Question regarding the provision of basic equipment and storage facilities for police officers in court precincts, answered with a pointed retort about the questioner's past performance as Minister for Justice and court security failures. The Minister states negotiations are underway.

AnsweredQoN 978Legislative Assembly
Asked
18 November 2015
Portfolio
Police

QuestionView source ↗

POLICE —
COURT ACCOUTREMENTS
978. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS to the Minister for
Police:
I have a supplementary question. Do
we have to wait for a police officer to be killed or to suffer some dramatic
injury before the minister and her government will allow even the most basic
accoutrements and provide some storage facilities in court precincts?

AnswerView source ↗

This is an absolute joke coming from
the member for Midland. When she was Minister for Justice, how many people
escaped the court precinct?
Mrs
M.H. Roberts interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Through the Chair, please.
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : When the member for Midland was Minister for Justice, looking
after and responsible for courts, The
West Australian was calling for her to be sacked because of her
mismanagement of the courts.
Mrs
M.H. Roberts interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Midland, I call you to order for the second time.
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : When the member for Midland was responsible for —
Mrs
M.H. Roberts interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Midland!
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : When the member for Midland was responsible, people were
escaping from custody in courts, and The
West Australian was calling for her to step down.
Mr
W.J. Johnston interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Cannington!
Mrs L.M. HARVEY :
As I have said, the negotiations are in train.
Mr W.J. Johnston interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Cannington! We want a quick answer through the Chair.
Mrs L.M. HARVEY :
The negotiations are in train and I am well aware of the heightened threat
alert for police officers. There has been a heightened terrorism alert since September
2014. The Commissioner of Police and the union are negotiating with the Chief
Justice and I will leave it up to the Chief Justice. He and the judges and
magistrates are in charge of their courts, and what we and the police have
needed to do is to acquaint the judiciary with the perceived risk that police
officers say exists and requires them to use their accoutrements in court. We
will leave it up to the people responsible for the courts to make those
decisions.

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