❓ Opposition questions the Police Minister about a perceived failure to increase police presence on public transport as promised in the 2008 election, citing a reduction in police transport division numbers and an increase in assaults. The Minister disputes the figures and ongoing discussions.
AnsweredQoN 629Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
PUBLIC TRANSPORT — POLICE TRANSPORT DIVISION
I refer to the Minister for Police’s 2008 election advertising in which was promised an increased police presence on public transport, particularly on our trains, so that passengers feel safe when they travel, especially at night. (1) Can the minister confirm that since July 2008, the authorised strength of police officers in the police transport division has been slashed by more than six per cent, from 96 to 90? (2) Can the minister confirm that last year, assaults on buses and trains increased by six per cent? (3) Why has the minister failed to honour his election commitment, and instead allowed antisocial and violent behaviour to increase on public transport? Mr R.F. JOHNSON
I refer to the Minister for Police’s 2008 election advertising in which was promised an increased police presence on public transport, particularly on our trains, so that passengers feel safe when they travel, especially at night. (1) Can the minister confirm that since July 2008, the authorised strength of police officers in the police transport division has been slashed by more than six per cent, from 96 to 90? (2) Can the minister confirm that last year, assaults on buses and trains increased by six per cent? (3) Why has the minister failed to honour his election commitment, and instead allowed antisocial and violent behaviour to increase on public transport? Mr R.F. JOHNSON
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. (1)–(3) In respect to the first part of the Leader of the Opposition’s question, I am not aware that the number has been slashed from 96 to 90. I am assuming that there has been a reduction of six full-time full-time equivalents in the transport division. The number has certainly increased, under this government, from something like 60 to 90, or a number thereabouts; I do not have the figures in front of me, so I cannot give the Leader of the Opposition an accurate answer. I assume that if there are six fewer today than there were six months ago, it could be because — Mr E.S. Ripper : No, there are six fewer today than there were in July 2008, just before the government was elected. Mr J.R. Quigley : You don’t know anything about your portfolio! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I know a lot about my portfolio. I know more about it than the member will ever know about it! The Leader of the Opposition referred to our election promise to increase the number of police officers in our transport system. I can tell the Leader of the Opposition that there are discussions going ahead at the moment with myself and the Minister for Transport — Mr P.C. Tinley : You’re having a conversation with yourself, are you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid interjection! Mr P.C. Tinley : I beg your pardon; I am sorry! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : At least he has the decency to apologise; I appreciate that! In respect of the election promise, yes, we want to increase the police presence on public transport in Western Australia — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Leader of the Opposition has asked a very sensible question, one that is very close to my heart, but all I get is puerile interjections from some of his idiot backbenchers. I will answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. Discussions are going ahead at the moment with the Minister for Transport and me — Mrs M.H. Roberts : Discussions are going ahead? It has taken a year or two. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If the member for Midland wants to talk about broken promises, her broken promise was a great one when she said in 2001 that all the revenue from red-light and speed cameras would go into the road trauma trust fund. That was meant to be an absolute core commitment. What happened? Nothing happened. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You can’t answer the question, can you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will, but if the member interjects on me, she will get it served back. The member is being told to not interject. As I have tried to tell the Leader of the Opposition, discussions are going ahead. I want to see a greater police presence, and I know that the Premier and the Minister for Transport do too. We are working out a system that can best achieve having more police officers on our transit system, because police officers are what people want to see. That is part of our promise. We are only two years into a four and a half year term of government and I am very hopeful that we will see that eventuate. I think that in his third question the Leader of the Opposition stated that I had failed to honour the election commitment. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is two years into this government’s term and the police presence has declined and the number of violent incidents on the trains is up. Therefore, I do not think the promise has been honoured. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Does the Leader of the Opposition say that violent and antisocial behaviour offences are up? Mr E.S. Ripper : Antisocial and violent behaviour has increased. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will certainly look into the terminology that the Leader of the Opposition used, because I know that the Department of Transport has said that a lot of the offences that the opposition is jumping on are when someone does not have a ticket or has sworn or spat or created antisocial behaviour. Criminal charges cannot be laid against those individuals. I am saying that I believe a larger police presence on our trains, and on certain lines in particular, would be a great advantage. Having a police presence at some of the railway stations to carry out stop-and-searches would be a great advantage to stop some people from carrying weapons on our trains and buses. Have the government and I failed to honour our commitment? I do not believe that we have at all. We have been in government for two years. That is not even halfway into our first four and a half year term. I think members will see a lot more happen in the next two years. We have had a lot of work to do to correct the things that the former government did not bother to get around to doing. Half my life has been spent fixing the former government’s mistakes, such as the hoon legislation and trying to find funding for the unlicensed drivers legislation which the former government brought in but which was never, ever funded. It is the same as the Towards Zero road safety strategy. That was never, ever funded either. We are doing all those things.
(1) Can the minister confirm that since July 2008, the authorised strength of police officers in the police transport division has been slashed by more than six per cent, from 96 to 90? (2) Can the minister confirm that last year, assaults on buses and trains increased by six per cent? (3) Why has the minister failed to honour his election commitment, and instead allowed antisocial and violent behaviour to increase on public transport? Mr R.F. JOHNSON replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. (1)–(3) In respect to the first part of the Leader of the Opposition’s question, I am not aware that the number has been slashed from 96 to 90. I am assuming that there has been a reduction of six full-time full-time equivalents in the transport division. The number has certainly increased, under this government, from something like 60 to 90, or a number thereabouts; I do not have the figures in front of me, so I cannot give the Leader of the Opposition an accurate answer. I assume that if there are six fewer today than there were six months ago, it could be because — Mr E.S. Ripper : No, there are six fewer today than there were in July 2008, just before the government was elected. Mr J.R. Quigley : You don’t know anything about your portfolio! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I know a lot about my portfolio. I know more about it than the member will ever know about it! The Leader of the Opposition referred to our election promise to increase the number of police officers in our transport system. I can tell the Leader of the Opposition that there are discussions going ahead at the moment with myself and the Minister for Transport — Mr P.C. Tinley : You’re having a conversation with yourself, are you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid interjection! Mr P.C. Tinley : I beg your pardon; I am sorry! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : At least he has the decency to apologise; I appreciate that! In respect of the election promise, yes, we want to increase the police presence on public transport in Western Australia — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Leader of the Opposition has asked a very sensible question, one that is very close to my heart, but all I get is puerile interjections from some of his idiot backbenchers. I will answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. Discussions are going ahead at the moment with the Minister for Transport and me — Mrs M.H. Roberts : Discussions are going ahead? It has taken a year or two. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If the member for Midland wants to talk about broken promises, her broken promise was a great one when she said in 2001 that all the revenue from red-light and speed cameras would go into the road trauma trust fund. That was meant to be an absolute core commitment. What happened? Nothing happened. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You can’t answer the question, can you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will, but if the member interjects on me, she will get it served back. The member is being told to not interject. As I have tried to tell the Leader of the Opposition, discussions are going ahead. I want to see a greater police presence, and I know that the Premier and the Minister for Transport do too. We are working out a system that can best achieve having more police officers on our transit system, because police officers are what people want to see. That is part of our promise. We are only two years into a four and a half year term of government and I am very hopeful that we will see that eventuate. I think that in his third question the Leader of the Opposition stated that I had failed to honour the election commitment. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is two years into this government’s term and the police presence has declined and the number of violent incidents on the trains is up. Therefore, I do not think the promise has been honoured. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Does the Leader of the Opposition say that violent and antisocial behaviour offences are up? Mr E.S. Ripper : Antisocial and violent behaviour has increased. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will certainly look into the terminology that the Leader of the Opposition used, because I know that the Department of Transport has said that a lot of the offences that the opposition is jumping on are when someone does not have a ticket or has sworn or spat or created antisocial behaviour. Criminal charges cannot be laid against those individuals. I am saying that I believe a larger police presence on our trains, and on certain lines in particular, would be a great advantage. Having a police presence at some of the railway stations to carry out stop-and-searches would be a great advantage to stop some people from carrying weapons on our trains and buses. Have the government and I failed to honour our commitment? I do not believe that we have at all. We have been in government for two years. That is not even halfway into our first four and a half year term. I think members will see a lot more happen in the next two years. We have had a lot of work to do to correct the things that the former government did not bother to get around to doing. Half my life has been spent fixing the former government’s mistakes, such as the hoon legislation and trying to find funding for the unlicensed drivers legislation which the former government brought in but which was never, ever funded. It is the same as the Towards Zero road safety strategy. That was never, ever funded either. We are doing all those things.
(2) Can the minister confirm that last year, assaults on buses and trains increased by six per cent? (3) Why has the minister failed to honour his election commitment, and instead allowed antisocial and violent behaviour to increase on public transport? Mr R.F. JOHNSON replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. (1)–(3) In respect to the first part of the Leader of the Opposition’s question, I am not aware that the number has been slashed from 96 to 90. I am assuming that there has been a reduction of six full-time full-time equivalents in the transport division. The number has certainly increased, under this government, from something like 60 to 90, or a number thereabouts; I do not have the figures in front of me, so I cannot give the Leader of the Opposition an accurate answer. I assume that if there are six fewer today than there were six months ago, it could be because — Mr E.S. Ripper : No, there are six fewer today than there were in July 2008, just before the government was elected. Mr J.R. Quigley : You don’t know anything about your portfolio! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I know a lot about my portfolio. I know more about it than the member will ever know about it! The Leader of the Opposition referred to our election promise to increase the number of police officers in our transport system. I can tell the Leader of the Opposition that there are discussions going ahead at the moment with myself and the Minister for Transport — Mr P.C. Tinley : You’re having a conversation with yourself, are you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid interjection! Mr P.C. Tinley : I beg your pardon; I am sorry! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : At least he has the decency to apologise; I appreciate that! In respect of the election promise, yes, we want to increase the police presence on public transport in Western Australia — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Leader of the Opposition has asked a very sensible question, one that is very close to my heart, but all I get is puerile interjections from some of his idiot backbenchers. I will answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. Discussions are going ahead at the moment with the Minister for Transport and me — Mrs M.H. Roberts : Discussions are going ahead? It has taken a year or two. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If the member for Midland wants to talk about broken promises, her broken promise was a great one when she said in 2001 that all the revenue from red-light and speed cameras would go into the road trauma trust fund. That was meant to be an absolute core commitment. What happened? Nothing happened. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You can’t answer the question, can you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will, but if the member interjects on me, she will get it served back. The member is being told to not interject. As I have tried to tell the Leader of the Opposition, discussions are going ahead. I want to see a greater police presence, and I know that the Premier and the Minister for Transport do too. We are working out a system that can best achieve having more police officers on our transit system, because police officers are what people want to see. That is part of our promise. We are only two years into a four and a half year term of government and I am very hopeful that we will see that eventuate. I think that in his third question the Leader of the Opposition stated that I had failed to honour the election commitment. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is two years into this government’s term and the police presence has declined and the number of violent incidents on the trains is up. Therefore, I do not think the promise has been honoured. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Does the Leader of the Opposition say that violent and antisocial behaviour offences are up? Mr E.S. Ripper : Antisocial and violent behaviour has increased. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will certainly look into the terminology that the Leader of the Opposition used, because I know that the Department of Transport has said that a lot of the offences that the opposition is jumping on are when someone does not have a ticket or has sworn or spat or created antisocial behaviour. Criminal charges cannot be laid against those individuals. I am saying that I believe a larger police presence on our trains, and on certain lines in particular, would be a great advantage. Having a police presence at some of the railway stations to carry out stop-and-searches would be a great advantage to stop some people from carrying weapons on our trains and buses. Have the government and I failed to honour our commitment? I do not believe that we have at all. We have been in government for two years. That is not even halfway into our first four and a half year term. I think members will see a lot more happen in the next two years. We have had a lot of work to do to correct the things that the former government did not bother to get around to doing. Half my life has been spent fixing the former government’s mistakes, such as the hoon legislation and trying to find funding for the unlicensed drivers legislation which the former government brought in but which was never, ever funded. It is the same as the Towards Zero road safety strategy. That was never, ever funded either. We are doing all those things.
(3) Why has the minister failed to honour his election commitment, and instead allowed antisocial and violent behaviour to increase on public transport? Mr R.F. JOHNSON replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. (1)–(3) In respect to the first part of the Leader of the Opposition’s question, I am not aware that the number has been slashed from 96 to 90. I am assuming that there has been a reduction of six full-time full-time equivalents in the transport division. The number has certainly increased, under this government, from something like 60 to 90, or a number thereabouts; I do not have the figures in front of me, so I cannot give the Leader of the Opposition an accurate answer. I assume that if there are six fewer today than there were six months ago, it could be because — Mr E.S. Ripper : No, there are six fewer today than there were in July 2008, just before the government was elected. Mr J.R. Quigley : You don’t know anything about your portfolio! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I know a lot about my portfolio. I know more about it than the member will ever know about it! The Leader of the Opposition referred to our election promise to increase the number of police officers in our transport system. I can tell the Leader of the Opposition that there are discussions going ahead at the moment with myself and the Minister for Transport — Mr P.C. Tinley : You’re having a conversation with yourself, are you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid interjection! Mr P.C. Tinley : I beg your pardon; I am sorry! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : At least he has the decency to apologise; I appreciate that! In respect of the election promise, yes, we want to increase the police presence on public transport in Western Australia — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Leader of the Opposition has asked a very sensible question, one that is very close to my heart, but all I get is puerile interjections from some of his idiot backbenchers. I will answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. Discussions are going ahead at the moment with the Minister for Transport and me — Mrs M.H. Roberts : Discussions are going ahead? It has taken a year or two. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If the member for Midland wants to talk about broken promises, her broken promise was a great one when she said in 2001 that all the revenue from red-light and speed cameras would go into the road trauma trust fund. That was meant to be an absolute core commitment. What happened? Nothing happened. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You can’t answer the question, can you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will, but if the member interjects on me, she will get it served back. The member is being told to not interject. As I have tried to tell the Leader of the Opposition, discussions are going ahead. I want to see a greater police presence, and I know that the Premier and the Minister for Transport do too. We are working out a system that can best achieve having more police officers on our transit system, because police officers are what people want to see. That is part of our promise. We are only two years into a four and a half year term of government and I am very hopeful that we will see that eventuate. I think that in his third question the Leader of the Opposition stated that I had failed to honour the election commitment. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is two years into this government’s term and the police presence has declined and the number of violent incidents on the trains is up. Therefore, I do not think the promise has been honoured. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Does the Leader of the Opposition say that violent and antisocial behaviour offences are up? Mr E.S. Ripper : Antisocial and violent behaviour has increased. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will certainly look into the terminology that the Leader of the Opposition used, because I know that the Department of Transport has said that a lot of the offences that the opposition is jumping on are when someone does not have a ticket or has sworn or spat or created antisocial behaviour. Criminal charges cannot be laid against those individuals. I am saying that I believe a larger police presence on our trains, and on certain lines in particular, would be a great advantage. Having a police presence at some of the railway stations to carry out stop-and-searches would be a great advantage to stop some people from carrying weapons on our trains and buses. Have the government and I failed to honour our commitment? I do not believe that we have at all. We have been in government for two years. That is not even halfway into our first four and a half year term. I think members will see a lot more happen in the next two years. We have had a lot of work to do to correct the things that the former government did not bother to get around to doing. Half my life has been spent fixing the former government’s mistakes, such as the hoon legislation and trying to find funding for the unlicensed drivers legislation which the former government brought in but which was never, ever funded. It is the same as the Towards Zero road safety strategy. That was never, ever funded either. We are doing all those things.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. (1)–(3) In respect to the first part of the Leader of the Opposition’s question, I am not aware that the number has been slashed from 96 to 90. I am assuming that there has been a reduction of six full-time full-time equivalents in the transport division. The number has certainly increased, under this government, from something like 60 to 90, or a number thereabouts; I do not have the figures in front of me, so I cannot give the Leader of the Opposition an accurate answer. I assume that if there are six fewer today than there were six months ago, it could be because — Mr E.S. Ripper : No, there are six fewer today than there were in July 2008, just before the government was elected. Mr J.R. Quigley : You don’t know anything about your portfolio! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I know a lot about my portfolio. I know more about it than the member will ever know about it! The Leader of the Opposition referred to our election promise to increase the number of police officers in our transport system. I can tell the Leader of the Opposition that there are discussions going ahead at the moment with myself and the Minister for Transport — Mr P.C. Tinley : You’re having a conversation with yourself, are you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid interjection! Mr P.C. Tinley : I beg your pardon; I am sorry! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : At least he has the decency to apologise; I appreciate that! In respect of the election promise, yes, we want to increase the police presence on public transport in Western Australia — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Leader of the Opposition has asked a very sensible question, one that is very close to my heart, but all I get is puerile interjections from some of his idiot backbenchers. I will answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. Discussions are going ahead at the moment with the Minister for Transport and me — Mrs M.H. Roberts : Discussions are going ahead? It has taken a year or two. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If the member for Midland wants to talk about broken promises, her broken promise was a great one when she said in 2001 that all the revenue from red-light and speed cameras would go into the road trauma trust fund. That was meant to be an absolute core commitment. What happened? Nothing happened. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You can’t answer the question, can you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will, but if the member interjects on me, she will get it served back. The member is being told to not interject. As I have tried to tell the Leader of the Opposition, discussions are going ahead. I want to see a greater police presence, and I know that the Premier and the Minister for Transport do too. We are working out a system that can best achieve having more police officers on our transit system, because police officers are what people want to see. That is part of our promise. We are only two years into a four and a half year term of government and I am very hopeful that we will see that eventuate. I think that in his third question the Leader of the Opposition stated that I had failed to honour the election commitment. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is two years into this government’s term and the police presence has declined and the number of violent incidents on the trains is up. Therefore, I do not think the promise has been honoured. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Does the Leader of the Opposition say that violent and antisocial behaviour offences are up? Mr E.S. Ripper : Antisocial and violent behaviour has increased. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will certainly look into the terminology that the Leader of the Opposition used, because I know that the Department of Transport has said that a lot of the offences that the opposition is jumping on are when someone does not have a ticket or has sworn or spat or created antisocial behaviour. Criminal charges cannot be laid against those individuals. I am saying that I believe a larger police presence on our trains, and on certain lines in particular, would be a great advantage. Having a police presence at some of the railway stations to carry out stop-and-searches would be a great advantage to stop some people from carrying weapons on our trains and buses. Have the government and I failed to honour our commitment? I do not believe that we have at all. We have been in government for two years. That is not even halfway into our first four and a half year term. I think members will see a lot more happen in the next two years. We have had a lot of work to do to correct the things that the former government did not bother to get around to doing. Half my life has been spent fixing the former government’s mistakes, such as the hoon legislation and trying to find funding for the unlicensed drivers legislation which the former government brought in but which was never, ever funded. It is the same as the Towards Zero road safety strategy. That was never, ever funded either. We are doing all those things.
I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. (1)–(3) In respect to the first part of the Leader of the Opposition’s question, I am not aware that the number has been slashed from 96 to 90. I am assuming that there has been a reduction of six full-time full-time equivalents in the transport division. The number has certainly increased, under this government, from something like 60 to 90, or a number thereabouts; I do not have the figures in front of me, so I cannot give the Leader of the Opposition an accurate answer. I assume that if there are six fewer today than there were six months ago, it could be because — Mr E.S. Ripper : No, there are six fewer today than there were in July 2008, just before the government was elected. Mr J.R. Quigley : You don’t know anything about your portfolio! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I know a lot about my portfolio. I know more about it than the member will ever know about it! The Leader of the Opposition referred to our election promise to increase the number of police officers in our transport system. I can tell the Leader of the Opposition that there are discussions going ahead at the moment with myself and the Minister for Transport — Mr P.C. Tinley : You’re having a conversation with yourself, are you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid interjection! Mr P.C. Tinley : I beg your pardon; I am sorry! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : At least he has the decency to apologise; I appreciate that! In respect of the election promise, yes, we want to increase the police presence on public transport in Western Australia — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Leader of the Opposition has asked a very sensible question, one that is very close to my heart, but all I get is puerile interjections from some of his idiot backbenchers. I will answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. Discussions are going ahead at the moment with the Minister for Transport and me — Mrs M.H. Roberts : Discussions are going ahead? It has taken a year or two. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If the member for Midland wants to talk about broken promises, her broken promise was a great one when she said in 2001 that all the revenue from red-light and speed cameras would go into the road trauma trust fund. That was meant to be an absolute core commitment. What happened? Nothing happened. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You can’t answer the question, can you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will, but if the member interjects on me, she will get it served back. The member is being told to not interject. As I have tried to tell the Leader of the Opposition, discussions are going ahead. I want to see a greater police presence, and I know that the Premier and the Minister for Transport do too. We are working out a system that can best achieve having more police officers on our transit system, because police officers are what people want to see. That is part of our promise. We are only two years into a four and a half year term of government and I am very hopeful that we will see that eventuate. I think that in his third question the Leader of the Opposition stated that I had failed to honour the election commitment. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is two years into this government’s term and the police presence has declined and the number of violent incidents on the trains is up. Therefore, I do not think the promise has been honoured. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Does the Leader of the Opposition say that violent and antisocial behaviour offences are up? Mr E.S. Ripper : Antisocial and violent behaviour has increased. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will certainly look into the terminology that the Leader of the Opposition used, because I know that the Department of Transport has said that a lot of the offences that the opposition is jumping on are when someone does not have a ticket or has sworn or spat or created antisocial behaviour. Criminal charges cannot be laid against those individuals. I am saying that I believe a larger police presence on our trains, and on certain lines in particular, would be a great advantage. Having a police presence at some of the railway stations to carry out stop-and-searches would be a great advantage to stop some people from carrying weapons on our trains and buses. Have the government and I failed to honour our commitment? I do not believe that we have at all. We have been in government for two years. That is not even halfway into our first four and a half year term. I think members will see a lot more happen in the next two years. We have had a lot of work to do to correct the things that the former government did not bother to get around to doing. Half my life has been spent fixing the former government’s mistakes, such as the hoon legislation and trying to find funding for the unlicensed drivers legislation which the former government brought in but which was never, ever funded. It is the same as the Towards Zero road safety strategy. That was never, ever funded either. We are doing all those things.
(1)–(3) In respect to the first part of the Leader of the Opposition’s question, I am not aware that the number has been slashed from 96 to 90. I am assuming that there has been a reduction of six full-time full-time equivalents in the transport division. The number has certainly increased, under this government, from something like 60 to 90, or a number thereabouts; I do not have the figures in front of me, so I cannot give the Leader of the Opposition an accurate answer. I assume that if there are six fewer today than there were six months ago, it could be because — Mr E.S. Ripper : No, there are six fewer today than there were in July 2008, just before the government was elected. Mr J.R. Quigley : You don’t know anything about your portfolio! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I know a lot about my portfolio. I know more about it than the member will ever know about it! The Leader of the Opposition referred to our election promise to increase the number of police officers in our transport system. I can tell the Leader of the Opposition that there are discussions going ahead at the moment with myself and the Minister for Transport — Mr P.C. Tinley : You’re having a conversation with yourself, are you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid interjection! Mr P.C. Tinley : I beg your pardon; I am sorry! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : At least he has the decency to apologise; I appreciate that! In respect of the election promise, yes, we want to increase the police presence on public transport in Western Australia — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Leader of the Opposition has asked a very sensible question, one that is very close to my heart, but all I get is puerile interjections from some of his idiot backbenchers. I will answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. Discussions are going ahead at the moment with the Minister for Transport and me — Mrs M.H. Roberts : Discussions are going ahead? It has taken a year or two. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If the member for Midland wants to talk about broken promises, her broken promise was a great one when she said in 2001 that all the revenue from red-light and speed cameras would go into the road trauma trust fund. That was meant to be an absolute core commitment. What happened? Nothing happened. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You can’t answer the question, can you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will, but if the member interjects on me, she will get it served back. The member is being told to not interject. As I have tried to tell the Leader of the Opposition, discussions are going ahead. I want to see a greater police presence, and I know that the Premier and the Minister for Transport do too. We are working out a system that can best achieve having more police officers on our transit system, because police officers are what people want to see. That is part of our promise. We are only two years into a four and a half year term of government and I am very hopeful that we will see that eventuate. I think that in his third question the Leader of the Opposition stated that I had failed to honour the election commitment. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is two years into this government’s term and the police presence has declined and the number of violent incidents on the trains is up. Therefore, I do not think the promise has been honoured. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Does the Leader of the Opposition say that violent and antisocial behaviour offences are up? Mr E.S. Ripper : Antisocial and violent behaviour has increased. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will certainly look into the terminology that the Leader of the Opposition used, because I know that the Department of Transport has said that a lot of the offences that the opposition is jumping on are when someone does not have a ticket or has sworn or spat or created antisocial behaviour. Criminal charges cannot be laid against those individuals. I am saying that I believe a larger police presence on our trains, and on certain lines in particular, would be a great advantage. Having a police presence at some of the railway stations to carry out stop-and-searches would be a great advantage to stop some people from carrying weapons on our trains and buses. Have the government and I failed to honour our commitment? I do not believe that we have at all. We have been in government for two years. That is not even halfway into our first four and a half year term. I think members will see a lot more happen in the next two years. We have had a lot of work to do to correct the things that the former government did not bother to get around to doing. Half my life has been spent fixing the former government’s mistakes, such as the hoon legislation and trying to find funding for the unlicensed drivers legislation which the former government brought in but which was never, ever funded. It is the same as the Towards Zero road safety strategy. That was never, ever funded either. We are doing all those things.
Mr E.S. Ripper : No, there are six fewer today than there were in July 2008, just before the government was elected. Mr J.R. Quigley : You don’t know anything about your portfolio! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I know a lot about my portfolio. I know more about it than the member will ever know about it! The Leader of the Opposition referred to our election promise to increase the number of police officers in our transport system. I can tell the Leader of the Opposition that there are discussions going ahead at the moment with myself and the Minister for Transport — Mr P.C. Tinley : You’re having a conversation with yourself, are you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid interjection! Mr P.C. Tinley : I beg your pardon; I am sorry! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : At least he has the decency to apologise; I appreciate that! In respect of the election promise, yes, we want to increase the police presence on public transport in Western Australia — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Leader of the Opposition has asked a very sensible question, one that is very close to my heart, but all I get is puerile interjections from some of his idiot backbenchers. I will answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. Discussions are going ahead at the moment with the Minister for Transport and me — Mrs M.H. Roberts : Discussions are going ahead? It has taken a year or two. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If the member for Midland wants to talk about broken promises, her broken promise was a great one when she said in 2001 that all the revenue from red-light and speed cameras would go into the road trauma trust fund. That was meant to be an absolute core commitment. What happened? Nothing happened. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You can’t answer the question, can you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will, but if the member interjects on me, she will get it served back. The member is being told to not interject. As I have tried to tell the Leader of the Opposition, discussions are going ahead. I want to see a greater police presence, and I know that the Premier and the Minister for Transport do too. We are working out a system that can best achieve having more police officers on our transit system, because police officers are what people want to see. That is part of our promise. We are only two years into a four and a half year term of government and I am very hopeful that we will see that eventuate. I think that in his third question the Leader of the Opposition stated that I had failed to honour the election commitment. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is two years into this government’s term and the police presence has declined and the number of violent incidents on the trains is up. Therefore, I do not think the promise has been honoured. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Does the Leader of the Opposition say that violent and antisocial behaviour offences are up? Mr E.S. Ripper : Antisocial and violent behaviour has increased. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will certainly look into the terminology that the Leader of the Opposition used, because I know that the Department of Transport has said that a lot of the offences that the opposition is jumping on are when someone does not have a ticket or has sworn or spat or created antisocial behaviour. Criminal charges cannot be laid against those individuals. I am saying that I believe a larger police presence on our trains, and on certain lines in particular, would be a great advantage. Having a police presence at some of the railway stations to carry out stop-and-searches would be a great advantage to stop some people from carrying weapons on our trains and buses. Have the government and I failed to honour our commitment? I do not believe that we have at all. We have been in government for two years. That is not even halfway into our first four and a half year term. I think members will see a lot more happen in the next two years. We have had a lot of work to do to correct the things that the former government did not bother to get around to doing. Half my life has been spent fixing the former government’s mistakes, such as the hoon legislation and trying to find funding for the unlicensed drivers legislation which the former government brought in but which was never, ever funded. It is the same as the Towards Zero road safety strategy. That was never, ever funded either. We are doing all those things.
Mr J.R. Quigley : You don’t know anything about your portfolio! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I know a lot about my portfolio. I know more about it than the member will ever know about it! The Leader of the Opposition referred to our election promise to increase the number of police officers in our transport system. I can tell the Leader of the Opposition that there are discussions going ahead at the moment with myself and the Minister for Transport — Mr P.C. Tinley : You’re having a conversation with yourself, are you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid interjection! Mr P.C. Tinley : I beg your pardon; I am sorry! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : At least he has the decency to apologise; I appreciate that! In respect of the election promise, yes, we want to increase the police presence on public transport in Western Australia — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Leader of the Opposition has asked a very sensible question, one that is very close to my heart, but all I get is puerile interjections from some of his idiot backbenchers. I will answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. Discussions are going ahead at the moment with the Minister for Transport and me — Mrs M.H. Roberts : Discussions are going ahead? It has taken a year or two. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If the member for Midland wants to talk about broken promises, her broken promise was a great one when she said in 2001 that all the revenue from red-light and speed cameras would go into the road trauma trust fund. That was meant to be an absolute core commitment. What happened? Nothing happened. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You can’t answer the question, can you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will, but if the member interjects on me, she will get it served back. The member is being told to not interject. As I have tried to tell the Leader of the Opposition, discussions are going ahead. I want to see a greater police presence, and I know that the Premier and the Minister for Transport do too. We are working out a system that can best achieve having more police officers on our transit system, because police officers are what people want to see. That is part of our promise. We are only two years into a four and a half year term of government and I am very hopeful that we will see that eventuate. I think that in his third question the Leader of the Opposition stated that I had failed to honour the election commitment. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is two years into this government’s term and the police presence has declined and the number of violent incidents on the trains is up. Therefore, I do not think the promise has been honoured. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Does the Leader of the Opposition say that violent and antisocial behaviour offences are up? Mr E.S. Ripper : Antisocial and violent behaviour has increased. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will certainly look into the terminology that the Leader of the Opposition used, because I know that the Department of Transport has said that a lot of the offences that the opposition is jumping on are when someone does not have a ticket or has sworn or spat or created antisocial behaviour. Criminal charges cannot be laid against those individuals. I am saying that I believe a larger police presence on our trains, and on certain lines in particular, would be a great advantage. Having a police presence at some of the railway stations to carry out stop-and-searches would be a great advantage to stop some people from carrying weapons on our trains and buses. Have the government and I failed to honour our commitment? I do not believe that we have at all. We have been in government for two years. That is not even halfway into our first four and a half year term. I think members will see a lot more happen in the next two years. We have had a lot of work to do to correct the things that the former government did not bother to get around to doing. Half my life has been spent fixing the former government’s mistakes, such as the hoon legislation and trying to find funding for the unlicensed drivers legislation which the former government brought in but which was never, ever funded. It is the same as the Towards Zero road safety strategy. That was never, ever funded either. We are doing all those things.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I know a lot about my portfolio. I know more about it than the member will ever know about it! The Leader of the Opposition referred to our election promise to increase the number of police officers in our transport system. I can tell the Leader of the Opposition that there are discussions going ahead at the moment with myself and the Minister for Transport — Mr P.C. Tinley : You’re having a conversation with yourself, are you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid interjection! Mr P.C. Tinley : I beg your pardon; I am sorry! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : At least he has the decency to apologise; I appreciate that! In respect of the election promise, yes, we want to increase the police presence on public transport in Western Australia — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Leader of the Opposition has asked a very sensible question, one that is very close to my heart, but all I get is puerile interjections from some of his idiot backbenchers. I will answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. Discussions are going ahead at the moment with the Minister for Transport and me — Mrs M.H. Roberts : Discussions are going ahead? It has taken a year or two. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If the member for Midland wants to talk about broken promises, her broken promise was a great one when she said in 2001 that all the revenue from red-light and speed cameras would go into the road trauma trust fund. That was meant to be an absolute core commitment. What happened? Nothing happened. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You can’t answer the question, can you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will, but if the member interjects on me, she will get it served back. The member is being told to not interject. As I have tried to tell the Leader of the Opposition, discussions are going ahead. I want to see a greater police presence, and I know that the Premier and the Minister for Transport do too. We are working out a system that can best achieve having more police officers on our transit system, because police officers are what people want to see. That is part of our promise. We are only two years into a four and a half year term of government and I am very hopeful that we will see that eventuate. I think that in his third question the Leader of the Opposition stated that I had failed to honour the election commitment. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is two years into this government’s term and the police presence has declined and the number of violent incidents on the trains is up. Therefore, I do not think the promise has been honoured. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Does the Leader of the Opposition say that violent and antisocial behaviour offences are up? Mr E.S. Ripper : Antisocial and violent behaviour has increased. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will certainly look into the terminology that the Leader of the Opposition used, because I know that the Department of Transport has said that a lot of the offences that the opposition is jumping on are when someone does not have a ticket or has sworn or spat or created antisocial behaviour. Criminal charges cannot be laid against those individuals. I am saying that I believe a larger police presence on our trains, and on certain lines in particular, would be a great advantage. Having a police presence at some of the railway stations to carry out stop-and-searches would be a great advantage to stop some people from carrying weapons on our trains and buses. Have the government and I failed to honour our commitment? I do not believe that we have at all. We have been in government for two years. That is not even halfway into our first four and a half year term. I think members will see a lot more happen in the next two years. We have had a lot of work to do to correct the things that the former government did not bother to get around to doing. Half my life has been spent fixing the former government’s mistakes, such as the hoon legislation and trying to find funding for the unlicensed drivers legislation which the former government brought in but which was never, ever funded. It is the same as the Towards Zero road safety strategy. That was never, ever funded either. We are doing all those things.
Mr P.C. Tinley : You’re having a conversation with yourself, are you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid interjection! Mr P.C. Tinley : I beg your pardon; I am sorry! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : At least he has the decency to apologise; I appreciate that! In respect of the election promise, yes, we want to increase the police presence on public transport in Western Australia — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Leader of the Opposition has asked a very sensible question, one that is very close to my heart, but all I get is puerile interjections from some of his idiot backbenchers. I will answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. Discussions are going ahead at the moment with the Minister for Transport and me — Mrs M.H. Roberts : Discussions are going ahead? It has taken a year or two. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If the member for Midland wants to talk about broken promises, her broken promise was a great one when she said in 2001 that all the revenue from red-light and speed cameras would go into the road trauma trust fund. That was meant to be an absolute core commitment. What happened? Nothing happened. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You can’t answer the question, can you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will, but if the member interjects on me, she will get it served back. The member is being told to not interject. As I have tried to tell the Leader of the Opposition, discussions are going ahead. I want to see a greater police presence, and I know that the Premier and the Minister for Transport do too. We are working out a system that can best achieve having more police officers on our transit system, because police officers are what people want to see. That is part of our promise. We are only two years into a four and a half year term of government and I am very hopeful that we will see that eventuate. I think that in his third question the Leader of the Opposition stated that I had failed to honour the election commitment. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is two years into this government’s term and the police presence has declined and the number of violent incidents on the trains is up. Therefore, I do not think the promise has been honoured. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Does the Leader of the Opposition say that violent and antisocial behaviour offences are up? Mr E.S. Ripper : Antisocial and violent behaviour has increased. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will certainly look into the terminology that the Leader of the Opposition used, because I know that the Department of Transport has said that a lot of the offences that the opposition is jumping on are when someone does not have a ticket or has sworn or spat or created antisocial behaviour. Criminal charges cannot be laid against those individuals. I am saying that I believe a larger police presence on our trains, and on certain lines in particular, would be a great advantage. Having a police presence at some of the railway stations to carry out stop-and-searches would be a great advantage to stop some people from carrying weapons on our trains and buses. Have the government and I failed to honour our commitment? I do not believe that we have at all. We have been in government for two years. That is not even halfway into our first four and a half year term. I think members will see a lot more happen in the next two years. We have had a lot of work to do to correct the things that the former government did not bother to get around to doing. Half my life has been spent fixing the former government’s mistakes, such as the hoon legislation and trying to find funding for the unlicensed drivers legislation which the former government brought in but which was never, ever funded. It is the same as the Towards Zero road safety strategy. That was never, ever funded either. We are doing all those things.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid interjection! Mr P.C. Tinley : I beg your pardon; I am sorry! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : At least he has the decency to apologise; I appreciate that! In respect of the election promise, yes, we want to increase the police presence on public transport in Western Australia — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Leader of the Opposition has asked a very sensible question, one that is very close to my heart, but all I get is puerile interjections from some of his idiot backbenchers. I will answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. Discussions are going ahead at the moment with the Minister for Transport and me — Mrs M.H. Roberts : Discussions are going ahead? It has taken a year or two. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If the member for Midland wants to talk about broken promises, her broken promise was a great one when she said in 2001 that all the revenue from red-light and speed cameras would go into the road trauma trust fund. That was meant to be an absolute core commitment. What happened? Nothing happened. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You can’t answer the question, can you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will, but if the member interjects on me, she will get it served back. The member is being told to not interject. As I have tried to tell the Leader of the Opposition, discussions are going ahead. I want to see a greater police presence, and I know that the Premier and the Minister for Transport do too. We are working out a system that can best achieve having more police officers on our transit system, because police officers are what people want to see. That is part of our promise. We are only two years into a four and a half year term of government and I am very hopeful that we will see that eventuate. I think that in his third question the Leader of the Opposition stated that I had failed to honour the election commitment. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is two years into this government’s term and the police presence has declined and the number of violent incidents on the trains is up. Therefore, I do not think the promise has been honoured. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Does the Leader of the Opposition say that violent and antisocial behaviour offences are up? Mr E.S. Ripper : Antisocial and violent behaviour has increased. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will certainly look into the terminology that the Leader of the Opposition used, because I know that the Department of Transport has said that a lot of the offences that the opposition is jumping on are when someone does not have a ticket or has sworn or spat or created antisocial behaviour. Criminal charges cannot be laid against those individuals. I am saying that I believe a larger police presence on our trains, and on certain lines in particular, would be a great advantage. Having a police presence at some of the railway stations to carry out stop-and-searches would be a great advantage to stop some people from carrying weapons on our trains and buses. Have the government and I failed to honour our commitment? I do not believe that we have at all. We have been in government for two years. That is not even halfway into our first four and a half year term. I think members will see a lot more happen in the next two years. We have had a lot of work to do to correct the things that the former government did not bother to get around to doing. Half my life has been spent fixing the former government’s mistakes, such as the hoon legislation and trying to find funding for the unlicensed drivers legislation which the former government brought in but which was never, ever funded. It is the same as the Towards Zero road safety strategy. That was never, ever funded either. We are doing all those things.
Mr P.C. Tinley : I beg your pardon; I am sorry! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : At least he has the decency to apologise; I appreciate that! In respect of the election promise, yes, we want to increase the police presence on public transport in Western Australia — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Leader of the Opposition has asked a very sensible question, one that is very close to my heart, but all I get is puerile interjections from some of his idiot backbenchers. I will answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. Discussions are going ahead at the moment with the Minister for Transport and me — Mrs M.H. Roberts : Discussions are going ahead? It has taken a year or two. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If the member for Midland wants to talk about broken promises, her broken promise was a great one when she said in 2001 that all the revenue from red-light and speed cameras would go into the road trauma trust fund. That was meant to be an absolute core commitment. What happened? Nothing happened. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You can’t answer the question, can you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will, but if the member interjects on me, she will get it served back. The member is being told to not interject. As I have tried to tell the Leader of the Opposition, discussions are going ahead. I want to see a greater police presence, and I know that the Premier and the Minister for Transport do too. We are working out a system that can best achieve having more police officers on our transit system, because police officers are what people want to see. That is part of our promise. We are only two years into a four and a half year term of government and I am very hopeful that we will see that eventuate. I think that in his third question the Leader of the Opposition stated that I had failed to honour the election commitment. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is two years into this government’s term and the police presence has declined and the number of violent incidents on the trains is up. Therefore, I do not think the promise has been honoured. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Does the Leader of the Opposition say that violent and antisocial behaviour offences are up? Mr E.S. Ripper : Antisocial and violent behaviour has increased. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will certainly look into the terminology that the Leader of the Opposition used, because I know that the Department of Transport has said that a lot of the offences that the opposition is jumping on are when someone does not have a ticket or has sworn or spat or created antisocial behaviour. Criminal charges cannot be laid against those individuals. I am saying that I believe a larger police presence on our trains, and on certain lines in particular, would be a great advantage. Having a police presence at some of the railway stations to carry out stop-and-searches would be a great advantage to stop some people from carrying weapons on our trains and buses. Have the government and I failed to honour our commitment? I do not believe that we have at all. We have been in government for two years. That is not even halfway into our first four and a half year term. I think members will see a lot more happen in the next two years. We have had a lot of work to do to correct the things that the former government did not bother to get around to doing. Half my life has been spent fixing the former government’s mistakes, such as the hoon legislation and trying to find funding for the unlicensed drivers legislation which the former government brought in but which was never, ever funded. It is the same as the Towards Zero road safety strategy. That was never, ever funded either. We are doing all those things.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : At least he has the decency to apologise; I appreciate that! In respect of the election promise, yes, we want to increase the police presence on public transport in Western Australia — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Leader of the Opposition has asked a very sensible question, one that is very close to my heart, but all I get is puerile interjections from some of his idiot backbenchers. I will answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. Discussions are going ahead at the moment with the Minister for Transport and me — Mrs M.H. Roberts : Discussions are going ahead? It has taken a year or two. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If the member for Midland wants to talk about broken promises, her broken promise was a great one when she said in 2001 that all the revenue from red-light and speed cameras would go into the road trauma trust fund. That was meant to be an absolute core commitment. What happened? Nothing happened. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You can’t answer the question, can you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will, but if the member interjects on me, she will get it served back. The member is being told to not interject. As I have tried to tell the Leader of the Opposition, discussions are going ahead. I want to see a greater police presence, and I know that the Premier and the Minister for Transport do too. We are working out a system that can best achieve having more police officers on our transit system, because police officers are what people want to see. That is part of our promise. We are only two years into a four and a half year term of government and I am very hopeful that we will see that eventuate. I think that in his third question the Leader of the Opposition stated that I had failed to honour the election commitment. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is two years into this government’s term and the police presence has declined and the number of violent incidents on the trains is up. Therefore, I do not think the promise has been honoured. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Does the Leader of the Opposition say that violent and antisocial behaviour offences are up? Mr E.S. Ripper : Antisocial and violent behaviour has increased. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will certainly look into the terminology that the Leader of the Opposition used, because I know that the Department of Transport has said that a lot of the offences that the opposition is jumping on are when someone does not have a ticket or has sworn or spat or created antisocial behaviour. Criminal charges cannot be laid against those individuals. I am saying that I believe a larger police presence on our trains, and on certain lines in particular, would be a great advantage. Having a police presence at some of the railway stations to carry out stop-and-searches would be a great advantage to stop some people from carrying weapons on our trains and buses. Have the government and I failed to honour our commitment? I do not believe that we have at all. We have been in government for two years. That is not even halfway into our first four and a half year term. I think members will see a lot more happen in the next two years. We have had a lot of work to do to correct the things that the former government did not bother to get around to doing. Half my life has been spent fixing the former government’s mistakes, such as the hoon legislation and trying to find funding for the unlicensed drivers legislation which the former government brought in but which was never, ever funded. It is the same as the Towards Zero road safety strategy. That was never, ever funded either. We are doing all those things.
In respect of the election promise, yes, we want to increase the police presence on public transport in Western Australia — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Leader of the Opposition has asked a very sensible question, one that is very close to my heart, but all I get is puerile interjections from some of his idiot backbenchers. I will answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. Discussions are going ahead at the moment with the Minister for Transport and me — Mrs M.H. Roberts : Discussions are going ahead? It has taken a year or two. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If the member for Midland wants to talk about broken promises, her broken promise was a great one when she said in 2001 that all the revenue from red-light and speed cameras would go into the road trauma trust fund. That was meant to be an absolute core commitment. What happened? Nothing happened. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You can’t answer the question, can you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will, but if the member interjects on me, she will get it served back. The member is being told to not interject. As I have tried to tell the Leader of the Opposition, discussions are going ahead. I want to see a greater police presence, and I know that the Premier and the Minister for Transport do too. We are working out a system that can best achieve having more police officers on our transit system, because police officers are what people want to see. That is part of our promise. We are only two years into a four and a half year term of government and I am very hopeful that we will see that eventuate. I think that in his third question the Leader of the Opposition stated that I had failed to honour the election commitment. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is two years into this government’s term and the police presence has declined and the number of violent incidents on the trains is up. Therefore, I do not think the promise has been honoured. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Does the Leader of the Opposition say that violent and antisocial behaviour offences are up? Mr E.S. Ripper : Antisocial and violent behaviour has increased. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will certainly look into the terminology that the Leader of the Opposition used, because I know that the Department of Transport has said that a lot of the offences that the opposition is jumping on are when someone does not have a ticket or has sworn or spat or created antisocial behaviour. Criminal charges cannot be laid against those individuals. I am saying that I believe a larger police presence on our trains, and on certain lines in particular, would be a great advantage. Having a police presence at some of the railway stations to carry out stop-and-searches would be a great advantage to stop some people from carrying weapons on our trains and buses. Have the government and I failed to honour our commitment? I do not believe that we have at all. We have been in government for two years. That is not even halfway into our first four and a half year term. I think members will see a lot more happen in the next two years. We have had a lot of work to do to correct the things that the former government did not bother to get around to doing. Half my life has been spent fixing the former government’s mistakes, such as the hoon legislation and trying to find funding for the unlicensed drivers legislation which the former government brought in but which was never, ever funded. It is the same as the Towards Zero road safety strategy. That was never, ever funded either. We are doing all those things.
Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Leader of the Opposition has asked a very sensible question, one that is very close to my heart, but all I get is puerile interjections from some of his idiot backbenchers. I will answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. Discussions are going ahead at the moment with the Minister for Transport and me — Mrs M.H. Roberts : Discussions are going ahead? It has taken a year or two. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If the member for Midland wants to talk about broken promises, her broken promise was a great one when she said in 2001 that all the revenue from red-light and speed cameras would go into the road trauma trust fund. That was meant to be an absolute core commitment. What happened? Nothing happened. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You can’t answer the question, can you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will, but if the member interjects on me, she will get it served back. The member is being told to not interject. As I have tried to tell the Leader of the Opposition, discussions are going ahead. I want to see a greater police presence, and I know that the Premier and the Minister for Transport do too. We are working out a system that can best achieve having more police officers on our transit system, because police officers are what people want to see. That is part of our promise. We are only two years into a four and a half year term of government and I am very hopeful that we will see that eventuate. I think that in his third question the Leader of the Opposition stated that I had failed to honour the election commitment. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is two years into this government’s term and the police presence has declined and the number of violent incidents on the trains is up. Therefore, I do not think the promise has been honoured. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Does the Leader of the Opposition say that violent and antisocial behaviour offences are up? Mr E.S. Ripper : Antisocial and violent behaviour has increased. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will certainly look into the terminology that the Leader of the Opposition used, because I know that the Department of Transport has said that a lot of the offences that the opposition is jumping on are when someone does not have a ticket or has sworn or spat or created antisocial behaviour. Criminal charges cannot be laid against those individuals. I am saying that I believe a larger police presence on our trains, and on certain lines in particular, would be a great advantage. Having a police presence at some of the railway stations to carry out stop-and-searches would be a great advantage to stop some people from carrying weapons on our trains and buses. Have the government and I failed to honour our commitment? I do not believe that we have at all. We have been in government for two years. That is not even halfway into our first four and a half year term. I think members will see a lot more happen in the next two years. We have had a lot of work to do to correct the things that the former government did not bother to get around to doing. Half my life has been spent fixing the former government’s mistakes, such as the hoon legislation and trying to find funding for the unlicensed drivers legislation which the former government brought in but which was never, ever funded. It is the same as the Towards Zero road safety strategy. That was never, ever funded either. We are doing all those things.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Leader of the Opposition has asked a very sensible question, one that is very close to my heart, but all I get is puerile interjections from some of his idiot backbenchers. I will answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. Discussions are going ahead at the moment with the Minister for Transport and me — Mrs M.H. Roberts : Discussions are going ahead? It has taken a year or two. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If the member for Midland wants to talk about broken promises, her broken promise was a great one when she said in 2001 that all the revenue from red-light and speed cameras would go into the road trauma trust fund. That was meant to be an absolute core commitment. What happened? Nothing happened. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You can’t answer the question, can you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will, but if the member interjects on me, she will get it served back. The member is being told to not interject. As I have tried to tell the Leader of the Opposition, discussions are going ahead. I want to see a greater police presence, and I know that the Premier and the Minister for Transport do too. We are working out a system that can best achieve having more police officers on our transit system, because police officers are what people want to see. That is part of our promise. We are only two years into a four and a half year term of government and I am very hopeful that we will see that eventuate. I think that in his third question the Leader of the Opposition stated that I had failed to honour the election commitment. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is two years into this government’s term and the police presence has declined and the number of violent incidents on the trains is up. Therefore, I do not think the promise has been honoured. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Does the Leader of the Opposition say that violent and antisocial behaviour offences are up? Mr E.S. Ripper : Antisocial and violent behaviour has increased. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will certainly look into the terminology that the Leader of the Opposition used, because I know that the Department of Transport has said that a lot of the offences that the opposition is jumping on are when someone does not have a ticket or has sworn or spat or created antisocial behaviour. Criminal charges cannot be laid against those individuals. I am saying that I believe a larger police presence on our trains, and on certain lines in particular, would be a great advantage. Having a police presence at some of the railway stations to carry out stop-and-searches would be a great advantage to stop some people from carrying weapons on our trains and buses. Have the government and I failed to honour our commitment? I do not believe that we have at all. We have been in government for two years. That is not even halfway into our first four and a half year term. I think members will see a lot more happen in the next two years. We have had a lot of work to do to correct the things that the former government did not bother to get around to doing. Half my life has been spent fixing the former government’s mistakes, such as the hoon legislation and trying to find funding for the unlicensed drivers legislation which the former government brought in but which was never, ever funded. It is the same as the Towards Zero road safety strategy. That was never, ever funded either. We are doing all those things.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : Discussions are going ahead? It has taken a year or two. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If the member for Midland wants to talk about broken promises, her broken promise was a great one when she said in 2001 that all the revenue from red-light and speed cameras would go into the road trauma trust fund. That was meant to be an absolute core commitment. What happened? Nothing happened. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You can’t answer the question, can you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will, but if the member interjects on me, she will get it served back. The member is being told to not interject. As I have tried to tell the Leader of the Opposition, discussions are going ahead. I want to see a greater police presence, and I know that the Premier and the Minister for Transport do too. We are working out a system that can best achieve having more police officers on our transit system, because police officers are what people want to see. That is part of our promise. We are only two years into a four and a half year term of government and I am very hopeful that we will see that eventuate. I think that in his third question the Leader of the Opposition stated that I had failed to honour the election commitment. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is two years into this government’s term and the police presence has declined and the number of violent incidents on the trains is up. Therefore, I do not think the promise has been honoured. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Does the Leader of the Opposition say that violent and antisocial behaviour offences are up? Mr E.S. Ripper : Antisocial and violent behaviour has increased. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will certainly look into the terminology that the Leader of the Opposition used, because I know that the Department of Transport has said that a lot of the offences that the opposition is jumping on are when someone does not have a ticket or has sworn or spat or created antisocial behaviour. Criminal charges cannot be laid against those individuals. I am saying that I believe a larger police presence on our trains, and on certain lines in particular, would be a great advantage. Having a police presence at some of the railway stations to carry out stop-and-searches would be a great advantage to stop some people from carrying weapons on our trains and buses. Have the government and I failed to honour our commitment? I do not believe that we have at all. We have been in government for two years. That is not even halfway into our first four and a half year term. I think members will see a lot more happen in the next two years. We have had a lot of work to do to correct the things that the former government did not bother to get around to doing. Half my life has been spent fixing the former government’s mistakes, such as the hoon legislation and trying to find funding for the unlicensed drivers legislation which the former government brought in but which was never, ever funded. It is the same as the Towards Zero road safety strategy. That was never, ever funded either. We are doing all those things.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If the member for Midland wants to talk about broken promises, her broken promise was a great one when she said in 2001 that all the revenue from red-light and speed cameras would go into the road trauma trust fund. That was meant to be an absolute core commitment. What happened? Nothing happened. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You can’t answer the question, can you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will, but if the member interjects on me, she will get it served back. The member is being told to not interject. As I have tried to tell the Leader of the Opposition, discussions are going ahead. I want to see a greater police presence, and I know that the Premier and the Minister for Transport do too. We are working out a system that can best achieve having more police officers on our transit system, because police officers are what people want to see. That is part of our promise. We are only two years into a four and a half year term of government and I am very hopeful that we will see that eventuate. I think that in his third question the Leader of the Opposition stated that I had failed to honour the election commitment. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is two years into this government’s term and the police presence has declined and the number of violent incidents on the trains is up. Therefore, I do not think the promise has been honoured. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Does the Leader of the Opposition say that violent and antisocial behaviour offences are up? Mr E.S. Ripper : Antisocial and violent behaviour has increased. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will certainly look into the terminology that the Leader of the Opposition used, because I know that the Department of Transport has said that a lot of the offences that the opposition is jumping on are when someone does not have a ticket or has sworn or spat or created antisocial behaviour. Criminal charges cannot be laid against those individuals. I am saying that I believe a larger police presence on our trains, and on certain lines in particular, would be a great advantage. Having a police presence at some of the railway stations to carry out stop-and-searches would be a great advantage to stop some people from carrying weapons on our trains and buses. Have the government and I failed to honour our commitment? I do not believe that we have at all. We have been in government for two years. That is not even halfway into our first four and a half year term. I think members will see a lot more happen in the next two years. We have had a lot of work to do to correct the things that the former government did not bother to get around to doing. Half my life has been spent fixing the former government’s mistakes, such as the hoon legislation and trying to find funding for the unlicensed drivers legislation which the former government brought in but which was never, ever funded. It is the same as the Towards Zero road safety strategy. That was never, ever funded either. We are doing all those things.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : You can’t answer the question, can you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will, but if the member interjects on me, she will get it served back. The member is being told to not interject. As I have tried to tell the Leader of the Opposition, discussions are going ahead. I want to see a greater police presence, and I know that the Premier and the Minister for Transport do too. We are working out a system that can best achieve having more police officers on our transit system, because police officers are what people want to see. That is part of our promise. We are only two years into a four and a half year term of government and I am very hopeful that we will see that eventuate. I think that in his third question the Leader of the Opposition stated that I had failed to honour the election commitment. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is two years into this government’s term and the police presence has declined and the number of violent incidents on the trains is up. Therefore, I do not think the promise has been honoured. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Does the Leader of the Opposition say that violent and antisocial behaviour offences are up? Mr E.S. Ripper : Antisocial and violent behaviour has increased. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will certainly look into the terminology that the Leader of the Opposition used, because I know that the Department of Transport has said that a lot of the offences that the opposition is jumping on are when someone does not have a ticket or has sworn or spat or created antisocial behaviour. Criminal charges cannot be laid against those individuals. I am saying that I believe a larger police presence on our trains, and on certain lines in particular, would be a great advantage. Having a police presence at some of the railway stations to carry out stop-and-searches would be a great advantage to stop some people from carrying weapons on our trains and buses. Have the government and I failed to honour our commitment? I do not believe that we have at all. We have been in government for two years. That is not even halfway into our first four and a half year term. I think members will see a lot more happen in the next two years. We have had a lot of work to do to correct the things that the former government did not bother to get around to doing. Half my life has been spent fixing the former government’s mistakes, such as the hoon legislation and trying to find funding for the unlicensed drivers legislation which the former government brought in but which was never, ever funded. It is the same as the Towards Zero road safety strategy. That was never, ever funded either. We are doing all those things.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will, but if the member interjects on me, she will get it served back. The member is being told to not interject. As I have tried to tell the Leader of the Opposition, discussions are going ahead. I want to see a greater police presence, and I know that the Premier and the Minister for Transport do too. We are working out a system that can best achieve having more police officers on our transit system, because police officers are what people want to see. That is part of our promise. We are only two years into a four and a half year term of government and I am very hopeful that we will see that eventuate. I think that in his third question the Leader of the Opposition stated that I had failed to honour the election commitment. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is two years into this government’s term and the police presence has declined and the number of violent incidents on the trains is up. Therefore, I do not think the promise has been honoured. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Does the Leader of the Opposition say that violent and antisocial behaviour offences are up? Mr E.S. Ripper : Antisocial and violent behaviour has increased. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will certainly look into the terminology that the Leader of the Opposition used, because I know that the Department of Transport has said that a lot of the offences that the opposition is jumping on are when someone does not have a ticket or has sworn or spat or created antisocial behaviour. Criminal charges cannot be laid against those individuals. I am saying that I believe a larger police presence on our trains, and on certain lines in particular, would be a great advantage. Having a police presence at some of the railway stations to carry out stop-and-searches would be a great advantage to stop some people from carrying weapons on our trains and buses. Have the government and I failed to honour our commitment? I do not believe that we have at all. We have been in government for two years. That is not even halfway into our first four and a half year term. I think members will see a lot more happen in the next two years. We have had a lot of work to do to correct the things that the former government did not bother to get around to doing. Half my life has been spent fixing the former government’s mistakes, such as the hoon legislation and trying to find funding for the unlicensed drivers legislation which the former government brought in but which was never, ever funded. It is the same as the Towards Zero road safety strategy. That was never, ever funded either. We are doing all those things.
As I have tried to tell the Leader of the Opposition, discussions are going ahead. I want to see a greater police presence, and I know that the Premier and the Minister for Transport do too. We are working out a system that can best achieve having more police officers on our transit system, because police officers are what people want to see. That is part of our promise. We are only two years into a four and a half year term of government and I am very hopeful that we will see that eventuate. I think that in his third question the Leader of the Opposition stated that I had failed to honour the election commitment. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is two years into this government’s term and the police presence has declined and the number of violent incidents on the trains is up. Therefore, I do not think the promise has been honoured. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Does the Leader of the Opposition say that violent and antisocial behaviour offences are up? Mr E.S. Ripper : Antisocial and violent behaviour has increased. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will certainly look into the terminology that the Leader of the Opposition used, because I know that the Department of Transport has said that a lot of the offences that the opposition is jumping on are when someone does not have a ticket or has sworn or spat or created antisocial behaviour. Criminal charges cannot be laid against those individuals. I am saying that I believe a larger police presence on our trains, and on certain lines in particular, would be a great advantage. Having a police presence at some of the railway stations to carry out stop-and-searches would be a great advantage to stop some people from carrying weapons on our trains and buses. Have the government and I failed to honour our commitment? I do not believe that we have at all. We have been in government for two years. That is not even halfway into our first four and a half year term. I think members will see a lot more happen in the next two years. We have had a lot of work to do to correct the things that the former government did not bother to get around to doing. Half my life has been spent fixing the former government’s mistakes, such as the hoon legislation and trying to find funding for the unlicensed drivers legislation which the former government brought in but which was never, ever funded. It is the same as the Towards Zero road safety strategy. That was never, ever funded either. We are doing all those things.
I think that in his third question the Leader of the Opposition stated that I had failed to honour the election commitment. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is two years into this government’s term and the police presence has declined and the number of violent incidents on the trains is up. Therefore, I do not think the promise has been honoured. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Does the Leader of the Opposition say that violent and antisocial behaviour offences are up? Mr E.S. Ripper : Antisocial and violent behaviour has increased. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will certainly look into the terminology that the Leader of the Opposition used, because I know that the Department of Transport has said that a lot of the offences that the opposition is jumping on are when someone does not have a ticket or has sworn or spat or created antisocial behaviour. Criminal charges cannot be laid against those individuals. I am saying that I believe a larger police presence on our trains, and on certain lines in particular, would be a great advantage. Having a police presence at some of the railway stations to carry out stop-and-searches would be a great advantage to stop some people from carrying weapons on our trains and buses. Have the government and I failed to honour our commitment? I do not believe that we have at all. We have been in government for two years. That is not even halfway into our first four and a half year term. I think members will see a lot more happen in the next two years. We have had a lot of work to do to correct the things that the former government did not bother to get around to doing. Half my life has been spent fixing the former government’s mistakes, such as the hoon legislation and trying to find funding for the unlicensed drivers legislation which the former government brought in but which was never, ever funded. It is the same as the Towards Zero road safety strategy. That was never, ever funded either. We are doing all those things.
Mr E.S. Ripper : It is two years into this government’s term and the police presence has declined and the number of violent incidents on the trains is up. Therefore, I do not think the promise has been honoured. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Does the Leader of the Opposition say that violent and antisocial behaviour offences are up? Mr E.S. Ripper : Antisocial and violent behaviour has increased. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will certainly look into the terminology that the Leader of the Opposition used, because I know that the Department of Transport has said that a lot of the offences that the opposition is jumping on are when someone does not have a ticket or has sworn or spat or created antisocial behaviour. Criminal charges cannot be laid against those individuals. I am saying that I believe a larger police presence on our trains, and on certain lines in particular, would be a great advantage. Having a police presence at some of the railway stations to carry out stop-and-searches would be a great advantage to stop some people from carrying weapons on our trains and buses. Have the government and I failed to honour our commitment? I do not believe that we have at all. We have been in government for two years. That is not even halfway into our first four and a half year term. I think members will see a lot more happen in the next two years. We have had a lot of work to do to correct the things that the former government did not bother to get around to doing. Half my life has been spent fixing the former government’s mistakes, such as the hoon legislation and trying to find funding for the unlicensed drivers legislation which the former government brought in but which was never, ever funded. It is the same as the Towards Zero road safety strategy. That was never, ever funded either. We are doing all those things.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Does the Leader of the Opposition say that violent and antisocial behaviour offences are up? Mr E.S. Ripper : Antisocial and violent behaviour has increased. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will certainly look into the terminology that the Leader of the Opposition used, because I know that the Department of Transport has said that a lot of the offences that the opposition is jumping on are when someone does not have a ticket or has sworn or spat or created antisocial behaviour. Criminal charges cannot be laid against those individuals. I am saying that I believe a larger police presence on our trains, and on certain lines in particular, would be a great advantage. Having a police presence at some of the railway stations to carry out stop-and-searches would be a great advantage to stop some people from carrying weapons on our trains and buses. Have the government and I failed to honour our commitment? I do not believe that we have at all. We have been in government for two years. That is not even halfway into our first four and a half year term. I think members will see a lot more happen in the next two years. We have had a lot of work to do to correct the things that the former government did not bother to get around to doing. Half my life has been spent fixing the former government’s mistakes, such as the hoon legislation and trying to find funding for the unlicensed drivers legislation which the former government brought in but which was never, ever funded. It is the same as the Towards Zero road safety strategy. That was never, ever funded either. We are doing all those things.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Antisocial and violent behaviour has increased. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will certainly look into the terminology that the Leader of the Opposition used, because I know that the Department of Transport has said that a lot of the offences that the opposition is jumping on are when someone does not have a ticket or has sworn or spat or created antisocial behaviour. Criminal charges cannot be laid against those individuals. I am saying that I believe a larger police presence on our trains, and on certain lines in particular, would be a great advantage. Having a police presence at some of the railway stations to carry out stop-and-searches would be a great advantage to stop some people from carrying weapons on our trains and buses. Have the government and I failed to honour our commitment? I do not believe that we have at all. We have been in government for two years. That is not even halfway into our first four and a half year term. I think members will see a lot more happen in the next two years. We have had a lot of work to do to correct the things that the former government did not bother to get around to doing. Half my life has been spent fixing the former government’s mistakes, such as the hoon legislation and trying to find funding for the unlicensed drivers legislation which the former government brought in but which was never, ever funded. It is the same as the Towards Zero road safety strategy. That was never, ever funded either. We are doing all those things.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will certainly look into the terminology that the Leader of the Opposition used, because I know that the Department of Transport has said that a lot of the offences that the opposition is jumping on are when someone does not have a ticket or has sworn or spat or created antisocial behaviour. Criminal charges cannot be laid against those individuals. I am saying that I believe a larger police presence on our trains, and on certain lines in particular, would be a great advantage. Having a police presence at some of the railway stations to carry out stop-and-searches would be a great advantage to stop some people from carrying weapons on our trains and buses. Have the government and I failed to honour our commitment? I do not believe that we have at all. We have been in government for two years. That is not even halfway into our first four and a half year term. I think members will see a lot more happen in the next two years. We have had a lot of work to do to correct the things that the former government did not bother to get around to doing. Half my life has been spent fixing the former government’s mistakes, such as the hoon legislation and trying to find funding for the unlicensed drivers legislation which the former government brought in but which was never, ever funded. It is the same as the Towards Zero road safety strategy. That was never, ever funded either. We are doing all those things.
(1) Can the minister confirm that since July 2008, the authorised strength of police officers in the police transport division has been slashed by more than six per cent, from 96 to 90? (2) Can the minister confirm that last year, assaults on buses and trains increased by six per cent? (3) Why has the minister failed to honour his election commitment, and instead allowed antisocial and violent behaviour to increase on public transport? Mr R.F. JOHNSON replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. (1)–(3) In respect to the first part of the Leader of the Opposition’s question, I am not aware that the number has been slashed from 96 to 90. I am assuming that there has been a reduction of six full-time full-time equivalents in the transport division. The number has certainly increased, under this government, from something like 60 to 90, or a number thereabouts; I do not have the figures in front of me, so I cannot give the Leader of the Opposition an accurate answer. I assume that if there are six fewer today than there were six months ago, it could be because — Mr E.S. Ripper : No, there are six fewer today than there were in July 2008, just before the government was elected. Mr J.R. Quigley : You don’t know anything about your portfolio! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I know a lot about my portfolio. I know more about it than the member will ever know about it! The Leader of the Opposition referred to our election promise to increase the number of police officers in our transport system. I can tell the Leader of the Opposition that there are discussions going ahead at the moment with myself and the Minister for Transport — Mr P.C. Tinley : You’re having a conversation with yourself, are you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid interjection! Mr P.C. Tinley : I beg your pardon; I am sorry! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : At least he has the decency to apologise; I appreciate that! In respect of the election promise, yes, we want to increase the police presence on public transport in Western Australia — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Leader of the Opposition has asked a very sensible question, one that is very close to my heart, but all I get is puerile interjections from some of his idiot backbenchers. I will answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. Discussions are going ahead at the moment with the Minister for Transport and me — Mrs M.H. Roberts : Discussions are going ahead? It has taken a year or two. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If the member for Midland wants to talk about broken promises, her broken promise was a great one when she said in 2001 that all the revenue from red-light and speed cameras would go into the road trauma trust fund. That was meant to be an absolute core commitment. What happened? Nothing happened. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You can’t answer the question, can you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will, but if the member interjects on me, she will get it served back. The member is being told to not interject. As I have tried to tell the Leader of the Opposition, discussions are going ahead. I want to see a greater police presence, and I know that the Premier and the Minister for Transport do too. We are working out a system that can best achieve having more police officers on our transit system, because police officers are what people want to see. That is part of our promise. We are only two years into a four and a half year term of government and I am very hopeful that we will see that eventuate. I think that in his third question the Leader of the Opposition stated that I had failed to honour the election commitment. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is two years into this government’s term and the police presence has declined and the number of violent incidents on the trains is up. Therefore, I do not think the promise has been honoured. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Does the Leader of the Opposition say that violent and antisocial behaviour offences are up? Mr E.S. Ripper : Antisocial and violent behaviour has increased. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will certainly look into the terminology that the Leader of the Opposition used, because I know that the Department of Transport has said that a lot of the offences that the opposition is jumping on are when someone does not have a ticket or has sworn or spat or created antisocial behaviour. Criminal charges cannot be laid against those individuals. I am saying that I believe a larger police presence on our trains, and on certain lines in particular, would be a great advantage. Having a police presence at some of the railway stations to carry out stop-and-searches would be a great advantage to stop some people from carrying weapons on our trains and buses. Have the government and I failed to honour our commitment? I do not believe that we have at all. We have been in government for two years. That is not even halfway into our first four and a half year term. I think members will see a lot more happen in the next two years. We have had a lot of work to do to correct the things that the former government did not bother to get around to doing. Half my life has been spent fixing the former government’s mistakes, such as the hoon legislation and trying to find funding for the unlicensed drivers legislation which the former government brought in but which was never, ever funded. It is the same as the Towards Zero road safety strategy. That was never, ever funded either. We are doing all those things.
(2) Can the minister confirm that last year, assaults on buses and trains increased by six per cent? (3) Why has the minister failed to honour his election commitment, and instead allowed antisocial and violent behaviour to increase on public transport? Mr R.F. JOHNSON replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. (1)–(3) In respect to the first part of the Leader of the Opposition’s question, I am not aware that the number has been slashed from 96 to 90. I am assuming that there has been a reduction of six full-time full-time equivalents in the transport division. The number has certainly increased, under this government, from something like 60 to 90, or a number thereabouts; I do not have the figures in front of me, so I cannot give the Leader of the Opposition an accurate answer. I assume that if there are six fewer today than there were six months ago, it could be because — Mr E.S. Ripper : No, there are six fewer today than there were in July 2008, just before the government was elected. Mr J.R. Quigley : You don’t know anything about your portfolio! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I know a lot about my portfolio. I know more about it than the member will ever know about it! The Leader of the Opposition referred to our election promise to increase the number of police officers in our transport system. I can tell the Leader of the Opposition that there are discussions going ahead at the moment with myself and the Minister for Transport — Mr P.C. Tinley : You’re having a conversation with yourself, are you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid interjection! Mr P.C. Tinley : I beg your pardon; I am sorry! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : At least he has the decency to apologise; I appreciate that! In respect of the election promise, yes, we want to increase the police presence on public transport in Western Australia — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Leader of the Opposition has asked a very sensible question, one that is very close to my heart, but all I get is puerile interjections from some of his idiot backbenchers. I will answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. Discussions are going ahead at the moment with the Minister for Transport and me — Mrs M.H. Roberts : Discussions are going ahead? It has taken a year or two. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If the member for Midland wants to talk about broken promises, her broken promise was a great one when she said in 2001 that all the revenue from red-light and speed cameras would go into the road trauma trust fund. That was meant to be an absolute core commitment. What happened? Nothing happened. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You can’t answer the question, can you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will, but if the member interjects on me, she will get it served back. The member is being told to not interject. As I have tried to tell the Leader of the Opposition, discussions are going ahead. I want to see a greater police presence, and I know that the Premier and the Minister for Transport do too. We are working out a system that can best achieve having more police officers on our transit system, because police officers are what people want to see. That is part of our promise. We are only two years into a four and a half year term of government and I am very hopeful that we will see that eventuate. I think that in his third question the Leader of the Opposition stated that I had failed to honour the election commitment. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is two years into this government’s term and the police presence has declined and the number of violent incidents on the trains is up. Therefore, I do not think the promise has been honoured. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Does the Leader of the Opposition say that violent and antisocial behaviour offences are up? Mr E.S. Ripper : Antisocial and violent behaviour has increased. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will certainly look into the terminology that the Leader of the Opposition used, because I know that the Department of Transport has said that a lot of the offences that the opposition is jumping on are when someone does not have a ticket or has sworn or spat or created antisocial behaviour. Criminal charges cannot be laid against those individuals. I am saying that I believe a larger police presence on our trains, and on certain lines in particular, would be a great advantage. Having a police presence at some of the railway stations to carry out stop-and-searches would be a great advantage to stop some people from carrying weapons on our trains and buses. Have the government and I failed to honour our commitment? I do not believe that we have at all. We have been in government for two years. That is not even halfway into our first four and a half year term. I think members will see a lot more happen in the next two years. We have had a lot of work to do to correct the things that the former government did not bother to get around to doing. Half my life has been spent fixing the former government’s mistakes, such as the hoon legislation and trying to find funding for the unlicensed drivers legislation which the former government brought in but which was never, ever funded. It is the same as the Towards Zero road safety strategy. That was never, ever funded either. We are doing all those things.
(3) Why has the minister failed to honour his election commitment, and instead allowed antisocial and violent behaviour to increase on public transport? Mr R.F. JOHNSON replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. (1)–(3) In respect to the first part of the Leader of the Opposition’s question, I am not aware that the number has been slashed from 96 to 90. I am assuming that there has been a reduction of six full-time full-time equivalents in the transport division. The number has certainly increased, under this government, from something like 60 to 90, or a number thereabouts; I do not have the figures in front of me, so I cannot give the Leader of the Opposition an accurate answer. I assume that if there are six fewer today than there were six months ago, it could be because — Mr E.S. Ripper : No, there are six fewer today than there were in July 2008, just before the government was elected. Mr J.R. Quigley : You don’t know anything about your portfolio! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I know a lot about my portfolio. I know more about it than the member will ever know about it! The Leader of the Opposition referred to our election promise to increase the number of police officers in our transport system. I can tell the Leader of the Opposition that there are discussions going ahead at the moment with myself and the Minister for Transport — Mr P.C. Tinley : You’re having a conversation with yourself, are you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid interjection! Mr P.C. Tinley : I beg your pardon; I am sorry! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : At least he has the decency to apologise; I appreciate that! In respect of the election promise, yes, we want to increase the police presence on public transport in Western Australia — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Leader of the Opposition has asked a very sensible question, one that is very close to my heart, but all I get is puerile interjections from some of his idiot backbenchers. I will answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. Discussions are going ahead at the moment with the Minister for Transport and me — Mrs M.H. Roberts : Discussions are going ahead? It has taken a year or two. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If the member for Midland wants to talk about broken promises, her broken promise was a great one when she said in 2001 that all the revenue from red-light and speed cameras would go into the road trauma trust fund. That was meant to be an absolute core commitment. What happened? Nothing happened. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You can’t answer the question, can you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will, but if the member interjects on me, she will get it served back. The member is being told to not interject. As I have tried to tell the Leader of the Opposition, discussions are going ahead. I want to see a greater police presence, and I know that the Premier and the Minister for Transport do too. We are working out a system that can best achieve having more police officers on our transit system, because police officers are what people want to see. That is part of our promise. We are only two years into a four and a half year term of government and I am very hopeful that we will see that eventuate. I think that in his third question the Leader of the Opposition stated that I had failed to honour the election commitment. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is two years into this government’s term and the police presence has declined and the number of violent incidents on the trains is up. Therefore, I do not think the promise has been honoured. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Does the Leader of the Opposition say that violent and antisocial behaviour offences are up? Mr E.S. Ripper : Antisocial and violent behaviour has increased. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will certainly look into the terminology that the Leader of the Opposition used, because I know that the Department of Transport has said that a lot of the offences that the opposition is jumping on are when someone does not have a ticket or has sworn or spat or created antisocial behaviour. Criminal charges cannot be laid against those individuals. I am saying that I believe a larger police presence on our trains, and on certain lines in particular, would be a great advantage. Having a police presence at some of the railway stations to carry out stop-and-searches would be a great advantage to stop some people from carrying weapons on our trains and buses. Have the government and I failed to honour our commitment? I do not believe that we have at all. We have been in government for two years. That is not even halfway into our first four and a half year term. I think members will see a lot more happen in the next two years. We have had a lot of work to do to correct the things that the former government did not bother to get around to doing. Half my life has been spent fixing the former government’s mistakes, such as the hoon legislation and trying to find funding for the unlicensed drivers legislation which the former government brought in but which was never, ever funded. It is the same as the Towards Zero road safety strategy. That was never, ever funded either. We are doing all those things.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. (1)–(3) In respect to the first part of the Leader of the Opposition’s question, I am not aware that the number has been slashed from 96 to 90. I am assuming that there has been a reduction of six full-time full-time equivalents in the transport division. The number has certainly increased, under this government, from something like 60 to 90, or a number thereabouts; I do not have the figures in front of me, so I cannot give the Leader of the Opposition an accurate answer. I assume that if there are six fewer today than there were six months ago, it could be because — Mr E.S. Ripper : No, there are six fewer today than there were in July 2008, just before the government was elected. Mr J.R. Quigley : You don’t know anything about your portfolio! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I know a lot about my portfolio. I know more about it than the member will ever know about it! The Leader of the Opposition referred to our election promise to increase the number of police officers in our transport system. I can tell the Leader of the Opposition that there are discussions going ahead at the moment with myself and the Minister for Transport — Mr P.C. Tinley : You’re having a conversation with yourself, are you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid interjection! Mr P.C. Tinley : I beg your pardon; I am sorry! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : At least he has the decency to apologise; I appreciate that! In respect of the election promise, yes, we want to increase the police presence on public transport in Western Australia — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Leader of the Opposition has asked a very sensible question, one that is very close to my heart, but all I get is puerile interjections from some of his idiot backbenchers. I will answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. Discussions are going ahead at the moment with the Minister for Transport and me — Mrs M.H. Roberts : Discussions are going ahead? It has taken a year or two. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If the member for Midland wants to talk about broken promises, her broken promise was a great one when she said in 2001 that all the revenue from red-light and speed cameras would go into the road trauma trust fund. That was meant to be an absolute core commitment. What happened? Nothing happened. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You can’t answer the question, can you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will, but if the member interjects on me, she will get it served back. The member is being told to not interject. As I have tried to tell the Leader of the Opposition, discussions are going ahead. I want to see a greater police presence, and I know that the Premier and the Minister for Transport do too. We are working out a system that can best achieve having more police officers on our transit system, because police officers are what people want to see. That is part of our promise. We are only two years into a four and a half year term of government and I am very hopeful that we will see that eventuate. I think that in his third question the Leader of the Opposition stated that I had failed to honour the election commitment. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is two years into this government’s term and the police presence has declined and the number of violent incidents on the trains is up. Therefore, I do not think the promise has been honoured. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Does the Leader of the Opposition say that violent and antisocial behaviour offences are up? Mr E.S. Ripper : Antisocial and violent behaviour has increased. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will certainly look into the terminology that the Leader of the Opposition used, because I know that the Department of Transport has said that a lot of the offences that the opposition is jumping on are when someone does not have a ticket or has sworn or spat or created antisocial behaviour. Criminal charges cannot be laid against those individuals. I am saying that I believe a larger police presence on our trains, and on certain lines in particular, would be a great advantage. Having a police presence at some of the railway stations to carry out stop-and-searches would be a great advantage to stop some people from carrying weapons on our trains and buses. Have the government and I failed to honour our commitment? I do not believe that we have at all. We have been in government for two years. That is not even halfway into our first four and a half year term. I think members will see a lot more happen in the next two years. We have had a lot of work to do to correct the things that the former government did not bother to get around to doing. Half my life has been spent fixing the former government’s mistakes, such as the hoon legislation and trying to find funding for the unlicensed drivers legislation which the former government brought in but which was never, ever funded. It is the same as the Towards Zero road safety strategy. That was never, ever funded either. We are doing all those things.
I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. (1)–(3) In respect to the first part of the Leader of the Opposition’s question, I am not aware that the number has been slashed from 96 to 90. I am assuming that there has been a reduction of six full-time full-time equivalents in the transport division. The number has certainly increased, under this government, from something like 60 to 90, or a number thereabouts; I do not have the figures in front of me, so I cannot give the Leader of the Opposition an accurate answer. I assume that if there are six fewer today than there were six months ago, it could be because — Mr E.S. Ripper : No, there are six fewer today than there were in July 2008, just before the government was elected. Mr J.R. Quigley : You don’t know anything about your portfolio! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I know a lot about my portfolio. I know more about it than the member will ever know about it! The Leader of the Opposition referred to our election promise to increase the number of police officers in our transport system. I can tell the Leader of the Opposition that there are discussions going ahead at the moment with myself and the Minister for Transport — Mr P.C. Tinley : You’re having a conversation with yourself, are you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid interjection! Mr P.C. Tinley : I beg your pardon; I am sorry! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : At least he has the decency to apologise; I appreciate that! In respect of the election promise, yes, we want to increase the police presence on public transport in Western Australia — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Leader of the Opposition has asked a very sensible question, one that is very close to my heart, but all I get is puerile interjections from some of his idiot backbenchers. I will answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. Discussions are going ahead at the moment with the Minister for Transport and me — Mrs M.H. Roberts : Discussions are going ahead? It has taken a year or two. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If the member for Midland wants to talk about broken promises, her broken promise was a great one when she said in 2001 that all the revenue from red-light and speed cameras would go into the road trauma trust fund. That was meant to be an absolute core commitment. What happened? Nothing happened. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You can’t answer the question, can you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will, but if the member interjects on me, she will get it served back. The member is being told to not interject. As I have tried to tell the Leader of the Opposition, discussions are going ahead. I want to see a greater police presence, and I know that the Premier and the Minister for Transport do too. We are working out a system that can best achieve having more police officers on our transit system, because police officers are what people want to see. That is part of our promise. We are only two years into a four and a half year term of government and I am very hopeful that we will see that eventuate. I think that in his third question the Leader of the Opposition stated that I had failed to honour the election commitment. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is two years into this government’s term and the police presence has declined and the number of violent incidents on the trains is up. Therefore, I do not think the promise has been honoured. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Does the Leader of the Opposition say that violent and antisocial behaviour offences are up? Mr E.S. Ripper : Antisocial and violent behaviour has increased. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will certainly look into the terminology that the Leader of the Opposition used, because I know that the Department of Transport has said that a lot of the offences that the opposition is jumping on are when someone does not have a ticket or has sworn or spat or created antisocial behaviour. Criminal charges cannot be laid against those individuals. I am saying that I believe a larger police presence on our trains, and on certain lines in particular, would be a great advantage. Having a police presence at some of the railway stations to carry out stop-and-searches would be a great advantage to stop some people from carrying weapons on our trains and buses. Have the government and I failed to honour our commitment? I do not believe that we have at all. We have been in government for two years. That is not even halfway into our first four and a half year term. I think members will see a lot more happen in the next two years. We have had a lot of work to do to correct the things that the former government did not bother to get around to doing. Half my life has been spent fixing the former government’s mistakes, such as the hoon legislation and trying to find funding for the unlicensed drivers legislation which the former government brought in but which was never, ever funded. It is the same as the Towards Zero road safety strategy. That was never, ever funded either. We are doing all those things.
(1)–(3) In respect to the first part of the Leader of the Opposition’s question, I am not aware that the number has been slashed from 96 to 90. I am assuming that there has been a reduction of six full-time full-time equivalents in the transport division. The number has certainly increased, under this government, from something like 60 to 90, or a number thereabouts; I do not have the figures in front of me, so I cannot give the Leader of the Opposition an accurate answer. I assume that if there are six fewer today than there were six months ago, it could be because — Mr E.S. Ripper : No, there are six fewer today than there were in July 2008, just before the government was elected. Mr J.R. Quigley : You don’t know anything about your portfolio! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I know a lot about my portfolio. I know more about it than the member will ever know about it! The Leader of the Opposition referred to our election promise to increase the number of police officers in our transport system. I can tell the Leader of the Opposition that there are discussions going ahead at the moment with myself and the Minister for Transport — Mr P.C. Tinley : You’re having a conversation with yourself, are you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid interjection! Mr P.C. Tinley : I beg your pardon; I am sorry! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : At least he has the decency to apologise; I appreciate that! In respect of the election promise, yes, we want to increase the police presence on public transport in Western Australia — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Leader of the Opposition has asked a very sensible question, one that is very close to my heart, but all I get is puerile interjections from some of his idiot backbenchers. I will answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. Discussions are going ahead at the moment with the Minister for Transport and me — Mrs M.H. Roberts : Discussions are going ahead? It has taken a year or two. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If the member for Midland wants to talk about broken promises, her broken promise was a great one when she said in 2001 that all the revenue from red-light and speed cameras would go into the road trauma trust fund. That was meant to be an absolute core commitment. What happened? Nothing happened. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You can’t answer the question, can you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will, but if the member interjects on me, she will get it served back. The member is being told to not interject. As I have tried to tell the Leader of the Opposition, discussions are going ahead. I want to see a greater police presence, and I know that the Premier and the Minister for Transport do too. We are working out a system that can best achieve having more police officers on our transit system, because police officers are what people want to see. That is part of our promise. We are only two years into a four and a half year term of government and I am very hopeful that we will see that eventuate. I think that in his third question the Leader of the Opposition stated that I had failed to honour the election commitment. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is two years into this government’s term and the police presence has declined and the number of violent incidents on the trains is up. Therefore, I do not think the promise has been honoured. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Does the Leader of the Opposition say that violent and antisocial behaviour offences are up? Mr E.S. Ripper : Antisocial and violent behaviour has increased. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will certainly look into the terminology that the Leader of the Opposition used, because I know that the Department of Transport has said that a lot of the offences that the opposition is jumping on are when someone does not have a ticket or has sworn or spat or created antisocial behaviour. Criminal charges cannot be laid against those individuals. I am saying that I believe a larger police presence on our trains, and on certain lines in particular, would be a great advantage. Having a police presence at some of the railway stations to carry out stop-and-searches would be a great advantage to stop some people from carrying weapons on our trains and buses. Have the government and I failed to honour our commitment? I do not believe that we have at all. We have been in government for two years. That is not even halfway into our first four and a half year term. I think members will see a lot more happen in the next two years. We have had a lot of work to do to correct the things that the former government did not bother to get around to doing. Half my life has been spent fixing the former government’s mistakes, such as the hoon legislation and trying to find funding for the unlicensed drivers legislation which the former government brought in but which was never, ever funded. It is the same as the Towards Zero road safety strategy. That was never, ever funded either. We are doing all those things.
Mr E.S. Ripper : No, there are six fewer today than there were in July 2008, just before the government was elected. Mr J.R. Quigley : You don’t know anything about your portfolio! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I know a lot about my portfolio. I know more about it than the member will ever know about it! The Leader of the Opposition referred to our election promise to increase the number of police officers in our transport system. I can tell the Leader of the Opposition that there are discussions going ahead at the moment with myself and the Minister for Transport — Mr P.C. Tinley : You’re having a conversation with yourself, are you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid interjection! Mr P.C. Tinley : I beg your pardon; I am sorry! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : At least he has the decency to apologise; I appreciate that! In respect of the election promise, yes, we want to increase the police presence on public transport in Western Australia — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Leader of the Opposition has asked a very sensible question, one that is very close to my heart, but all I get is puerile interjections from some of his idiot backbenchers. I will answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. Discussions are going ahead at the moment with the Minister for Transport and me — Mrs M.H. Roberts : Discussions are going ahead? It has taken a year or two. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If the member for Midland wants to talk about broken promises, her broken promise was a great one when she said in 2001 that all the revenue from red-light and speed cameras would go into the road trauma trust fund. That was meant to be an absolute core commitment. What happened? Nothing happened. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You can’t answer the question, can you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will, but if the member interjects on me, she will get it served back. The member is being told to not interject. As I have tried to tell the Leader of the Opposition, discussions are going ahead. I want to see a greater police presence, and I know that the Premier and the Minister for Transport do too. We are working out a system that can best achieve having more police officers on our transit system, because police officers are what people want to see. That is part of our promise. We are only two years into a four and a half year term of government and I am very hopeful that we will see that eventuate. I think that in his third question the Leader of the Opposition stated that I had failed to honour the election commitment. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is two years into this government’s term and the police presence has declined and the number of violent incidents on the trains is up. Therefore, I do not think the promise has been honoured. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Does the Leader of the Opposition say that violent and antisocial behaviour offences are up? Mr E.S. Ripper : Antisocial and violent behaviour has increased. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will certainly look into the terminology that the Leader of the Opposition used, because I know that the Department of Transport has said that a lot of the offences that the opposition is jumping on are when someone does not have a ticket or has sworn or spat or created antisocial behaviour. Criminal charges cannot be laid against those individuals. I am saying that I believe a larger police presence on our trains, and on certain lines in particular, would be a great advantage. Having a police presence at some of the railway stations to carry out stop-and-searches would be a great advantage to stop some people from carrying weapons on our trains and buses. Have the government and I failed to honour our commitment? I do not believe that we have at all. We have been in government for two years. That is not even halfway into our first four and a half year term. I think members will see a lot more happen in the next two years. We have had a lot of work to do to correct the things that the former government did not bother to get around to doing. Half my life has been spent fixing the former government’s mistakes, such as the hoon legislation and trying to find funding for the unlicensed drivers legislation which the former government brought in but which was never, ever funded. It is the same as the Towards Zero road safety strategy. That was never, ever funded either. We are doing all those things.
Mr J.R. Quigley : You don’t know anything about your portfolio! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I know a lot about my portfolio. I know more about it than the member will ever know about it! The Leader of the Opposition referred to our election promise to increase the number of police officers in our transport system. I can tell the Leader of the Opposition that there are discussions going ahead at the moment with myself and the Minister for Transport — Mr P.C. Tinley : You’re having a conversation with yourself, are you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid interjection! Mr P.C. Tinley : I beg your pardon; I am sorry! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : At least he has the decency to apologise; I appreciate that! In respect of the election promise, yes, we want to increase the police presence on public transport in Western Australia — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Leader of the Opposition has asked a very sensible question, one that is very close to my heart, but all I get is puerile interjections from some of his idiot backbenchers. I will answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. Discussions are going ahead at the moment with the Minister for Transport and me — Mrs M.H. Roberts : Discussions are going ahead? It has taken a year or two. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If the member for Midland wants to talk about broken promises, her broken promise was a great one when she said in 2001 that all the revenue from red-light and speed cameras would go into the road trauma trust fund. That was meant to be an absolute core commitment. What happened? Nothing happened. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You can’t answer the question, can you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will, but if the member interjects on me, she will get it served back. The member is being told to not interject. As I have tried to tell the Leader of the Opposition, discussions are going ahead. I want to see a greater police presence, and I know that the Premier and the Minister for Transport do too. We are working out a system that can best achieve having more police officers on our transit system, because police officers are what people want to see. That is part of our promise. We are only two years into a four and a half year term of government and I am very hopeful that we will see that eventuate. I think that in his third question the Leader of the Opposition stated that I had failed to honour the election commitment. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is two years into this government’s term and the police presence has declined and the number of violent incidents on the trains is up. Therefore, I do not think the promise has been honoured. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Does the Leader of the Opposition say that violent and antisocial behaviour offences are up? Mr E.S. Ripper : Antisocial and violent behaviour has increased. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will certainly look into the terminology that the Leader of the Opposition used, because I know that the Department of Transport has said that a lot of the offences that the opposition is jumping on are when someone does not have a ticket or has sworn or spat or created antisocial behaviour. Criminal charges cannot be laid against those individuals. I am saying that I believe a larger police presence on our trains, and on certain lines in particular, would be a great advantage. Having a police presence at some of the railway stations to carry out stop-and-searches would be a great advantage to stop some people from carrying weapons on our trains and buses. Have the government and I failed to honour our commitment? I do not believe that we have at all. We have been in government for two years. That is not even halfway into our first four and a half year term. I think members will see a lot more happen in the next two years. We have had a lot of work to do to correct the things that the former government did not bother to get around to doing. Half my life has been spent fixing the former government’s mistakes, such as the hoon legislation and trying to find funding for the unlicensed drivers legislation which the former government brought in but which was never, ever funded. It is the same as the Towards Zero road safety strategy. That was never, ever funded either. We are doing all those things.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I know a lot about my portfolio. I know more about it than the member will ever know about it! The Leader of the Opposition referred to our election promise to increase the number of police officers in our transport system. I can tell the Leader of the Opposition that there are discussions going ahead at the moment with myself and the Minister for Transport — Mr P.C. Tinley : You’re having a conversation with yourself, are you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid interjection! Mr P.C. Tinley : I beg your pardon; I am sorry! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : At least he has the decency to apologise; I appreciate that! In respect of the election promise, yes, we want to increase the police presence on public transport in Western Australia — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Leader of the Opposition has asked a very sensible question, one that is very close to my heart, but all I get is puerile interjections from some of his idiot backbenchers. I will answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. Discussions are going ahead at the moment with the Minister for Transport and me — Mrs M.H. Roberts : Discussions are going ahead? It has taken a year or two. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If the member for Midland wants to talk about broken promises, her broken promise was a great one when she said in 2001 that all the revenue from red-light and speed cameras would go into the road trauma trust fund. That was meant to be an absolute core commitment. What happened? Nothing happened. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You can’t answer the question, can you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will, but if the member interjects on me, she will get it served back. The member is being told to not interject. As I have tried to tell the Leader of the Opposition, discussions are going ahead. I want to see a greater police presence, and I know that the Premier and the Minister for Transport do too. We are working out a system that can best achieve having more police officers on our transit system, because police officers are what people want to see. That is part of our promise. We are only two years into a four and a half year term of government and I am very hopeful that we will see that eventuate. I think that in his third question the Leader of the Opposition stated that I had failed to honour the election commitment. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is two years into this government’s term and the police presence has declined and the number of violent incidents on the trains is up. Therefore, I do not think the promise has been honoured. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Does the Leader of the Opposition say that violent and antisocial behaviour offences are up? Mr E.S. Ripper : Antisocial and violent behaviour has increased. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will certainly look into the terminology that the Leader of the Opposition used, because I know that the Department of Transport has said that a lot of the offences that the opposition is jumping on are when someone does not have a ticket or has sworn or spat or created antisocial behaviour. Criminal charges cannot be laid against those individuals. I am saying that I believe a larger police presence on our trains, and on certain lines in particular, would be a great advantage. Having a police presence at some of the railway stations to carry out stop-and-searches would be a great advantage to stop some people from carrying weapons on our trains and buses. Have the government and I failed to honour our commitment? I do not believe that we have at all. We have been in government for two years. That is not even halfway into our first four and a half year term. I think members will see a lot more happen in the next two years. We have had a lot of work to do to correct the things that the former government did not bother to get around to doing. Half my life has been spent fixing the former government’s mistakes, such as the hoon legislation and trying to find funding for the unlicensed drivers legislation which the former government brought in but which was never, ever funded. It is the same as the Towards Zero road safety strategy. That was never, ever funded either. We are doing all those things.
Mr P.C. Tinley : You’re having a conversation with yourself, are you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid interjection! Mr P.C. Tinley : I beg your pardon; I am sorry! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : At least he has the decency to apologise; I appreciate that! In respect of the election promise, yes, we want to increase the police presence on public transport in Western Australia — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Leader of the Opposition has asked a very sensible question, one that is very close to my heart, but all I get is puerile interjections from some of his idiot backbenchers. I will answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. Discussions are going ahead at the moment with the Minister for Transport and me — Mrs M.H. Roberts : Discussions are going ahead? It has taken a year or two. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If the member for Midland wants to talk about broken promises, her broken promise was a great one when she said in 2001 that all the revenue from red-light and speed cameras would go into the road trauma trust fund. That was meant to be an absolute core commitment. What happened? Nothing happened. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You can’t answer the question, can you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will, but if the member interjects on me, she will get it served back. The member is being told to not interject. As I have tried to tell the Leader of the Opposition, discussions are going ahead. I want to see a greater police presence, and I know that the Premier and the Minister for Transport do too. We are working out a system that can best achieve having more police officers on our transit system, because police officers are what people want to see. That is part of our promise. We are only two years into a four and a half year term of government and I am very hopeful that we will see that eventuate. I think that in his third question the Leader of the Opposition stated that I had failed to honour the election commitment. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is two years into this government’s term and the police presence has declined and the number of violent incidents on the trains is up. Therefore, I do not think the promise has been honoured. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Does the Leader of the Opposition say that violent and antisocial behaviour offences are up? Mr E.S. Ripper : Antisocial and violent behaviour has increased. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will certainly look into the terminology that the Leader of the Opposition used, because I know that the Department of Transport has said that a lot of the offences that the opposition is jumping on are when someone does not have a ticket or has sworn or spat or created antisocial behaviour. Criminal charges cannot be laid against those individuals. I am saying that I believe a larger police presence on our trains, and on certain lines in particular, would be a great advantage. Having a police presence at some of the railway stations to carry out stop-and-searches would be a great advantage to stop some people from carrying weapons on our trains and buses. Have the government and I failed to honour our commitment? I do not believe that we have at all. We have been in government for two years. That is not even halfway into our first four and a half year term. I think members will see a lot more happen in the next two years. We have had a lot of work to do to correct the things that the former government did not bother to get around to doing. Half my life has been spent fixing the former government’s mistakes, such as the hoon legislation and trying to find funding for the unlicensed drivers legislation which the former government brought in but which was never, ever funded. It is the same as the Towards Zero road safety strategy. That was never, ever funded either. We are doing all those things.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What a stupid interjection! Mr P.C. Tinley : I beg your pardon; I am sorry! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : At least he has the decency to apologise; I appreciate that! In respect of the election promise, yes, we want to increase the police presence on public transport in Western Australia — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Leader of the Opposition has asked a very sensible question, one that is very close to my heart, but all I get is puerile interjections from some of his idiot backbenchers. I will answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. Discussions are going ahead at the moment with the Minister for Transport and me — Mrs M.H. Roberts : Discussions are going ahead? It has taken a year or two. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If the member for Midland wants to talk about broken promises, her broken promise was a great one when she said in 2001 that all the revenue from red-light and speed cameras would go into the road trauma trust fund. That was meant to be an absolute core commitment. What happened? Nothing happened. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You can’t answer the question, can you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will, but if the member interjects on me, she will get it served back. The member is being told to not interject. As I have tried to tell the Leader of the Opposition, discussions are going ahead. I want to see a greater police presence, and I know that the Premier and the Minister for Transport do too. We are working out a system that can best achieve having more police officers on our transit system, because police officers are what people want to see. That is part of our promise. We are only two years into a four and a half year term of government and I am very hopeful that we will see that eventuate. I think that in his third question the Leader of the Opposition stated that I had failed to honour the election commitment. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is two years into this government’s term and the police presence has declined and the number of violent incidents on the trains is up. Therefore, I do not think the promise has been honoured. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Does the Leader of the Opposition say that violent and antisocial behaviour offences are up? Mr E.S. Ripper : Antisocial and violent behaviour has increased. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will certainly look into the terminology that the Leader of the Opposition used, because I know that the Department of Transport has said that a lot of the offences that the opposition is jumping on are when someone does not have a ticket or has sworn or spat or created antisocial behaviour. Criminal charges cannot be laid against those individuals. I am saying that I believe a larger police presence on our trains, and on certain lines in particular, would be a great advantage. Having a police presence at some of the railway stations to carry out stop-and-searches would be a great advantage to stop some people from carrying weapons on our trains and buses. Have the government and I failed to honour our commitment? I do not believe that we have at all. We have been in government for two years. That is not even halfway into our first four and a half year term. I think members will see a lot more happen in the next two years. We have had a lot of work to do to correct the things that the former government did not bother to get around to doing. Half my life has been spent fixing the former government’s mistakes, such as the hoon legislation and trying to find funding for the unlicensed drivers legislation which the former government brought in but which was never, ever funded. It is the same as the Towards Zero road safety strategy. That was never, ever funded either. We are doing all those things.
Mr P.C. Tinley : I beg your pardon; I am sorry! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : At least he has the decency to apologise; I appreciate that! In respect of the election promise, yes, we want to increase the police presence on public transport in Western Australia — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Leader of the Opposition has asked a very sensible question, one that is very close to my heart, but all I get is puerile interjections from some of his idiot backbenchers. I will answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. Discussions are going ahead at the moment with the Minister for Transport and me — Mrs M.H. Roberts : Discussions are going ahead? It has taken a year or two. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If the member for Midland wants to talk about broken promises, her broken promise was a great one when she said in 2001 that all the revenue from red-light and speed cameras would go into the road trauma trust fund. That was meant to be an absolute core commitment. What happened? Nothing happened. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You can’t answer the question, can you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will, but if the member interjects on me, she will get it served back. The member is being told to not interject. As I have tried to tell the Leader of the Opposition, discussions are going ahead. I want to see a greater police presence, and I know that the Premier and the Minister for Transport do too. We are working out a system that can best achieve having more police officers on our transit system, because police officers are what people want to see. That is part of our promise. We are only two years into a four and a half year term of government and I am very hopeful that we will see that eventuate. I think that in his third question the Leader of the Opposition stated that I had failed to honour the election commitment. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is two years into this government’s term and the police presence has declined and the number of violent incidents on the trains is up. Therefore, I do not think the promise has been honoured. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Does the Leader of the Opposition say that violent and antisocial behaviour offences are up? Mr E.S. Ripper : Antisocial and violent behaviour has increased. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will certainly look into the terminology that the Leader of the Opposition used, because I know that the Department of Transport has said that a lot of the offences that the opposition is jumping on are when someone does not have a ticket or has sworn or spat or created antisocial behaviour. Criminal charges cannot be laid against those individuals. I am saying that I believe a larger police presence on our trains, and on certain lines in particular, would be a great advantage. Having a police presence at some of the railway stations to carry out stop-and-searches would be a great advantage to stop some people from carrying weapons on our trains and buses. Have the government and I failed to honour our commitment? I do not believe that we have at all. We have been in government for two years. That is not even halfway into our first four and a half year term. I think members will see a lot more happen in the next two years. We have had a lot of work to do to correct the things that the former government did not bother to get around to doing. Half my life has been spent fixing the former government’s mistakes, such as the hoon legislation and trying to find funding for the unlicensed drivers legislation which the former government brought in but which was never, ever funded. It is the same as the Towards Zero road safety strategy. That was never, ever funded either. We are doing all those things.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : At least he has the decency to apologise; I appreciate that! In respect of the election promise, yes, we want to increase the police presence on public transport in Western Australia — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Leader of the Opposition has asked a very sensible question, one that is very close to my heart, but all I get is puerile interjections from some of his idiot backbenchers. I will answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. Discussions are going ahead at the moment with the Minister for Transport and me — Mrs M.H. Roberts : Discussions are going ahead? It has taken a year or two. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If the member for Midland wants to talk about broken promises, her broken promise was a great one when she said in 2001 that all the revenue from red-light and speed cameras would go into the road trauma trust fund. That was meant to be an absolute core commitment. What happened? Nothing happened. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You can’t answer the question, can you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will, but if the member interjects on me, she will get it served back. The member is being told to not interject. As I have tried to tell the Leader of the Opposition, discussions are going ahead. I want to see a greater police presence, and I know that the Premier and the Minister for Transport do too. We are working out a system that can best achieve having more police officers on our transit system, because police officers are what people want to see. That is part of our promise. We are only two years into a four and a half year term of government and I am very hopeful that we will see that eventuate. I think that in his third question the Leader of the Opposition stated that I had failed to honour the election commitment. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is two years into this government’s term and the police presence has declined and the number of violent incidents on the trains is up. Therefore, I do not think the promise has been honoured. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Does the Leader of the Opposition say that violent and antisocial behaviour offences are up? Mr E.S. Ripper : Antisocial and violent behaviour has increased. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will certainly look into the terminology that the Leader of the Opposition used, because I know that the Department of Transport has said that a lot of the offences that the opposition is jumping on are when someone does not have a ticket or has sworn or spat or created antisocial behaviour. Criminal charges cannot be laid against those individuals. I am saying that I believe a larger police presence on our trains, and on certain lines in particular, would be a great advantage. Having a police presence at some of the railway stations to carry out stop-and-searches would be a great advantage to stop some people from carrying weapons on our trains and buses. Have the government and I failed to honour our commitment? I do not believe that we have at all. We have been in government for two years. That is not even halfway into our first four and a half year term. I think members will see a lot more happen in the next two years. We have had a lot of work to do to correct the things that the former government did not bother to get around to doing. Half my life has been spent fixing the former government’s mistakes, such as the hoon legislation and trying to find funding for the unlicensed drivers legislation which the former government brought in but which was never, ever funded. It is the same as the Towards Zero road safety strategy. That was never, ever funded either. We are doing all those things.
In respect of the election promise, yes, we want to increase the police presence on public transport in Western Australia — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Leader of the Opposition has asked a very sensible question, one that is very close to my heart, but all I get is puerile interjections from some of his idiot backbenchers. I will answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. Discussions are going ahead at the moment with the Minister for Transport and me — Mrs M.H. Roberts : Discussions are going ahead? It has taken a year or two. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If the member for Midland wants to talk about broken promises, her broken promise was a great one when she said in 2001 that all the revenue from red-light and speed cameras would go into the road trauma trust fund. That was meant to be an absolute core commitment. What happened? Nothing happened. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You can’t answer the question, can you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will, but if the member interjects on me, she will get it served back. The member is being told to not interject. As I have tried to tell the Leader of the Opposition, discussions are going ahead. I want to see a greater police presence, and I know that the Premier and the Minister for Transport do too. We are working out a system that can best achieve having more police officers on our transit system, because police officers are what people want to see. That is part of our promise. We are only two years into a four and a half year term of government and I am very hopeful that we will see that eventuate. I think that in his third question the Leader of the Opposition stated that I had failed to honour the election commitment. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is two years into this government’s term and the police presence has declined and the number of violent incidents on the trains is up. Therefore, I do not think the promise has been honoured. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Does the Leader of the Opposition say that violent and antisocial behaviour offences are up? Mr E.S. Ripper : Antisocial and violent behaviour has increased. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will certainly look into the terminology that the Leader of the Opposition used, because I know that the Department of Transport has said that a lot of the offences that the opposition is jumping on are when someone does not have a ticket or has sworn or spat or created antisocial behaviour. Criminal charges cannot be laid against those individuals. I am saying that I believe a larger police presence on our trains, and on certain lines in particular, would be a great advantage. Having a police presence at some of the railway stations to carry out stop-and-searches would be a great advantage to stop some people from carrying weapons on our trains and buses. Have the government and I failed to honour our commitment? I do not believe that we have at all. We have been in government for two years. That is not even halfway into our first four and a half year term. I think members will see a lot more happen in the next two years. We have had a lot of work to do to correct the things that the former government did not bother to get around to doing. Half my life has been spent fixing the former government’s mistakes, such as the hoon legislation and trying to find funding for the unlicensed drivers legislation which the former government brought in but which was never, ever funded. It is the same as the Towards Zero road safety strategy. That was never, ever funded either. We are doing all those things.
Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Leader of the Opposition has asked a very sensible question, one that is very close to my heart, but all I get is puerile interjections from some of his idiot backbenchers. I will answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. Discussions are going ahead at the moment with the Minister for Transport and me — Mrs M.H. Roberts : Discussions are going ahead? It has taken a year or two. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If the member for Midland wants to talk about broken promises, her broken promise was a great one when she said in 2001 that all the revenue from red-light and speed cameras would go into the road trauma trust fund. That was meant to be an absolute core commitment. What happened? Nothing happened. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You can’t answer the question, can you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will, but if the member interjects on me, she will get it served back. The member is being told to not interject. As I have tried to tell the Leader of the Opposition, discussions are going ahead. I want to see a greater police presence, and I know that the Premier and the Minister for Transport do too. We are working out a system that can best achieve having more police officers on our transit system, because police officers are what people want to see. That is part of our promise. We are only two years into a four and a half year term of government and I am very hopeful that we will see that eventuate. I think that in his third question the Leader of the Opposition stated that I had failed to honour the election commitment. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is two years into this government’s term and the police presence has declined and the number of violent incidents on the trains is up. Therefore, I do not think the promise has been honoured. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Does the Leader of the Opposition say that violent and antisocial behaviour offences are up? Mr E.S. Ripper : Antisocial and violent behaviour has increased. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will certainly look into the terminology that the Leader of the Opposition used, because I know that the Department of Transport has said that a lot of the offences that the opposition is jumping on are when someone does not have a ticket or has sworn or spat or created antisocial behaviour. Criminal charges cannot be laid against those individuals. I am saying that I believe a larger police presence on our trains, and on certain lines in particular, would be a great advantage. Having a police presence at some of the railway stations to carry out stop-and-searches would be a great advantage to stop some people from carrying weapons on our trains and buses. Have the government and I failed to honour our commitment? I do not believe that we have at all. We have been in government for two years. That is not even halfway into our first four and a half year term. I think members will see a lot more happen in the next two years. We have had a lot of work to do to correct the things that the former government did not bother to get around to doing. Half my life has been spent fixing the former government’s mistakes, such as the hoon legislation and trying to find funding for the unlicensed drivers legislation which the former government brought in but which was never, ever funded. It is the same as the Towards Zero road safety strategy. That was never, ever funded either. We are doing all those things.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Leader of the Opposition has asked a very sensible question, one that is very close to my heart, but all I get is puerile interjections from some of his idiot backbenchers. I will answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. Discussions are going ahead at the moment with the Minister for Transport and me — Mrs M.H. Roberts : Discussions are going ahead? It has taken a year or two. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If the member for Midland wants to talk about broken promises, her broken promise was a great one when she said in 2001 that all the revenue from red-light and speed cameras would go into the road trauma trust fund. That was meant to be an absolute core commitment. What happened? Nothing happened. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You can’t answer the question, can you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will, but if the member interjects on me, she will get it served back. The member is being told to not interject. As I have tried to tell the Leader of the Opposition, discussions are going ahead. I want to see a greater police presence, and I know that the Premier and the Minister for Transport do too. We are working out a system that can best achieve having more police officers on our transit system, because police officers are what people want to see. That is part of our promise. We are only two years into a four and a half year term of government and I am very hopeful that we will see that eventuate. I think that in his third question the Leader of the Opposition stated that I had failed to honour the election commitment. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is two years into this government’s term and the police presence has declined and the number of violent incidents on the trains is up. Therefore, I do not think the promise has been honoured. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Does the Leader of the Opposition say that violent and antisocial behaviour offences are up? Mr E.S. Ripper : Antisocial and violent behaviour has increased. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will certainly look into the terminology that the Leader of the Opposition used, because I know that the Department of Transport has said that a lot of the offences that the opposition is jumping on are when someone does not have a ticket or has sworn or spat or created antisocial behaviour. Criminal charges cannot be laid against those individuals. I am saying that I believe a larger police presence on our trains, and on certain lines in particular, would be a great advantage. Having a police presence at some of the railway stations to carry out stop-and-searches would be a great advantage to stop some people from carrying weapons on our trains and buses. Have the government and I failed to honour our commitment? I do not believe that we have at all. We have been in government for two years. That is not even halfway into our first four and a half year term. I think members will see a lot more happen in the next two years. We have had a lot of work to do to correct the things that the former government did not bother to get around to doing. Half my life has been spent fixing the former government’s mistakes, such as the hoon legislation and trying to find funding for the unlicensed drivers legislation which the former government brought in but which was never, ever funded. It is the same as the Towards Zero road safety strategy. That was never, ever funded either. We are doing all those things.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : Discussions are going ahead? It has taken a year or two. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If the member for Midland wants to talk about broken promises, her broken promise was a great one when she said in 2001 that all the revenue from red-light and speed cameras would go into the road trauma trust fund. That was meant to be an absolute core commitment. What happened? Nothing happened. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You can’t answer the question, can you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will, but if the member interjects on me, she will get it served back. The member is being told to not interject. As I have tried to tell the Leader of the Opposition, discussions are going ahead. I want to see a greater police presence, and I know that the Premier and the Minister for Transport do too. We are working out a system that can best achieve having more police officers on our transit system, because police officers are what people want to see. That is part of our promise. We are only two years into a four and a half year term of government and I am very hopeful that we will see that eventuate. I think that in his third question the Leader of the Opposition stated that I had failed to honour the election commitment. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is two years into this government’s term and the police presence has declined and the number of violent incidents on the trains is up. Therefore, I do not think the promise has been honoured. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Does the Leader of the Opposition say that violent and antisocial behaviour offences are up? Mr E.S. Ripper : Antisocial and violent behaviour has increased. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will certainly look into the terminology that the Leader of the Opposition used, because I know that the Department of Transport has said that a lot of the offences that the opposition is jumping on are when someone does not have a ticket or has sworn or spat or created antisocial behaviour. Criminal charges cannot be laid against those individuals. I am saying that I believe a larger police presence on our trains, and on certain lines in particular, would be a great advantage. Having a police presence at some of the railway stations to carry out stop-and-searches would be a great advantage to stop some people from carrying weapons on our trains and buses. Have the government and I failed to honour our commitment? I do not believe that we have at all. We have been in government for two years. That is not even halfway into our first four and a half year term. I think members will see a lot more happen in the next two years. We have had a lot of work to do to correct the things that the former government did not bother to get around to doing. Half my life has been spent fixing the former government’s mistakes, such as the hoon legislation and trying to find funding for the unlicensed drivers legislation which the former government brought in but which was never, ever funded. It is the same as the Towards Zero road safety strategy. That was never, ever funded either. We are doing all those things.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If the member for Midland wants to talk about broken promises, her broken promise was a great one when she said in 2001 that all the revenue from red-light and speed cameras would go into the road trauma trust fund. That was meant to be an absolute core commitment. What happened? Nothing happened. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You can’t answer the question, can you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will, but if the member interjects on me, she will get it served back. The member is being told to not interject. As I have tried to tell the Leader of the Opposition, discussions are going ahead. I want to see a greater police presence, and I know that the Premier and the Minister for Transport do too. We are working out a system that can best achieve having more police officers on our transit system, because police officers are what people want to see. That is part of our promise. We are only two years into a four and a half year term of government and I am very hopeful that we will see that eventuate. I think that in his third question the Leader of the Opposition stated that I had failed to honour the election commitment. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is two years into this government’s term and the police presence has declined and the number of violent incidents on the trains is up. Therefore, I do not think the promise has been honoured. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Does the Leader of the Opposition say that violent and antisocial behaviour offences are up? Mr E.S. Ripper : Antisocial and violent behaviour has increased. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will certainly look into the terminology that the Leader of the Opposition used, because I know that the Department of Transport has said that a lot of the offences that the opposition is jumping on are when someone does not have a ticket or has sworn or spat or created antisocial behaviour. Criminal charges cannot be laid against those individuals. I am saying that I believe a larger police presence on our trains, and on certain lines in particular, would be a great advantage. Having a police presence at some of the railway stations to carry out stop-and-searches would be a great advantage to stop some people from carrying weapons on our trains and buses. Have the government and I failed to honour our commitment? I do not believe that we have at all. We have been in government for two years. That is not even halfway into our first four and a half year term. I think members will see a lot more happen in the next two years. We have had a lot of work to do to correct the things that the former government did not bother to get around to doing. Half my life has been spent fixing the former government’s mistakes, such as the hoon legislation and trying to find funding for the unlicensed drivers legislation which the former government brought in but which was never, ever funded. It is the same as the Towards Zero road safety strategy. That was never, ever funded either. We are doing all those things.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : You can’t answer the question, can you? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will, but if the member interjects on me, she will get it served back. The member is being told to not interject. As I have tried to tell the Leader of the Opposition, discussions are going ahead. I want to see a greater police presence, and I know that the Premier and the Minister for Transport do too. We are working out a system that can best achieve having more police officers on our transit system, because police officers are what people want to see. That is part of our promise. We are only two years into a four and a half year term of government and I am very hopeful that we will see that eventuate. I think that in his third question the Leader of the Opposition stated that I had failed to honour the election commitment. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is two years into this government’s term and the police presence has declined and the number of violent incidents on the trains is up. Therefore, I do not think the promise has been honoured. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Does the Leader of the Opposition say that violent and antisocial behaviour offences are up? Mr E.S. Ripper : Antisocial and violent behaviour has increased. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will certainly look into the terminology that the Leader of the Opposition used, because I know that the Department of Transport has said that a lot of the offences that the opposition is jumping on are when someone does not have a ticket or has sworn or spat or created antisocial behaviour. Criminal charges cannot be laid against those individuals. I am saying that I believe a larger police presence on our trains, and on certain lines in particular, would be a great advantage. Having a police presence at some of the railway stations to carry out stop-and-searches would be a great advantage to stop some people from carrying weapons on our trains and buses. Have the government and I failed to honour our commitment? I do not believe that we have at all. We have been in government for two years. That is not even halfway into our first four and a half year term. I think members will see a lot more happen in the next two years. We have had a lot of work to do to correct the things that the former government did not bother to get around to doing. Half my life has been spent fixing the former government’s mistakes, such as the hoon legislation and trying to find funding for the unlicensed drivers legislation which the former government brought in but which was never, ever funded. It is the same as the Towards Zero road safety strategy. That was never, ever funded either. We are doing all those things.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will, but if the member interjects on me, she will get it served back. The member is being told to not interject. As I have tried to tell the Leader of the Opposition, discussions are going ahead. I want to see a greater police presence, and I know that the Premier and the Minister for Transport do too. We are working out a system that can best achieve having more police officers on our transit system, because police officers are what people want to see. That is part of our promise. We are only two years into a four and a half year term of government and I am very hopeful that we will see that eventuate. I think that in his third question the Leader of the Opposition stated that I had failed to honour the election commitment. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is two years into this government’s term and the police presence has declined and the number of violent incidents on the trains is up. Therefore, I do not think the promise has been honoured. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Does the Leader of the Opposition say that violent and antisocial behaviour offences are up? Mr E.S. Ripper : Antisocial and violent behaviour has increased. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will certainly look into the terminology that the Leader of the Opposition used, because I know that the Department of Transport has said that a lot of the offences that the opposition is jumping on are when someone does not have a ticket or has sworn or spat or created antisocial behaviour. Criminal charges cannot be laid against those individuals. I am saying that I believe a larger police presence on our trains, and on certain lines in particular, would be a great advantage. Having a police presence at some of the railway stations to carry out stop-and-searches would be a great advantage to stop some people from carrying weapons on our trains and buses. Have the government and I failed to honour our commitment? I do not believe that we have at all. We have been in government for two years. That is not even halfway into our first four and a half year term. I think members will see a lot more happen in the next two years. We have had a lot of work to do to correct the things that the former government did not bother to get around to doing. Half my life has been spent fixing the former government’s mistakes, such as the hoon legislation and trying to find funding for the unlicensed drivers legislation which the former government brought in but which was never, ever funded. It is the same as the Towards Zero road safety strategy. That was never, ever funded either. We are doing all those things.
As I have tried to tell the Leader of the Opposition, discussions are going ahead. I want to see a greater police presence, and I know that the Premier and the Minister for Transport do too. We are working out a system that can best achieve having more police officers on our transit system, because police officers are what people want to see. That is part of our promise. We are only two years into a four and a half year term of government and I am very hopeful that we will see that eventuate. I think that in his third question the Leader of the Opposition stated that I had failed to honour the election commitment. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is two years into this government’s term and the police presence has declined and the number of violent incidents on the trains is up. Therefore, I do not think the promise has been honoured. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Does the Leader of the Opposition say that violent and antisocial behaviour offences are up? Mr E.S. Ripper : Antisocial and violent behaviour has increased. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will certainly look into the terminology that the Leader of the Opposition used, because I know that the Department of Transport has said that a lot of the offences that the opposition is jumping on are when someone does not have a ticket or has sworn or spat or created antisocial behaviour. Criminal charges cannot be laid against those individuals. I am saying that I believe a larger police presence on our trains, and on certain lines in particular, would be a great advantage. Having a police presence at some of the railway stations to carry out stop-and-searches would be a great advantage to stop some people from carrying weapons on our trains and buses. Have the government and I failed to honour our commitment? I do not believe that we have at all. We have been in government for two years. That is not even halfway into our first four and a half year term. I think members will see a lot more happen in the next two years. We have had a lot of work to do to correct the things that the former government did not bother to get around to doing. Half my life has been spent fixing the former government’s mistakes, such as the hoon legislation and trying to find funding for the unlicensed drivers legislation which the former government brought in but which was never, ever funded. It is the same as the Towards Zero road safety strategy. That was never, ever funded either. We are doing all those things.
I think that in his third question the Leader of the Opposition stated that I had failed to honour the election commitment. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is two years into this government’s term and the police presence has declined and the number of violent incidents on the trains is up. Therefore, I do not think the promise has been honoured. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Does the Leader of the Opposition say that violent and antisocial behaviour offences are up? Mr E.S. Ripper : Antisocial and violent behaviour has increased. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will certainly look into the terminology that the Leader of the Opposition used, because I know that the Department of Transport has said that a lot of the offences that the opposition is jumping on are when someone does not have a ticket or has sworn or spat or created antisocial behaviour. Criminal charges cannot be laid against those individuals. I am saying that I believe a larger police presence on our trains, and on certain lines in particular, would be a great advantage. Having a police presence at some of the railway stations to carry out stop-and-searches would be a great advantage to stop some people from carrying weapons on our trains and buses. Have the government and I failed to honour our commitment? I do not believe that we have at all. We have been in government for two years. That is not even halfway into our first four and a half year term. I think members will see a lot more happen in the next two years. We have had a lot of work to do to correct the things that the former government did not bother to get around to doing. Half my life has been spent fixing the former government’s mistakes, such as the hoon legislation and trying to find funding for the unlicensed drivers legislation which the former government brought in but which was never, ever funded. It is the same as the Towards Zero road safety strategy. That was never, ever funded either. We are doing all those things.
Mr E.S. Ripper : It is two years into this government’s term and the police presence has declined and the number of violent incidents on the trains is up. Therefore, I do not think the promise has been honoured. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Does the Leader of the Opposition say that violent and antisocial behaviour offences are up? Mr E.S. Ripper : Antisocial and violent behaviour has increased. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will certainly look into the terminology that the Leader of the Opposition used, because I know that the Department of Transport has said that a lot of the offences that the opposition is jumping on are when someone does not have a ticket or has sworn or spat or created antisocial behaviour. Criminal charges cannot be laid against those individuals. I am saying that I believe a larger police presence on our trains, and on certain lines in particular, would be a great advantage. Having a police presence at some of the railway stations to carry out stop-and-searches would be a great advantage to stop some people from carrying weapons on our trains and buses. Have the government and I failed to honour our commitment? I do not believe that we have at all. We have been in government for two years. That is not even halfway into our first four and a half year term. I think members will see a lot more happen in the next two years. We have had a lot of work to do to correct the things that the former government did not bother to get around to doing. Half my life has been spent fixing the former government’s mistakes, such as the hoon legislation and trying to find funding for the unlicensed drivers legislation which the former government brought in but which was never, ever funded. It is the same as the Towards Zero road safety strategy. That was never, ever funded either. We are doing all those things.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Does the Leader of the Opposition say that violent and antisocial behaviour offences are up? Mr E.S. Ripper : Antisocial and violent behaviour has increased. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will certainly look into the terminology that the Leader of the Opposition used, because I know that the Department of Transport has said that a lot of the offences that the opposition is jumping on are when someone does not have a ticket or has sworn or spat or created antisocial behaviour. Criminal charges cannot be laid against those individuals. I am saying that I believe a larger police presence on our trains, and on certain lines in particular, would be a great advantage. Having a police presence at some of the railway stations to carry out stop-and-searches would be a great advantage to stop some people from carrying weapons on our trains and buses. Have the government and I failed to honour our commitment? I do not believe that we have at all. We have been in government for two years. That is not even halfway into our first four and a half year term. I think members will see a lot more happen in the next two years. We have had a lot of work to do to correct the things that the former government did not bother to get around to doing. Half my life has been spent fixing the former government’s mistakes, such as the hoon legislation and trying to find funding for the unlicensed drivers legislation which the former government brought in but which was never, ever funded. It is the same as the Towards Zero road safety strategy. That was never, ever funded either. We are doing all those things.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Antisocial and violent behaviour has increased. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will certainly look into the terminology that the Leader of the Opposition used, because I know that the Department of Transport has said that a lot of the offences that the opposition is jumping on are when someone does not have a ticket or has sworn or spat or created antisocial behaviour. Criminal charges cannot be laid against those individuals. I am saying that I believe a larger police presence on our trains, and on certain lines in particular, would be a great advantage. Having a police presence at some of the railway stations to carry out stop-and-searches would be a great advantage to stop some people from carrying weapons on our trains and buses. Have the government and I failed to honour our commitment? I do not believe that we have at all. We have been in government for two years. That is not even halfway into our first four and a half year term. I think members will see a lot more happen in the next two years. We have had a lot of work to do to correct the things that the former government did not bother to get around to doing. Half my life has been spent fixing the former government’s mistakes, such as the hoon legislation and trying to find funding for the unlicensed drivers legislation which the former government brought in but which was never, ever funded. It is the same as the Towards Zero road safety strategy. That was never, ever funded either. We are doing all those things.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will certainly look into the terminology that the Leader of the Opposition used, because I know that the Department of Transport has said that a lot of the offences that the opposition is jumping on are when someone does not have a ticket or has sworn or spat or created antisocial behaviour. Criminal charges cannot be laid against those individuals. I am saying that I believe a larger police presence on our trains, and on certain lines in particular, would be a great advantage. Having a police presence at some of the railway stations to carry out stop-and-searches would be a great advantage to stop some people from carrying weapons on our trains and buses. Have the government and I failed to honour our commitment? I do not believe that we have at all. We have been in government for two years. That is not even halfway into our first four and a half year term. I think members will see a lot more happen in the next two years. We have had a lot of work to do to correct the things that the former government did not bother to get around to doing. Half my life has been spent fixing the former government’s mistakes, such as the hoon legislation and trying to find funding for the unlicensed drivers legislation which the former government brought in but which was never, ever funded. It is the same as the Towards Zero road safety strategy. That was never, ever funded either. We are doing all those things.
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