❓ The opposition leader questions the Premier's criticism of the Police Commissioner regarding budget cuts and their impact on frontline services. The Premier defends the budget measures and the process for raising concerns.
AnsweredQoN 590Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
POLICE BUDGET — COMMISSIONER OF POLICE
590. Mr M. McGOWAN to the Premier:
I refer to the Premier's extraordinary attack on the
police commissioner this morning when he indicated that he needed a clip around
the ear —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr M. McGOWAN : —
in relation to his candour concerning the Premier's budget cuts and the
impact on front-line services.
(1) Where was
the commissioner inaccurate in what he said?
(2) Is the
Premier suggesting the police commissioner should have misled the Standing
Committee on Estimates and Financial Operations?
(3) If the
commissioner was wrong, why did the Premier largely agree with him yesterday
and partially reverse the police cuts?
590. Mr M. McGOWAN to the Premier:
I refer to the Premier's extraordinary attack on the
police commissioner this morning when he indicated that he needed a clip around
the ear —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr M. McGOWAN : —
in relation to his candour concerning the Premier's budget cuts and the
impact on front-line services.
(1) Where was
the commissioner inaccurate in what he said?
(2) Is the
Premier suggesting the police commissioner should have misled the Standing
Committee on Estimates and Financial Operations?
(3) If the
commissioner was wrong, why did the Premier largely agree with him yesterday
and partially reverse the police cuts?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3)
The police commissioner has independence on operational matters, which is
obviously the correct situation. However, he is a CEO along with another 100
CEOs in government departments. He is not responsible for financing nor is he
responsible for policy direction coming from government. The measures put in
place through the Treasurer to tighten our belt because of changed economic circumstances
apply to every agency and every CEO. There was an across-the-board instruction
for them to find savings that do not affect services to the public—basically,
a belt tightening within all areas of the public sector. Within that there was
an opportunity for any CEO who could see particular difficulties or an
inability to do that to come back through their minister to the Treasurer and
the Premier. Those instructions applied across the whole of government. The
police commissioner raised concerns, particularly about police recruitment,
with the minister. The minister brought that to the Economic and Expenditure
Review Committee and the minister held the day.
Mr M. McGowan : Why
did you attack him then?
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
It was agreed by the Treasurer.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : There may be other areas in which exemptions will be given.
That process was clearly outlined by the Treasurer and followed to the letter
by the Minister for Police. All I say to any CEO is, ''Your
responsibility in response to a government policy decision is to work through
your minister.''
The police commissioner has independence on operational matters, which is
obviously the correct situation. However, he is a CEO along with another 100
CEOs in government departments. He is not responsible for financing nor is he
responsible for policy direction coming from government. The measures put in
place through the Treasurer to tighten our belt because of changed economic circumstances
apply to every agency and every CEO. There was an across-the-board instruction
for them to find savings that do not affect services to the public—basically,
a belt tightening within all areas of the public sector. Within that there was
an opportunity for any CEO who could see particular difficulties or an
inability to do that to come back through their minister to the Treasurer and
the Premier. Those instructions applied across the whole of government. The
police commissioner raised concerns, particularly about police recruitment,
with the minister. The minister brought that to the Economic and Expenditure
Review Committee and the minister held the day.
Mr M. McGowan : Why
did you attack him then?
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
It was agreed by the Treasurer.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : There may be other areas in which exemptions will be given.
That process was clearly outlined by the Treasurer and followed to the letter
by the Minister for Police. All I say to any CEO is, ''Your
responsibility in response to a government policy decision is to work through
your minister.''
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