❓ Mr. Katsambanis questions the Premier about increasing police officer numbers to address violence. The Premier responds by highlighting the government's increase in police numbers and cooperative relationship with the police union, while criticizing the opposition's listening skills.
AnsweredQoN 1109Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
POLICE —
ADDITIONAL OFFICERS
1109. Mr P.A. KATSAMBANIS to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question.
Will the Premier finally listen to the WA Police Union and the WA community,
who are crying out for additional police officers to deal with out-of-control
violence in Western Australia?
ADDITIONAL OFFICERS
1109. Mr P.A. KATSAMBANIS to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question.
Will the Premier finally listen to the WA Police Union and the WA community,
who are crying out for additional police officers to deal with out-of-control
violence in Western Australia?
AnswerView source ↗
The
police union and the government have been working cooperatively on a range of
things. But I would just say that the shadow minister does not listen to
anything that is ever said to him. I will explain it to him again: 148 additional
officers since we came to office.
Mr P.A. Katsambanis interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Hillarys!
Mr M. McGOWAN : The member is
not listening. There seems to be a collective malady amongst Liberal Party
members, whereby they do not listen and they are unable to process. I do not
know what has happened to them, but they cannot process what they are told.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members on my
left!
Mr M. McGOWAN : There are 148
additional officers since we came to office. We have the highest number of
police officers per head of population of any state in Australia, and we have
expanded the number of police officers.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr P.A. Katsambanis interjected.
The SPEAKER : I heard you the
first three times, member for Hillarys.
Mr M. McGOWAN : I am a strong
supporter of our police officers. I can tell members that over the course of
the last two days, I spent some considerable time with police officers at the
Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre. A number of police officers were at the
convention centre dealing with what may have occurred, and I must say that they
handled the situation well. I have enormous respect for our police officers. We
have a police officer in our ranks in the member for Burns Beach. We support
police officers. We have a new Commissioner of Police. He is doing a terrific
job. We are strong supporters of our state's police. We are working
cooperatively with the police union. We have employed more police officers
since we came to office.
police union and the government have been working cooperatively on a range of
things. But I would just say that the shadow minister does not listen to
anything that is ever said to him. I will explain it to him again: 148 additional
officers since we came to office.
Mr P.A. Katsambanis interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Hillarys!
Mr M. McGOWAN : The member is
not listening. There seems to be a collective malady amongst Liberal Party
members, whereby they do not listen and they are unable to process. I do not
know what has happened to them, but they cannot process what they are told.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members on my
left!
Mr M. McGOWAN : There are 148
additional officers since we came to office. We have the highest number of
police officers per head of population of any state in Australia, and we have
expanded the number of police officers.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr P.A. Katsambanis interjected.
The SPEAKER : I heard you the
first three times, member for Hillarys.
Mr M. McGOWAN : I am a strong
supporter of our police officers. I can tell members that over the course of
the last two days, I spent some considerable time with police officers at the
Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre. A number of police officers were at the
convention centre dealing with what may have occurred, and I must say that they
handled the situation well. I have enormous respect for our police officers. We
have a police officer in our ranks in the member for Burns Beach. We support
police officers. We have a new Commissioner of Police. He is doing a terrific
job. We are strong supporters of our state's police. We are working
cooperatively with the police union. We have employed more police officers
since we came to office.
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