❓ Question regarding the WA Police Union's rejection of a wage offer and the Minister's role. The Minister clarifies his non-involvement in direct negotiations, deflecting responsibility to the Minister for Commerce and Treasurer.
AnsweredQoN 562Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
POLICE — WAGE OFFER
I refer to the recent vote by the WA Police Union to decline the government’s wage offer, and comments from the minister’s media statement on 21 July 2011 that “Today’s pay agreement is part of the Liberal–National Government’s ongoing commitment to WA Police”. (1) What steps will the minister personally take to intervene in the current impasse? (2) Does the minister concede what all WA Police know and understand that by devaluing the work of detectives, the best and brightest will be deterred from undertaking this key role? Mr R.F. JOHNSON
I refer to the recent vote by the WA Police Union to decline the government’s wage offer, and comments from the minister’s media statement on 21 July 2011 that “Today’s pay agreement is part of the Liberal–National Government’s ongoing commitment to WA Police”. (1) What steps will the minister personally take to intervene in the current impasse? (2) Does the minister concede what all WA Police know and understand that by devaluing the work of detectives, the best and brightest will be deterred from undertaking this key role? Mr R.F. JOHNSON
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) The member is fully aware that I, as police minister, am not involved in direct negotiations — Ms M.M. Quirk : Why are you putting out press releases about it? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am like the member—I like sending the odd press release out, but she likes sending them out by the dozen! I actually conserve some paper these days, as opposed to the member for Girrawheen. The member is fully aware that as police minister I am not involved in direct negotiations between the Police Union and the government. They are conducted by the Minister for Commerce in conjunction with discussions with, I think, the Treasurer. I am kept informed of what is going on, but it is not for me to start getting involved in those negotiations. The police and the WA Police Union of Workers know exactly where I stand and they know the support I have for our hardworking police officers. The problem, as I see it, was that some of the detectives did not like that particular offer. That is an issue for the police union and police officers throughout this state. We have more than 6 000 officers and the vote was very low compared with what we think it should have been in comparative terms. I will not get involved because I do not want to interfere. I would probably be too generous if I got involved; that is probably why they keep me out of it. That is quite rightly so, because we have to keep within the government wages policy and, indeed, that is what is happening.
(1) What steps will the minister personally take to intervene in the current impasse? (2) Does the minister concede what all WA Police know and understand that by devaluing the work of detectives, the best and brightest will be deterred from undertaking this key role? Mr R.F. JOHNSON replied: (1)–(2) The member is fully aware that I, as police minister, am not involved in direct negotiations — Ms M.M. Quirk : Why are you putting out press releases about it? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am like the member—I like sending the odd press release out, but she likes sending them out by the dozen! I actually conserve some paper these days, as opposed to the member for Girrawheen. The member is fully aware that as police minister I am not involved in direct negotiations between the Police Union and the government. They are conducted by the Minister for Commerce in conjunction with discussions with, I think, the Treasurer. I am kept informed of what is going on, but it is not for me to start getting involved in those negotiations. The police and the WA Police Union of Workers know exactly where I stand and they know the support I have for our hardworking police officers. The problem, as I see it, was that some of the detectives did not like that particular offer. That is an issue for the police union and police officers throughout this state. We have more than 6 000 officers and the vote was very low compared with what we think it should have been in comparative terms. I will not get involved because I do not want to interfere. I would probably be too generous if I got involved; that is probably why they keep me out of it. That is quite rightly so, because we have to keep within the government wages policy and, indeed, that is what is happening.
(2) Does the minister concede what all WA Police know and understand that by devaluing the work of detectives, the best and brightest will be deterred from undertaking this key role? Mr R.F. JOHNSON replied: (1)–(2) The member is fully aware that I, as police minister, am not involved in direct negotiations — Ms M.M. Quirk : Why are you putting out press releases about it? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am like the member—I like sending the odd press release out, but she likes sending them out by the dozen! I actually conserve some paper these days, as opposed to the member for Girrawheen. The member is fully aware that as police minister I am not involved in direct negotiations between the Police Union and the government. They are conducted by the Minister for Commerce in conjunction with discussions with, I think, the Treasurer. I am kept informed of what is going on, but it is not for me to start getting involved in those negotiations. The police and the WA Police Union of Workers know exactly where I stand and they know the support I have for our hardworking police officers. The problem, as I see it, was that some of the detectives did not like that particular offer. That is an issue for the police union and police officers throughout this state. We have more than 6 000 officers and the vote was very low compared with what we think it should have been in comparative terms. I will not get involved because I do not want to interfere. I would probably be too generous if I got involved; that is probably why they keep me out of it. That is quite rightly so, because we have to keep within the government wages policy and, indeed, that is what is happening.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON replied: (1)–(2) The member is fully aware that I, as police minister, am not involved in direct negotiations — Ms M.M. Quirk : Why are you putting out press releases about it? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am like the member—I like sending the odd press release out, but she likes sending them out by the dozen! I actually conserve some paper these days, as opposed to the member for Girrawheen. The member is fully aware that as police minister I am not involved in direct negotiations between the Police Union and the government. They are conducted by the Minister for Commerce in conjunction with discussions with, I think, the Treasurer. I am kept informed of what is going on, but it is not for me to start getting involved in those negotiations. The police and the WA Police Union of Workers know exactly where I stand and they know the support I have for our hardworking police officers. The problem, as I see it, was that some of the detectives did not like that particular offer. That is an issue for the police union and police officers throughout this state. We have more than 6 000 officers and the vote was very low compared with what we think it should have been in comparative terms. I will not get involved because I do not want to interfere. I would probably be too generous if I got involved; that is probably why they keep me out of it. That is quite rightly so, because we have to keep within the government wages policy and, indeed, that is what is happening.
(1)–(2) The member is fully aware that I, as police minister, am not involved in direct negotiations — Ms M.M. Quirk : Why are you putting out press releases about it? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am like the member—I like sending the odd press release out, but she likes sending them out by the dozen! I actually conserve some paper these days, as opposed to the member for Girrawheen. The member is fully aware that as police minister I am not involved in direct negotiations between the Police Union and the government. They are conducted by the Minister for Commerce in conjunction with discussions with, I think, the Treasurer. I am kept informed of what is going on, but it is not for me to start getting involved in those negotiations. The police and the WA Police Union of Workers know exactly where I stand and they know the support I have for our hardworking police officers. The problem, as I see it, was that some of the detectives did not like that particular offer. That is an issue for the police union and police officers throughout this state. We have more than 6 000 officers and the vote was very low compared with what we think it should have been in comparative terms. I will not get involved because I do not want to interfere. I would probably be too generous if I got involved; that is probably why they keep me out of it. That is quite rightly so, because we have to keep within the government wages policy and, indeed, that is what is happening.
Ms M.M. Quirk : Why are you putting out press releases about it? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am like the member—I like sending the odd press release out, but she likes sending them out by the dozen! I actually conserve some paper these days, as opposed to the member for Girrawheen. The member is fully aware that as police minister I am not involved in direct negotiations between the Police Union and the government. They are conducted by the Minister for Commerce in conjunction with discussions with, I think, the Treasurer. I am kept informed of what is going on, but it is not for me to start getting involved in those negotiations. The police and the WA Police Union of Workers know exactly where I stand and they know the support I have for our hardworking police officers. The problem, as I see it, was that some of the detectives did not like that particular offer. That is an issue for the police union and police officers throughout this state. We have more than 6 000 officers and the vote was very low compared with what we think it should have been in comparative terms. I will not get involved because I do not want to interfere. I would probably be too generous if I got involved; that is probably why they keep me out of it. That is quite rightly so, because we have to keep within the government wages policy and, indeed, that is what is happening.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am like the member—I like sending the odd press release out, but she likes sending them out by the dozen! I actually conserve some paper these days, as opposed to the member for Girrawheen. The member is fully aware that as police minister I am not involved in direct negotiations between the Police Union and the government. They are conducted by the Minister for Commerce in conjunction with discussions with, I think, the Treasurer. I am kept informed of what is going on, but it is not for me to start getting involved in those negotiations. The police and the WA Police Union of Workers know exactly where I stand and they know the support I have for our hardworking police officers. The problem, as I see it, was that some of the detectives did not like that particular offer. That is an issue for the police union and police officers throughout this state. We have more than 6 000 officers and the vote was very low compared with what we think it should have been in comparative terms. I will not get involved because I do not want to interfere. I would probably be too generous if I got involved; that is probably why they keep me out of it. That is quite rightly so, because we have to keep within the government wages policy and, indeed, that is what is happening.
(1) What steps will the minister personally take to intervene in the current impasse? (2) Does the minister concede what all WA Police know and understand that by devaluing the work of detectives, the best and brightest will be deterred from undertaking this key role? Mr R.F. JOHNSON replied: (1)–(2) The member is fully aware that I, as police minister, am not involved in direct negotiations — Ms M.M. Quirk : Why are you putting out press releases about it? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am like the member—I like sending the odd press release out, but she likes sending them out by the dozen! I actually conserve some paper these days, as opposed to the member for Girrawheen. The member is fully aware that as police minister I am not involved in direct negotiations between the Police Union and the government. They are conducted by the Minister for Commerce in conjunction with discussions with, I think, the Treasurer. I am kept informed of what is going on, but it is not for me to start getting involved in those negotiations. The police and the WA Police Union of Workers know exactly where I stand and they know the support I have for our hardworking police officers. The problem, as I see it, was that some of the detectives did not like that particular offer. That is an issue for the police union and police officers throughout this state. We have more than 6 000 officers and the vote was very low compared with what we think it should have been in comparative terms. I will not get involved because I do not want to interfere. I would probably be too generous if I got involved; that is probably why they keep me out of it. That is quite rightly so, because we have to keep within the government wages policy and, indeed, that is what is happening.
(2) Does the minister concede what all WA Police know and understand that by devaluing the work of detectives, the best and brightest will be deterred from undertaking this key role? Mr R.F. JOHNSON replied: (1)–(2) The member is fully aware that I, as police minister, am not involved in direct negotiations — Ms M.M. Quirk : Why are you putting out press releases about it? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am like the member—I like sending the odd press release out, but she likes sending them out by the dozen! I actually conserve some paper these days, as opposed to the member for Girrawheen. The member is fully aware that as police minister I am not involved in direct negotiations between the Police Union and the government. They are conducted by the Minister for Commerce in conjunction with discussions with, I think, the Treasurer. I am kept informed of what is going on, but it is not for me to start getting involved in those negotiations. The police and the WA Police Union of Workers know exactly where I stand and they know the support I have for our hardworking police officers. The problem, as I see it, was that some of the detectives did not like that particular offer. That is an issue for the police union and police officers throughout this state. We have more than 6 000 officers and the vote was very low compared with what we think it should have been in comparative terms. I will not get involved because I do not want to interfere. I would probably be too generous if I got involved; that is probably why they keep me out of it. That is quite rightly so, because we have to keep within the government wages policy and, indeed, that is what is happening.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON replied: (1)–(2) The member is fully aware that I, as police minister, am not involved in direct negotiations — Ms M.M. Quirk : Why are you putting out press releases about it? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am like the member—I like sending the odd press release out, but she likes sending them out by the dozen! I actually conserve some paper these days, as opposed to the member for Girrawheen. The member is fully aware that as police minister I am not involved in direct negotiations between the Police Union and the government. They are conducted by the Minister for Commerce in conjunction with discussions with, I think, the Treasurer. I am kept informed of what is going on, but it is not for me to start getting involved in those negotiations. The police and the WA Police Union of Workers know exactly where I stand and they know the support I have for our hardworking police officers. The problem, as I see it, was that some of the detectives did not like that particular offer. That is an issue for the police union and police officers throughout this state. We have more than 6 000 officers and the vote was very low compared with what we think it should have been in comparative terms. I will not get involved because I do not want to interfere. I would probably be too generous if I got involved; that is probably why they keep me out of it. That is quite rightly so, because we have to keep within the government wages policy and, indeed, that is what is happening.
(1)–(2) The member is fully aware that I, as police minister, am not involved in direct negotiations — Ms M.M. Quirk : Why are you putting out press releases about it? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am like the member—I like sending the odd press release out, but she likes sending them out by the dozen! I actually conserve some paper these days, as opposed to the member for Girrawheen. The member is fully aware that as police minister I am not involved in direct negotiations between the Police Union and the government. They are conducted by the Minister for Commerce in conjunction with discussions with, I think, the Treasurer. I am kept informed of what is going on, but it is not for me to start getting involved in those negotiations. The police and the WA Police Union of Workers know exactly where I stand and they know the support I have for our hardworking police officers. The problem, as I see it, was that some of the detectives did not like that particular offer. That is an issue for the police union and police officers throughout this state. We have more than 6 000 officers and the vote was very low compared with what we think it should have been in comparative terms. I will not get involved because I do not want to interfere. I would probably be too generous if I got involved; that is probably why they keep me out of it. That is quite rightly so, because we have to keep within the government wages policy and, indeed, that is what is happening.
Ms M.M. Quirk : Why are you putting out press releases about it? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am like the member—I like sending the odd press release out, but she likes sending them out by the dozen! I actually conserve some paper these days, as opposed to the member for Girrawheen. The member is fully aware that as police minister I am not involved in direct negotiations between the Police Union and the government. They are conducted by the Minister for Commerce in conjunction with discussions with, I think, the Treasurer. I am kept informed of what is going on, but it is not for me to start getting involved in those negotiations. The police and the WA Police Union of Workers know exactly where I stand and they know the support I have for our hardworking police officers. The problem, as I see it, was that some of the detectives did not like that particular offer. That is an issue for the police union and police officers throughout this state. We have more than 6 000 officers and the vote was very low compared with what we think it should have been in comparative terms. I will not get involved because I do not want to interfere. I would probably be too generous if I got involved; that is probably why they keep me out of it. That is quite rightly so, because we have to keep within the government wages policy and, indeed, that is what is happening.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am like the member—I like sending the odd press release out, but she likes sending them out by the dozen! I actually conserve some paper these days, as opposed to the member for Girrawheen. The member is fully aware that as police minister I am not involved in direct negotiations between the Police Union and the government. They are conducted by the Minister for Commerce in conjunction with discussions with, I think, the Treasurer. I am kept informed of what is going on, but it is not for me to start getting involved in those negotiations. The police and the WA Police Union of Workers know exactly where I stand and they know the support I have for our hardworking police officers. The problem, as I see it, was that some of the detectives did not like that particular offer. That is an issue for the police union and police officers throughout this state. We have more than 6 000 officers and the vote was very low compared with what we think it should have been in comparative terms. I will not get involved because I do not want to interfere. I would probably be too generous if I got involved; that is probably why they keep me out of it. That is quite rightly so, because we have to keep within the government wages policy and, indeed, that is what is happening.
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