❓ Ms. Beard questions the Premier about police officer shortages, particularly in Yalgoo after tragic road incidents, and the rising road toll despite claimed strategies. The Premier defends the government's record, citing increased police numbers and crime reduction, while criticizing the opposition's past actions.
AnsweredQoN 718Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
POLICE — AUTHORISED STRENGTH
718. Ms M. BEARD to the Premier:
I
refer to the figures provided for May 2024 that highlight that the authorised
total police officer FTE across the metropolitan and regional Western Australian
police districts is facing a significant shortfall of more than 450 officers.
(1) How does the
government justify the fact that Yalgoo, for example, which was recently faced
with nearby tragic road incidents, has insufficient police officers to
adequately service the town at all times?
(2) How can the
Premier claim that the government has put specific strategies in place to
address the lack of police officers and the impact on road safety when the
state's road toll continues to increase?
718. Ms M. BEARD to the Premier:
I
refer to the figures provided for May 2024 that highlight that the authorised
total police officer FTE across the metropolitan and regional Western Australian
police districts is facing a significant shortfall of more than 450 officers.
(1) How does the
government justify the fact that Yalgoo, for example, which was recently faced
with nearby tragic road incidents, has insufficient police officers to
adequately service the town at all times?
(2) How can the
Premier claim that the government has put specific strategies in place to
address the lack of police officers and the impact on road safety when the
state's road toll continues to increase?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) Once
again, we see those opposite trying to politicise an issue out of which there
is tragedy. These are absolutely tragic circumstances. As I said in my very
first answer in question time today, we cannot police our way out of road
safety issues. The only way we can do that is by a comprehensive response,
making sure that everyone plays their role, whether it is in transport,
education, health or emergency services. Of course, policing is an important
part of that, which is the reason we now have a record number of police— 7 201 police. I thank the Minister for Police for
updating my notes to make sure I got that number absolutely right. We
have 724 more police than when those opposite were in government.
As the Minister for Police just
pointed out, some 11 000 people have applied to join the police force since 2020, so we know we have a good opportunity to
continue our policing numbers. Importantly, those policing numbers and
the deployment of those police is having an impact on crime rates. As a government,
we do not tell them that they have to have a police officer on this corner or
that corner; that is the role of the Commissioner of Police and his team in
terms of operational matters. It has always been thus. It is an important
separation of those roles—making sure that police are in charge of
policing.
As a result of the great work done by
police, we have seen a significant decrease in overall offences compared with
the situation in 2016, when crime peaked under the Liberals and Nationals. In
2023, compared with 2016, there was a 53 per cent decrease in dwelling
burglaries, a 26 per cent decrease in motor
vehicle theft, a 20 per cent decrease in property damage and a 33 per cent
decrease in drug offences . Clearly, the work that the police are doing
has been effective.
A range of things go towards successful
policing, which include policies and laws that go to keeping our communities
safe. These are things such as our alcohol restrictions policy, which means
that we have less unruly behaviour as a result of abuse of alcohol, and
therefore crime rates and, indeed, road statistics go down as a result. I ask the member for North West Central to reflect on
those in the community who opposed those policies when we brought them
in, particularly in her community.
Of course, we have the record of the
Liberal Party that stands for time immemorial, because it is now in Hansard ,
when it came to our laws to make sure that we brought in the most stringent and
important gun law reforms in this state.
They were opposed by the Nationals WA. The Liberal Party was missing in action .
It is not surprising. We know that the Liberal leader is frequently missing in
action, particularly when it comes to the preselection of her candidates in
regional Western Australia.
We
will continue to make sure that the police have the resources they need. We
will continue to make sure that we defend the police force against these
unwarranted attacks from those opposite, and we will continue to make sure that
we support the police so they can get great outcomes for the people of Western Australia.
again, we see those opposite trying to politicise an issue out of which there
is tragedy. These are absolutely tragic circumstances. As I said in my very
first answer in question time today, we cannot police our way out of road
safety issues. The only way we can do that is by a comprehensive response,
making sure that everyone plays their role, whether it is in transport,
education, health or emergency services. Of course, policing is an important
part of that, which is the reason we now have a record number of police— 7 201 police. I thank the Minister for Police for
updating my notes to make sure I got that number absolutely right. We
have 724 more police than when those opposite were in government.
As the Minister for Police just
pointed out, some 11 000 people have applied to join the police force since 2020, so we know we have a good opportunity to
continue our policing numbers. Importantly, those policing numbers and
the deployment of those police is having an impact on crime rates. As a government,
we do not tell them that they have to have a police officer on this corner or
that corner; that is the role of the Commissioner of Police and his team in
terms of operational matters. It has always been thus. It is an important
separation of those roles—making sure that police are in charge of
policing.
As a result of the great work done by
police, we have seen a significant decrease in overall offences compared with
the situation in 2016, when crime peaked under the Liberals and Nationals. In
2023, compared with 2016, there was a 53 per cent decrease in dwelling
burglaries, a 26 per cent decrease in motor
vehicle theft, a 20 per cent decrease in property damage and a 33 per cent
decrease in drug offences . Clearly, the work that the police are doing
has been effective.
A range of things go towards successful
policing, which include policies and laws that go to keeping our communities
safe. These are things such as our alcohol restrictions policy, which means
that we have less unruly behaviour as a result of abuse of alcohol, and
therefore crime rates and, indeed, road statistics go down as a result. I ask the member for North West Central to reflect on
those in the community who opposed those policies when we brought them
in, particularly in her community.
Of course, we have the record of the
Liberal Party that stands for time immemorial, because it is now in Hansard ,
when it came to our laws to make sure that we brought in the most stringent and
important gun law reforms in this state.
They were opposed by the Nationals WA. The Liberal Party was missing in action .
It is not surprising. We know that the Liberal leader is frequently missing in
action, particularly when it comes to the preselection of her candidates in
regional Western Australia.
We
will continue to make sure that the police have the resources they need. We
will continue to make sure that we defend the police force against these
unwarranted attacks from those opposite, and we will continue to make sure that
we support the police so they can get great outcomes for the people of Western Australia.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.