❓ Mr. Blayney questions the Minister for Police about falling police numbers in the Midwest-Gascoyne region, specifically Geraldton. The Minister responds by asserting increased police resources in regional WA compared to the previous government, highlighting initiatives like body cameras and Commissioner Dawson's visit to the region.
AnsweredQoN 900Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
POLICE — STAFF —
REGIONAL
900. Mr I.C. BLAYNEY to the Minister for Police:
I refer to question on notice 2403,
which shows that police numbers in the midwest are continuing to fall. When
will the government provide more police resources for Geraldton and the midwest–Gascoyne,
which are currently 16.5 FTEs down on WA Police Force's own authorised
staffing requirements?
REGIONAL
900. Mr I.C. BLAYNEY to the Minister for Police:
I refer to question on notice 2403,
which shows that police numbers in the midwest are continuing to fall. When
will the government provide more police resources for Geraldton and the midwest–Gascoyne,
which are currently 16.5 FTEs down on WA Police Force's own authorised
staffing requirements?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Geraldton
for the question. I can advise that we have put significantly more police
officers in regional Western Australia than the former government had. We have
significantly increased that number right throughout regional Western Australia.
I have seen some rubbish in the media lately from Hon Martin Aldridge, who
talks about fewer police and positions not being filled. He neglects to tell
people that over 100 more positions have been created. The fact of the matter
is that members opposite have made a deal out of so-called vacancies. None of
these positions is vacant; they are in the position of being filled. This is
what happens year in, year out with policing. That is something that the Leader
of the Opposition certainly knows very well. Every two, three or four years,
officers can be transferred from one part of regional WA to another. They can
go from metro to country and vice versa. I can tell the member for Geraldton that
regional policing has been a priority for us. We have more officers in regional
Western Australia than were there under the former government.
I can also advise that we are
prioritising the midwest region and Geraldton in the rollout of some of the
things that we are providing to equip our police. For example, we have brought
forward the body camera program. Although we started with a couple of regions,
the next one to be rolled out is the midwest–Geraldton region. That is
because we want police to have the resources they need to do the job. I remind
members opposite that they did not give or put any money in the budget for
protective vests for our police officers, they did not give them body cameras,
and the percentage of positions vacant in the country at any one time largely
remained unchanged. We have put more officers into regional Western Australia.
I can also advise the member that I
believe Commissioner Dawson is in the midwest as we speak, or he was there
yesterday. He was in Geraldton yesterday and overnight. I think he is in
Carnarvon today, and he will be back in Geraldton tomorrow. He is dealing with
a range of issues in Geraldton. He will be hearing firsthand from the officers
on the ground and making sure that the people of Geraldton and the midwest get
a first-rate police service.
for the question. I can advise that we have put significantly more police
officers in regional Western Australia than the former government had. We have
significantly increased that number right throughout regional Western Australia.
I have seen some rubbish in the media lately from Hon Martin Aldridge, who
talks about fewer police and positions not being filled. He neglects to tell
people that over 100 more positions have been created. The fact of the matter
is that members opposite have made a deal out of so-called vacancies. None of
these positions is vacant; they are in the position of being filled. This is
what happens year in, year out with policing. That is something that the Leader
of the Opposition certainly knows very well. Every two, three or four years,
officers can be transferred from one part of regional WA to another. They can
go from metro to country and vice versa. I can tell the member for Geraldton that
regional policing has been a priority for us. We have more officers in regional
Western Australia than were there under the former government.
I can also advise that we are
prioritising the midwest region and Geraldton in the rollout of some of the
things that we are providing to equip our police. For example, we have brought
forward the body camera program. Although we started with a couple of regions,
the next one to be rolled out is the midwest–Geraldton region. That is
because we want police to have the resources they need to do the job. I remind
members opposite that they did not give or put any money in the budget for
protective vests for our police officers, they did not give them body cameras,
and the percentage of positions vacant in the country at any one time largely
remained unchanged. We have put more officers into regional Western Australia.
I can also advise the member that I
believe Commissioner Dawson is in the midwest as we speak, or he was there
yesterday. He was in Geraldton yesterday and overnight. I think he is in
Carnarvon today, and he will be back in Geraldton tomorrow. He is dealing with
a range of issues in Geraldton. He will be hearing firsthand from the officers
on the ground and making sure that the people of Geraldton and the midwest get
a first-rate police service.
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