❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice regarding the costs, operations, and decision-making processes surrounding intrastate travel restrictions and checkpoints implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic. The response reveals difficulties in data segregation and cost apportionment.
AnsweredQoN 2979Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to intrastate travel directions issued by the State Emergency
Coordinator, and I ask: (a) in relation to roadside check points, in which locations were these
established on a semi-permanent basis whilst the directions were in force; (b) of those identified in (a), what was the commencement and conclusion date
for each check point; (c) what was the total costs incurred that related to intrastate travel
restrictions; (d) in relation to (c), will the Minister please breakdown the total costs incurred; (e) what was the cost of operating vehicle check points; (f) did the State Government reimburse the Australian Government for costs
incurred by the Department of Defence, if so, what were those costs; (g) did the Western Australia Police Force reimburse the Department of Fire and Emergency
Services for costs incurred, if so, what were those costs; (h) what was the costs to develop the G2G pass system and for any ongoing
and related fees; (i) how many G2G pass applications were applied for, and how many were declined; (j) for each checkpoint, will the Minister please identify: (i) the number of vehicles and persons intercepted; (ii) the number of vehicles and persons allowed to pass through the
checkpoint; (iii) the number of persons who utilised a G2G pass versus those who did not; (iv) the number of complaints received in relation to check point decisions
and the number overturned on review; and (v) the total number of hours worked at each checkpoint by: (A) Western Australia Police Force staff; (B) Department of Defence staff or reservists; (C) DFES volunteers; (D) contractors; and (E) others; (k) was the State Emergency Coordinator directed by any person or body to
establish the intrastate travel directions and/or regional check points; (l) if yes to (k), who was the State Emergency Coordinator directed by and
what was the direction given; (m) what advice did the State Emergency Coordinator consider prior to
instituting the directions; (n) what consultation was undertaken by the State Emergency Coordinator
prior to instituting the directions; (o) what guidance material was made available to staff and volunteers at
check points and please table all such advice; (p) how were the exemptions contained in the directions developed and who
was consulted on their development; (q) what advice did the State Emergency Coordinator seek or receive from the
Department of Health and/or the Chief Health Officer (WA) prior to issuing the
directions; (r) please table any advice received with respect to (q); (s) what advice did the State Emergency Coordinator seek or receive from the
Department of Health and/or the Chief Health Officer (WA) prior to revoking the
directions; (t) will the Minister please table any advice received with respect to (s); (u) how many vehicles and persons were intercepted by mobile Police patrols
throughout the period in which Directions were in force for the purposes of
verifying their lawful travel; and (v) how did the State Emergency Coordinator monitor compliance at air ports
and sea ports where numerous reports of unencumbered travel took place without any
check points being established?
Coordinator, and I ask: (a) in relation to roadside check points, in which locations were these
established on a semi-permanent basis whilst the directions were in force; (b) of those identified in (a), what was the commencement and conclusion date
for each check point; (c) what was the total costs incurred that related to intrastate travel
restrictions; (d) in relation to (c), will the Minister please breakdown the total costs incurred; (e) what was the cost of operating vehicle check points; (f) did the State Government reimburse the Australian Government for costs
incurred by the Department of Defence, if so, what were those costs; (g) did the Western Australia Police Force reimburse the Department of Fire and Emergency
Services for costs incurred, if so, what were those costs; (h) what was the costs to develop the G2G pass system and for any ongoing
and related fees; (i) how many G2G pass applications were applied for, and how many were declined; (j) for each checkpoint, will the Minister please identify: (i) the number of vehicles and persons intercepted; (ii) the number of vehicles and persons allowed to pass through the
checkpoint; (iii) the number of persons who utilised a G2G pass versus those who did not; (iv) the number of complaints received in relation to check point decisions
and the number overturned on review; and (v) the total number of hours worked at each checkpoint by: (A) Western Australia Police Force staff; (B) Department of Defence staff or reservists; (C) DFES volunteers; (D) contractors; and (E) others; (k) was the State Emergency Coordinator directed by any person or body to
establish the intrastate travel directions and/or regional check points; (l) if yes to (k), who was the State Emergency Coordinator directed by and
what was the direction given; (m) what advice did the State Emergency Coordinator consider prior to
instituting the directions; (n) what consultation was undertaken by the State Emergency Coordinator
prior to instituting the directions; (o) what guidance material was made available to staff and volunteers at
check points and please table all such advice; (p) how were the exemptions contained in the directions developed and who
was consulted on their development; (q) what advice did the State Emergency Coordinator seek or receive from the
Department of Health and/or the Chief Health Officer (WA) prior to issuing the
directions; (r) please table any advice received with respect to (q); (s) what advice did the State Emergency Coordinator seek or receive from the
Department of Health and/or the Chief Health Officer (WA) prior to revoking the
directions; (t) will the Minister please table any advice received with respect to (s); (u) how many vehicles and persons were intercepted by mobile Police patrols
throughout the period in which Directions were in force for the purposes of
verifying their lawful travel; and (v) how did the State Emergency Coordinator monitor compliance at air ports
and sea ports where numerous reports of unencumbered travel took place without any
check points being established?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
12 August 2020
Responded by
Minister for Environment representing the Minister for Police
Response time
10 days
The Western Australian Police Force advise:
(a) The Western Australia Police Force has established checkpoints throughout Western Australia during the course of the State of Emergency. The checkpoints include roadside, static and mobile random vehicle stops which cannot be accurately described as a semi-permanent basis.
Police established checkpoints at:
(b) The checkpoints operated between the following dates:
Under the Prohibition of Regional Travel Directions which came into effect on 31 March 2020 and were revoked on 17 May 2020.
Under the Prohibition of Regional Travel Directions (No.2) which came into effect on 17 May 2020 and were revoked on 5 June 2020.
Under the Prohibition on Regional Travel between Local Government Districts in the Kimberley Directions which came into effect on 2 April 2020 and were revoked on 17 May 2020.
Under the Goldfields-Esperance (Local Government District Travel Restrictions) Directions made on 5 April 2020 and revoked on 17 May 2020, checkpoints were in place between 6 April 2020 and 14 April 2020 and 23 April 2020 and 29 April 2020.
Under the Commonwealth Biosecurity Determination which came into effect on 26 March 2020 and were revoked on 5 June 2020.
(c) The total costs specifically related to intrastate travel restrictions is not separately recorded. The WA Police Force is still managing extensive activities in a State of Emergency under the Emergency Management Act 2005 and resources cannot be applied to retrospectively attempt to apportion cost while the State of Emergency continues.
(d) Refer to question (c)
(e) Refer to question (c)
(f) The WA Police Force has not reimbursed the Australian Government for the Defence Force Assistance to the Civil Community relating to checkpoints.
(g) The WA Police Force has not reimbursed the Department of Fire and Emergency Services for costs incurred relating to checkpoints.
(h) The cost to develop the G2G PASS system was $197 736. Ongoing costs are $1.30 per month per applicant and $5.50 per month per police user. As of 10 June 2020, this amounts to $253 228.90.
(i) WA Police Force are unable to segregate the number of Intrastate G2G pass applications that were applied for, and how many were declined.
(j)
(i) The WA Police Force are unable provide a breakdown of the number of vehicles and persons arriving at each individual checkpoint established in response to the intrastate travel directions as the G2G Pass App (implemented on 22 April 2020 to record travel between regions) does not record / identify individual vehicle check point activity. Additionally, the G2G Pass App does not record vehicle numbers.
Total checkpoint and mobile vehicle stop activity for the period of operation of the intrastate travel directions was as follows:
(ii) As above.
(iii) A total of 845 243 people are recorded as having travelling through intrastate checkpoints. The G2G PASS system recorded 76 242 QR code scan events and 445 543 manual counts. Manual (non-G2G PASS) recording processes captured the remaining 323 458 people.
(iv) The number of complaints relating to checkpoint decisions and the number overturned on review is not available as requests for review could be made at any part of the decision process, including on the roadside. The G2G system does not contain an ability to differentiate between approved applications and those which were initially rejected.
(v)
(A) Records indicate that the number of hours worked by the WA Police Force at each checkpoint are:
(B) This question should be referred to the Department of Defence, however WA Police Force records indicate that the number of hours worked by the Department of Defence Staff and/or reservists at each checkpoint are:
(C) This question should be referred to the Minister for Emergency Services, however WA Police Force records indicate that the number of hours worked by the DFES volunteers at each checkpoint are:
(D) This question should be referred to the Minister for Transport, however WA Police Force records indicate that the number of hours worked by the MRD contractors at each checkpoint are:
(E) The number of hours worked by others at each checkpoint are:
(k) No
(l) Not applicable
(m) The State Emergency Coordinator considered numerous sources of advice and ultimately made the final decision.
(n) The State Emergency Coordinator consulted with numerous sources and ultimately made the final decision.
(o) Operational Guidance, operational orders and briefings were developed for the intrastate travel directions. These resources were made available to the checkpoints and published on WA Police Force systems. Operation doctrine involving tactical activities for the management of the intrastate travel directions are not disclosed to ensure that police operations are not compromised during the continuing State of Emergency.
(p) The State Emergency Coordinator took into account numerous sources of advice and consulted with many sources and ultimately made the final decision.
(q) The State Emergency Coordinator took into account numerous sources of advice and consulted with many sources and ultimately made the final decision.
(r) Refer to answer (q).
(s) The State Emergency Coordinator took into account numerous sources of advice and consulted with many sources and ultimately made the final decision.
(t) Refer to answer (s).
(u) The WA Police Force continues to operate in a State of Emergency and will not be able to provide data relating to vehicle stops across the State of Western Australia.
(v) The WA Police Force continues to operate in a State of Emergency and will not be able to provide data relating to airports and sea ports across the State of Western Australia. The Australian Border Force and Australian Federal Police have responsibility for maintaining national border controls and further resources will not be diverted to compile statistical data from multiple agencies, harbour masters and airport operators during a State of Emergency.
(a) The Western Australia Police Force has established checkpoints throughout Western Australia during the course of the State of Emergency. The checkpoints include roadside, static and mobile random vehicle stops which cannot be accurately described as a semi-permanent basis.
Police established checkpoints at:
(b) The checkpoints operated between the following dates:
Under the Prohibition of Regional Travel Directions which came into effect on 31 March 2020 and were revoked on 17 May 2020.
Under the Prohibition of Regional Travel Directions (No.2) which came into effect on 17 May 2020 and were revoked on 5 June 2020.
Under the Prohibition on Regional Travel between Local Government Districts in the Kimberley Directions which came into effect on 2 April 2020 and were revoked on 17 May 2020.
Under the Goldfields-Esperance (Local Government District Travel Restrictions) Directions made on 5 April 2020 and revoked on 17 May 2020, checkpoints were in place between 6 April 2020 and 14 April 2020 and 23 April 2020 and 29 April 2020.
Under the Commonwealth Biosecurity Determination which came into effect on 26 March 2020 and were revoked on 5 June 2020.
(c) The total costs specifically related to intrastate travel restrictions is not separately recorded. The WA Police Force is still managing extensive activities in a State of Emergency under the Emergency Management Act 2005 and resources cannot be applied to retrospectively attempt to apportion cost while the State of Emergency continues.
(d) Refer to question (c)
(e) Refer to question (c)
(f) The WA Police Force has not reimbursed the Australian Government for the Defence Force Assistance to the Civil Community relating to checkpoints.
(g) The WA Police Force has not reimbursed the Department of Fire and Emergency Services for costs incurred relating to checkpoints.
(h) The cost to develop the G2G PASS system was $197 736. Ongoing costs are $1.30 per month per applicant and $5.50 per month per police user. As of 10 June 2020, this amounts to $253 228.90.
(i) WA Police Force are unable to segregate the number of Intrastate G2G pass applications that were applied for, and how many were declined.
(j)
(i) The WA Police Force are unable provide a breakdown of the number of vehicles and persons arriving at each individual checkpoint established in response to the intrastate travel directions as the G2G Pass App (implemented on 22 April 2020 to record travel between regions) does not record / identify individual vehicle check point activity. Additionally, the G2G Pass App does not record vehicle numbers.
Total checkpoint and mobile vehicle stop activity for the period of operation of the intrastate travel directions was as follows:
(ii) As above.
(iii) A total of 845 243 people are recorded as having travelling through intrastate checkpoints. The G2G PASS system recorded 76 242 QR code scan events and 445 543 manual counts. Manual (non-G2G PASS) recording processes captured the remaining 323 458 people.
(iv) The number of complaints relating to checkpoint decisions and the number overturned on review is not available as requests for review could be made at any part of the decision process, including on the roadside. The G2G system does not contain an ability to differentiate between approved applications and those which were initially rejected.
(v)
(A) Records indicate that the number of hours worked by the WA Police Force at each checkpoint are:
(B) This question should be referred to the Department of Defence, however WA Police Force records indicate that the number of hours worked by the Department of Defence Staff and/or reservists at each checkpoint are:
(C) This question should be referred to the Minister for Emergency Services, however WA Police Force records indicate that the number of hours worked by the DFES volunteers at each checkpoint are:
(D) This question should be referred to the Minister for Transport, however WA Police Force records indicate that the number of hours worked by the MRD contractors at each checkpoint are:
(E) The number of hours worked by others at each checkpoint are:
(k) No
(l) Not applicable
(m) The State Emergency Coordinator considered numerous sources of advice and ultimately made the final decision.
(n) The State Emergency Coordinator consulted with numerous sources and ultimately made the final decision.
(o) Operational Guidance, operational orders and briefings were developed for the intrastate travel directions. These resources were made available to the checkpoints and published on WA Police Force systems. Operation doctrine involving tactical activities for the management of the intrastate travel directions are not disclosed to ensure that police operations are not compromised during the continuing State of Emergency.
(p) The State Emergency Coordinator took into account numerous sources of advice and consulted with many sources and ultimately made the final decision.
(q) The State Emergency Coordinator took into account numerous sources of advice and consulted with many sources and ultimately made the final decision.
(r) Refer to answer (q).
(s) The State Emergency Coordinator took into account numerous sources of advice and consulted with many sources and ultimately made the final decision.
(t) Refer to answer (s).
(u) The WA Police Force continues to operate in a State of Emergency and will not be able to provide data relating to vehicle stops across the State of Western Australia.
(v) The WA Police Force continues to operate in a State of Emergency and will not be able to provide data relating to airports and sea ports across the State of Western Australia. The Australian Border Force and Australian Federal Police have responsibility for maintaining national border controls and further resources will not be diverted to compile statistical data from multiple agencies, harbour masters and airport operators during a State of Emergency.
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