3) I thank the member for Hillarys for his question. The fact of the matter is that the event was coordinated - Mr R.F. Johnson interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Would the member like to hear an answer? If so, perhaps he could be quiet for a while. The coordination plan that was utilised last Friday - and the plan that is used in similar emergency situations - was the state emergency management policy No 7. Obviously, it depends on the emergency and what is happening. An event that may occur in South Perth is very different from an event that may occur at the Perth railway station and so on. A range of options was considered by the Police Service on Friday afternoon. By and large, the police managed what was a very difficult situation reasonably well. Commuters generally kept their cool; there was not one incident of road rage reported to the Police Service. I thank the broader community for that. Many things were considered, including utilising the bus lane on the freeway. It was determined that, in the event there might be other emergencies, the bus lane should remain open so that it could be used by emergency vehicles if the need arose. Other highway infrastructure was considered, such as using a contra lane to ease the flow of traffic out of central Perth. An operational decision was taken by the Police Service that that would be more dangerous than what it chose to do. It managed a very difficult situation as safely as was possible. Had there been other emergencies, the Police Service would have been able to respond.
Mr R.F. Johnson interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Would the member like to hear an answer? If so, perhaps he could be quiet for a while. The coordination plan that was utilised last Friday - and the plan that is used in similar emergency situations - was the state emergency management policy No 7. Obviously, it depends on the emergency and what is happening. An event that may occur in South Perth is very different from an event that may occur at the Perth railway station and so on. A range of options was considered by the Police Service on Friday afternoon. By and large, the police managed what was a very difficult situation reasonably well. Commuters generally kept their cool; there was not one incident of road rage reported to the Police Service. I thank the broader community for that. Many things were considered, including utilising the bus lane on the freeway. It was determined that, in the event there might be other emergencies, the bus lane should remain open so that it could be used by emergency vehicles if the need arose. Other highway infrastructure was considered, such as using a contra lane to ease the flow of traffic out of central Perth. An operational decision was taken by the Police Service that that would be more dangerous than what it chose to do. It managed a very difficult situation as safely as was possible. Had there been other emergencies, the Police Service would have been able to respond.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Would the member like to hear an answer? If so, perhaps he could be quiet for a while. The coordination plan that was utilised last Friday - and the plan that is used in similar emergency situations - was the state emergency management policy No 7. Obviously, it depends on the emergency and what is happening. An event that may occur in South Perth is very different from an event that may occur at the Perth railway station and so on. A range of options was considered by the Police Service on Friday afternoon. By and large, the police managed what was a very difficult situation reasonably well. Commuters generally kept their cool; there was not one incident of road rage reported to the Police Service. I thank the broader community for that. Many things were considered, including utilising the bus lane on the freeway. It was determined that, in the event there might be other emergencies, the bus lane should remain open so that it could be used by emergency vehicles if the need arose. Other highway infrastructure was considered, such as using a contra lane to ease the flow of traffic out of central Perth. An operational decision was taken by the Police Service that that would be more dangerous than what it chose to do. It managed a very difficult situation as safely as was possible. Had there been other emergencies, the Police Service would have been able to respond.
The coordination plan that was utilised last Friday - and the plan that is used in similar emergency situations - was the state emergency management policy No 7. Obviously, it depends on the emergency and what is happening. An event that may occur in South Perth is very different from an event that may occur at the Perth railway station and so on. A range of options was considered by the Police Service on Friday afternoon. By and large, the police managed what was a very difficult situation reasonably well. Commuters generally kept their cool; there was not one incident of road rage reported to the Police Service. I thank the broader community for that. Many things were considered, including utilising the bus lane on the freeway. It was determined that, in the event there might be other emergencies, the bus lane should remain open so that it could be used by emergency vehicles if the need arose. Other highway infrastructure was considered, such as using a contra lane to ease the flow of traffic out of central Perth. An operational decision was taken by the Police Service that that would be more dangerous than what it chose to do. It managed a very difficult situation as safely as was possible. Had there been other emergencies, the Police Service would have been able to respond.
Many things were considered, including utilising the bus lane on the freeway. It was determined that, in the event there might be other emergencies, the bus lane should remain open so that it could be used by emergency vehicles if the need arose. Other highway infrastructure was considered, such as using a contra lane to ease the flow of traffic out of central Perth. An operational decision was taken by the Police Service that that would be more dangerous than what it chose to do. It managed a very difficult situation as safely as was possible. Had there been other emergencies, the Police Service would have been able to respond.
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