❓ Mrs. Roberts questions the Minister for Police about alleged budget cuts to regional WA Police, leading to reduced shifts and overtime. The Minister denies budget cuts, stating there was an increase and shift changes are due to efficient resource allocation based on demand.
AnsweredQoN 861Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
WESTERN AUSTRALIA POLICE — BUDGET
861. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS to the Minister for
Police:
I refer to further budget cuts that
have been made to the WA Police service.
(1) Is not the
further $2 million cut to regional WA Police budgets already resulting in
afternoon shifts being cut on weekdays at a number of smaller country stations?
(2) Are not the
minister's budget cuts —
A government member interjected.
Mrs
M.H. ROBERTS : There are some in the great southern.
The SPEAKER : Member, I call
you to order.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I continue —
(2) Are not the
minister's budget cuts resulting in less overtime being made available
at country stations, heavy workloads for police and a poorer service to the public?
861. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS to the Minister for
Police:
I refer to further budget cuts that
have been made to the WA Police service.
(1) Is not the
further $2 million cut to regional WA Police budgets already resulting in
afternoon shifts being cut on weekdays at a number of smaller country stations?
(2) Are not the
minister's budget cuts —
A government member interjected.
Mrs
M.H. ROBERTS : There are some in the great southern.
The SPEAKER : Member, I call
you to order.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I continue —
(2) Are not the
minister's budget cuts resulting in less overtime being made available
at country stations, heavy workloads for police and a poorer service to the public?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) The
member for Midland needs to articulate exactly where she says these budget cuts
are coming from because there have been no budget cuts for police; they have
had an increase in their budget. If the number gets higher, member for Midland —
Mrs
M.H. Roberts : They've been told to cut $2 million by 30 June. Tell
the truth.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Midland, I call you to order for the first time!
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Thank you. That is enough!
Mrs
M.H. Roberts interjected.
The SPEAKER : Thank you.
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : Talking about police stations in country areas, how many did
the member for Midland close on her watch?
Mrs
M.H. Roberts : None. We opened nine additional ones.
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : I reiterate. I know that the member for Midland's
financial capacity may be under scrutiny here but if the number gets bigger, it
is an increase, not a cut. It was a bigger budget this year, member for
Midland; there has not been a cut to the police budget. The issue the member is
talking about, around shift changes and overtime, is that in regional Western Australia
they are looking —
Mrs
M.H. Roberts : They are cutting $2 million; that's what they are
doing.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Midland, I call you to order for the second time. Minister, you have one
minute.
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : In regional Western Australia, WA Police are focused on reform
and providing an efficient police service that responds to community demands.
That means there have been changes to shifts.
Mrs
M.H. Roberts : Cuts.
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : Member for Midland, guess what, the changes are more shifts at
nights and on weekends. That hardly sounds like a cut to shift allowances.
There are more shifts at nights and on weekends because that is where the
demand profile is saying we need to put our officers. There are no cuts; there
has not been a directive to cut overtime or shift penalties. There have been
some changes, but those changes are so that the police are rostered at the time
the community needs them. Evidence-based policing and more efficient service is
what we will continue to drive.
member for Midland needs to articulate exactly where she says these budget cuts
are coming from because there have been no budget cuts for police; they have
had an increase in their budget. If the number gets higher, member for Midland —
Mrs
M.H. Roberts : They've been told to cut $2 million by 30 June. Tell
the truth.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Midland, I call you to order for the first time!
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Thank you. That is enough!
Mrs
M.H. Roberts interjected.
The SPEAKER : Thank you.
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : Talking about police stations in country areas, how many did
the member for Midland close on her watch?
Mrs
M.H. Roberts : None. We opened nine additional ones.
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : I reiterate. I know that the member for Midland's
financial capacity may be under scrutiny here but if the number gets bigger, it
is an increase, not a cut. It was a bigger budget this year, member for
Midland; there has not been a cut to the police budget. The issue the member is
talking about, around shift changes and overtime, is that in regional Western Australia
they are looking —
Mrs
M.H. Roberts : They are cutting $2 million; that's what they are
doing.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Midland, I call you to order for the second time. Minister, you have one
minute.
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : In regional Western Australia, WA Police are focused on reform
and providing an efficient police service that responds to community demands.
That means there have been changes to shifts.
Mrs
M.H. Roberts : Cuts.
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : Member for Midland, guess what, the changes are more shifts at
nights and on weekends. That hardly sounds like a cut to shift allowances.
There are more shifts at nights and on weekends because that is where the
demand profile is saying we need to put our officers. There are no cuts; there
has not been a directive to cut overtime or shift penalties. There have been
some changes, but those changes are so that the police are rostered at the time
the community needs them. Evidence-based policing and more efficient service is
what we will continue to drive.
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