❓ Mr. Folkard asks about the government's progress on recruiting 950 frontline police officers. The Minister for Police confirms the commitment is on track, with 350 officers recruited this financial year and ongoing training programs in place.
AnsweredQoN 37Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
POLICE — FRONTLINE OFFICERS
37. Mr M.J. FOLKARD to the Minister for Police:
Madam Speaker, this is the first
time I have stood in this new Parliament. Congratulations on your new role.
The SPEAKER : Thank you.
Mr M.J. FOLKARD : I refer to
the McGowan Labor government's commitment to keeping Western Australians
safe and putting more police on our streets. Can the minister update the house
on this government's commitment to recruiting an additional 950
frontline police officers?
37. Mr M.J. FOLKARD to the Minister for Police:
Madam Speaker, this is the first
time I have stood in this new Parliament. Congratulations on your new role.
The SPEAKER : Thank you.
Mr M.J. FOLKARD : I refer to
the McGowan Labor government's commitment to keeping Western Australians
safe and putting more police on our streets. Can the minister update the house
on this government's commitment to recruiting an additional 950
frontline police officers?
AnswerView source ↗
Member, I congratulate you on your
combined 35.5 per cent swing over two elections—not as good as the
member for Southern River, but you are getting there!
Much has been made by the new
member for Collie–Preston and many others with respect to the size of
the shoes that she has to fill. Despite the absolute fact that the member for
Collie–Preston confronts a significant challenge, I feel very sensitive
to the fact that my predecessor in the role of Minister for Police probably
achieved more than any other incumbent of that portfolio in the history of the
state. Congratulations on ascending to your current role, Madam Speaker. You delivered body armour and body
cams, took the police force into the digital age, ensured that section 8 was no longer used to retire medically
unfit police officers, implemented the redress scheme, committed to police compensation, and also this particular commitment: the biggest ever
step-change increase in police numbers in the state in one term of government,
with 950 police officers. You made that commitment and commenced it. I can confirm to the house that it is going very
well. The delivery of that particular commitment has seen 350 police officers recruited this financial year. A total of 150 of the 950 are already
out there, with many going to the regions.
Mr V.A. Catania interjected.
Mr P. PAPALIA : Incredible!
The SPEAKER : Member for
North West Central, it is disorderly to interject.
Mr P. PAPALIA : In many cases, many of the police
officers are young, straight from the academy, out there to experience policing
in the regions. We may not see them back. That often happens—those
police officers get out there and enjoy it so
much, they stay there. It is continuing. I can confirm that right now in the
academy, some 265 police officers are in training. Next financial year,
there will be another 200; the year after that, another 200; and then the year
after that, another 200, totalling 950. These are the biggest numbers ever. Can
I just ask that all members go back to their electorates and encourage people
to consider the police force as a career path. We need more good people to join
our police force and continue to deliver the magnificent service that we are
receiving from our police officers at the moment.
The
SPEAKER : Thank you, Minister for
Police. That was the best answer that I have heard so far—impartial as
I am!
combined 35.5 per cent swing over two elections—not as good as the
member for Southern River, but you are getting there!
Much has been made by the new
member for Collie–Preston and many others with respect to the size of
the shoes that she has to fill. Despite the absolute fact that the member for
Collie–Preston confronts a significant challenge, I feel very sensitive
to the fact that my predecessor in the role of Minister for Police probably
achieved more than any other incumbent of that portfolio in the history of the
state. Congratulations on ascending to your current role, Madam Speaker. You delivered body armour and body
cams, took the police force into the digital age, ensured that section 8 was no longer used to retire medically
unfit police officers, implemented the redress scheme, committed to police compensation, and also this particular commitment: the biggest ever
step-change increase in police numbers in the state in one term of government,
with 950 police officers. You made that commitment and commenced it. I can confirm to the house that it is going very
well. The delivery of that particular commitment has seen 350 police officers recruited this financial year. A total of 150 of the 950 are already
out there, with many going to the regions.
Mr V.A. Catania interjected.
Mr P. PAPALIA : Incredible!
The SPEAKER : Member for
North West Central, it is disorderly to interject.
Mr P. PAPALIA : In many cases, many of the police
officers are young, straight from the academy, out there to experience policing
in the regions. We may not see them back. That often happens—those
police officers get out there and enjoy it so
much, they stay there. It is continuing. I can confirm that right now in the
academy, some 265 police officers are in training. Next financial year,
there will be another 200; the year after that, another 200; and then the year
after that, another 200, totalling 950. These are the biggest numbers ever. Can
I just ask that all members go back to their electorates and encourage people
to consider the police force as a career path. We need more good people to join
our police force and continue to deliver the magnificent service that we are
receiving from our police officers at the moment.
The
SPEAKER : Thank you, Minister for
Police. That was the best answer that I have heard so far—impartial as
I am!
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