❓ Question regarding standard operating procedure for linking hit-and-run accidents with dangerous driving investigations. The Minister deflects, citing parliamentary convention against intervening in ongoing police investigations and referencing the questioner's past stance on the issue.
AnsweredQoN 107Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
MEMBER FOR VASSE — ROAD TRAFFIC INCIDENT —
POLICE INVESTIGATION
107. Mrs
M.H. ROBERTS to the Minister for Police:
I have a supplementary question. On the general matter, is it
standard operating procedure for reports of hit-and-run accidents not to be
linked with dangerous driving that occurs in the same area?
POLICE INVESTIGATION
107. Mrs
M.H. ROBERTS to the Minister for Police:
I have a supplementary question. On the general matter, is it
standard operating procedure for reports of hit-and-run accidents not to be
linked with dangerous driving that occurs in the same area?
AnswerView source ↗
I find this amazing; the member for Midland has a really
short memory. I answered these questions yesterday and I will answer them
again, as is consistent —
Several members interjected.
Mrs L.M. HARVEY :
Just to be clear, there has been a longstanding parliamentary convention that
ministers separate themselves from the operational activities of investigating
officers. Let me quote what the member for Midland said when she was Minister
for Police —
I certainly give an assurance from
my point of view, and I expect —
Ms
M.M. Quirk interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I call you to order for the first time.
Mrs
M.H. Roberts interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Midland, I call you to order for the first time.
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : I quote —
I certainly give an assurance from my
point of view, and I expect from future ministers' points of view too,
that no minister would ask the commissioner to disclose matters that could in
any way jeopardise any ongoing investigation ...
It is pretty clear that I agree with
the member for Midland on very few things.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Girrawheen, I call you to order for the second time. Member for
Butler, I call you to order for the first time. I want to hear the minister in
silence.
Mrs L.M. HARVEY :
As I said, I agree with the member for Midland on very few things, but when I
see the stance that she has repeatedly taken on commenting on ongoing police
investigations, I agree with the member for Midland on one thing: it is not
appropriate for members to intervene in and comment on ongoing investigations.
We will wait for the investigation to conclude and we will act on what the
police advise us at the conclusion of the investigation, just like the member
for Midland did when she was Minister for Police.
Tabling of Paper
Ms M.M. QUIRK : The
minister was quoting from a document. She did not refer to the date, so maybe
she would like to table it.
Mrs L.M. HARVEY :
It was from the Hansard of the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, 12 October
2005. I also have one here from 8 April 2004 that pretty much states the same
thing. I would be delighted to table both.
[See paper 1422.]
short memory. I answered these questions yesterday and I will answer them
again, as is consistent —
Several members interjected.
Mrs L.M. HARVEY :
Just to be clear, there has been a longstanding parliamentary convention that
ministers separate themselves from the operational activities of investigating
officers. Let me quote what the member for Midland said when she was Minister
for Police —
I certainly give an assurance from
my point of view, and I expect —
Ms
M.M. Quirk interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I call you to order for the first time.
Mrs
M.H. Roberts interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Midland, I call you to order for the first time.
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : I quote —
I certainly give an assurance from my
point of view, and I expect from future ministers' points of view too,
that no minister would ask the commissioner to disclose matters that could in
any way jeopardise any ongoing investigation ...
It is pretty clear that I agree with
the member for Midland on very few things.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Girrawheen, I call you to order for the second time. Member for
Butler, I call you to order for the first time. I want to hear the minister in
silence.
Mrs L.M. HARVEY :
As I said, I agree with the member for Midland on very few things, but when I
see the stance that she has repeatedly taken on commenting on ongoing police
investigations, I agree with the member for Midland on one thing: it is not
appropriate for members to intervene in and comment on ongoing investigations.
We will wait for the investigation to conclude and we will act on what the
police advise us at the conclusion of the investigation, just like the member
for Midland did when she was Minister for Police.
Tabling of Paper
Ms M.M. QUIRK : The
minister was quoting from a document. She did not refer to the date, so maybe
she would like to table it.
Mrs L.M. HARVEY :
It was from the Hansard of the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, 12 October
2005. I also have one here from 8 April 2004 that pretty much states the same
thing. I would be delighted to table both.
[See paper 1422.]
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