❓ A member of parliament questions the Minister for Police and Emergency Services regarding legal assistance for police officers involved in the Police Royal Commission, specifically about the timing of summonses and the lack of information on how officers can access the promised legal support. The Minister deflects responsibility to the Attorney General.
AnsweredQoN 909Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the minister’s media statement dated 10 April this year about the Police Royal Commission, in which she states - Legal assistance will be available from the time that an officer has been requested by Royal Commission officers to attend an interview, or has been served with: . . . • a summons to appear to give evidence. Given that Commissioner Kennedy has indicated that hearings will shortly be commencing - (1) Will the minister confirm that summonses for these first hearings are being sent out this week? (2) Is the minister aware that officers requiring this representation, who may already be receiving summonses, have not been informed how this scheme is to operate, how to apply for funding, the process for submitting accounts or the process for receiving payment? (3) How does the minister expect officers to take advantage of this scheme, which is needed this week, when administrative details have not yet been worked out? The SPEAKER: Questions are getting detailed and lengthy. It is unreasonable to expect the minister to remember the parts of such a complex question, but I am sure she will do her best. I ask members to keep questions concise. Mrs ROBERTS
AnswerView source ↗
(1) No, I cannot confirm that summonses are being sent out this week. (2)-(3) Those matters are the Attorney General’s responsibility. The member may care to redirect his question to him. Several members interjected. Mrs ROBERTS: I issued a press release because it is an important matter - Several members interjected. Mrs ROBERTS: I am clearly the minister responsible for the Police Service, police officers and the public servants who work for the service. I put out a press release assuring Police Service personnel that they would be represented before the royal commission. I sought those undertakings from the Attorney and Cabinet and received them. I was very pleased to be able to issue that press release last week. Clearly, the day-to-day operations of the royal commission are not my business. I am not aware of that detail. Perhaps the member should ask the appropriate minister.
• a summons to appear to give evidence.
(1) Will the minister confirm that summonses for these first hearings are being sent out this week? (2) Is the minister aware that officers requiring this representation, who may already be receiving summonses, have not been informed how this scheme is to operate, how to apply for funding, the process for submitting accounts or the process for receiving payment? (3) How does the minister expect officers to take advantage of this scheme, which is needed this week, when administrative details have not yet been worked out? The SPEAKER: Questions are getting detailed and lengthy. It is unreasonable to expect the minister to remember the parts of such a complex question, but I am sure she will do her best. I ask members to keep questions concise. Mrs ROBERTS replied: (1) No, I cannot confirm that summonses are being sent out this week. (2)-(3) Those matters are the Attorney General’s responsibility. The member may care to redirect his question to him. Several members interjected. Mrs ROBERTS: I issued a press release because it is an important matter - Several members interjected. Mrs ROBERTS: I am clearly the minister responsible for the Police Service, police officers and the public servants who work for the service. I put out a press release assuring Police Service personnel that they would be represented before the royal commission. I sought those undertakings from the Attorney and Cabinet and received them. I was very pleased to be able to issue that press release last week. Clearly, the day-to-day operations of the royal commission are not my business. I am not aware of that detail. Perhaps the member should ask the appropriate minister.
(2) Is the minister aware that officers requiring this representation, who may already be receiving summonses, have not been informed how this scheme is to operate, how to apply for funding, the process for submitting accounts or the process for receiving payment? (3) How does the minister expect officers to take advantage of this scheme, which is needed this week, when administrative details have not yet been worked out? The SPEAKER: Questions are getting detailed and lengthy. It is unreasonable to expect the minister to remember the parts of such a complex question, but I am sure she will do her best. I ask members to keep questions concise. Mrs ROBERTS replied: (1) No, I cannot confirm that summonses are being sent out this week. (2)-(3) Those matters are the Attorney General’s responsibility. The member may care to redirect his question to him. Several members interjected. Mrs ROBERTS: I issued a press release because it is an important matter - Several members interjected. Mrs ROBERTS: I am clearly the minister responsible for the Police Service, police officers and the public servants who work for the service. I put out a press release assuring Police Service personnel that they would be represented before the royal commission. I sought those undertakings from the Attorney and Cabinet and received them. I was very pleased to be able to issue that press release last week. Clearly, the day-to-day operations of the royal commission are not my business. I am not aware of that detail. Perhaps the member should ask the appropriate minister.
(3) How does the minister expect officers to take advantage of this scheme, which is needed this week, when administrative details have not yet been worked out? The SPEAKER: Questions are getting detailed and lengthy. It is unreasonable to expect the minister to remember the parts of such a complex question, but I am sure she will do her best. I ask members to keep questions concise. Mrs ROBERTS replied: (1) No, I cannot confirm that summonses are being sent out this week. (2)-(3) Those matters are the Attorney General’s responsibility. The member may care to redirect his question to him. Several members interjected. Mrs ROBERTS: I issued a press release because it is an important matter - Several members interjected. Mrs ROBERTS: I am clearly the minister responsible for the Police Service, police officers and the public servants who work for the service. I put out a press release assuring Police Service personnel that they would be represented before the royal commission. I sought those undertakings from the Attorney and Cabinet and received them. I was very pleased to be able to issue that press release last week. Clearly, the day-to-day operations of the royal commission are not my business. I am not aware of that detail. Perhaps the member should ask the appropriate minister.
The SPEAKER: Questions are getting detailed and lengthy. It is unreasonable to expect the minister to remember the parts of such a complex question, but I am sure she will do her best. I ask members to keep questions concise. Mrs ROBERTS replied: (1) No, I cannot confirm that summonses are being sent out this week. (2)-(3) Those matters are the Attorney General’s responsibility. The member may care to redirect his question to him. Several members interjected. Mrs ROBERTS: I issued a press release because it is an important matter - Several members interjected. Mrs ROBERTS: I am clearly the minister responsible for the Police Service, police officers and the public servants who work for the service. I put out a press release assuring Police Service personnel that they would be represented before the royal commission. I sought those undertakings from the Attorney and Cabinet and received them. I was very pleased to be able to issue that press release last week. Clearly, the day-to-day operations of the royal commission are not my business. I am not aware of that detail. Perhaps the member should ask the appropriate minister.
Mrs ROBERTS replied: (1) No, I cannot confirm that summonses are being sent out this week. (2)-(3) Those matters are the Attorney General’s responsibility. The member may care to redirect his question to him. Several members interjected. Mrs ROBERTS: I issued a press release because it is an important matter - Several members interjected. Mrs ROBERTS: I am clearly the minister responsible for the Police Service, police officers and the public servants who work for the service. I put out a press release assuring Police Service personnel that they would be represented before the royal commission. I sought those undertakings from the Attorney and Cabinet and received them. I was very pleased to be able to issue that press release last week. Clearly, the day-to-day operations of the royal commission are not my business. I am not aware of that detail. Perhaps the member should ask the appropriate minister.
(1) No, I cannot confirm that summonses are being sent out this week. (2)-(3) Those matters are the Attorney General’s responsibility. The member may care to redirect his question to him. Several members interjected. Mrs ROBERTS: I issued a press release because it is an important matter - Several members interjected. Mrs ROBERTS: I am clearly the minister responsible for the Police Service, police officers and the public servants who work for the service. I put out a press release assuring Police Service personnel that they would be represented before the royal commission. I sought those undertakings from the Attorney and Cabinet and received them. I was very pleased to be able to issue that press release last week. Clearly, the day-to-day operations of the royal commission are not my business. I am not aware of that detail. Perhaps the member should ask the appropriate minister.
(2)-(3) Those matters are the Attorney General’s responsibility. The member may care to redirect his question to him. Several members interjected. Mrs ROBERTS: I issued a press release because it is an important matter - Several members interjected. Mrs ROBERTS: I am clearly the minister responsible for the Police Service, police officers and the public servants who work for the service. I put out a press release assuring Police Service personnel that they would be represented before the royal commission. I sought those undertakings from the Attorney and Cabinet and received them. I was very pleased to be able to issue that press release last week. Clearly, the day-to-day operations of the royal commission are not my business. I am not aware of that detail. Perhaps the member should ask the appropriate minister.
Several members interjected. Mrs ROBERTS: I issued a press release because it is an important matter - Several members interjected. Mrs ROBERTS: I am clearly the minister responsible for the Police Service, police officers and the public servants who work for the service. I put out a press release assuring Police Service personnel that they would be represented before the royal commission. I sought those undertakings from the Attorney and Cabinet and received them. I was very pleased to be able to issue that press release last week. Clearly, the day-to-day operations of the royal commission are not my business. I am not aware of that detail. Perhaps the member should ask the appropriate minister.
Mrs ROBERTS: I issued a press release because it is an important matter - Several members interjected. Mrs ROBERTS: I am clearly the minister responsible for the Police Service, police officers and the public servants who work for the service. I put out a press release assuring Police Service personnel that they would be represented before the royal commission. I sought those undertakings from the Attorney and Cabinet and received them. I was very pleased to be able to issue that press release last week. Clearly, the day-to-day operations of the royal commission are not my business. I am not aware of that detail. Perhaps the member should ask the appropriate minister.
Several members interjected. Mrs ROBERTS: I am clearly the minister responsible for the Police Service, police officers and the public servants who work for the service. I put out a press release assuring Police Service personnel that they would be represented before the royal commission. I sought those undertakings from the Attorney and Cabinet and received them. I was very pleased to be able to issue that press release last week. Clearly, the day-to-day operations of the royal commission are not my business. I am not aware of that detail. Perhaps the member should ask the appropriate minister.
Mrs ROBERTS: I am clearly the minister responsible for the Police Service, police officers and the public servants who work for the service. I put out a press release assuring Police Service personnel that they would be represented before the royal commission. I sought those undertakings from the Attorney and Cabinet and received them. I was very pleased to be able to issue that press release last week. Clearly, the day-to-day operations of the royal commission are not my business. I am not aware of that detail. Perhaps the member should ask the appropriate minister.
• a summons to appear to give evidence.
(1) Will the minister confirm that summonses for these first hearings are being sent out this week? (2) Is the minister aware that officers requiring this representation, who may already be receiving summonses, have not been informed how this scheme is to operate, how to apply for funding, the process for submitting accounts or the process for receiving payment? (3) How does the minister expect officers to take advantage of this scheme, which is needed this week, when administrative details have not yet been worked out? The SPEAKER: Questions are getting detailed and lengthy. It is unreasonable to expect the minister to remember the parts of such a complex question, but I am sure she will do her best. I ask members to keep questions concise. Mrs ROBERTS replied: (1) No, I cannot confirm that summonses are being sent out this week. (2)-(3) Those matters are the Attorney General’s responsibility. The member may care to redirect his question to him. Several members interjected. Mrs ROBERTS: I issued a press release because it is an important matter - Several members interjected. Mrs ROBERTS: I am clearly the minister responsible for the Police Service, police officers and the public servants who work for the service. I put out a press release assuring Police Service personnel that they would be represented before the royal commission. I sought those undertakings from the Attorney and Cabinet and received them. I was very pleased to be able to issue that press release last week. Clearly, the day-to-day operations of the royal commission are not my business. I am not aware of that detail. Perhaps the member should ask the appropriate minister.
(2) Is the minister aware that officers requiring this representation, who may already be receiving summonses, have not been informed how this scheme is to operate, how to apply for funding, the process for submitting accounts or the process for receiving payment? (3) How does the minister expect officers to take advantage of this scheme, which is needed this week, when administrative details have not yet been worked out? The SPEAKER: Questions are getting detailed and lengthy. It is unreasonable to expect the minister to remember the parts of such a complex question, but I am sure she will do her best. I ask members to keep questions concise. Mrs ROBERTS replied: (1) No, I cannot confirm that summonses are being sent out this week. (2)-(3) Those matters are the Attorney General’s responsibility. The member may care to redirect his question to him. Several members interjected. Mrs ROBERTS: I issued a press release because it is an important matter - Several members interjected. Mrs ROBERTS: I am clearly the minister responsible for the Police Service, police officers and the public servants who work for the service. I put out a press release assuring Police Service personnel that they would be represented before the royal commission. I sought those undertakings from the Attorney and Cabinet and received them. I was very pleased to be able to issue that press release last week. Clearly, the day-to-day operations of the royal commission are not my business. I am not aware of that detail. Perhaps the member should ask the appropriate minister.
(3) How does the minister expect officers to take advantage of this scheme, which is needed this week, when administrative details have not yet been worked out? The SPEAKER: Questions are getting detailed and lengthy. It is unreasonable to expect the minister to remember the parts of such a complex question, but I am sure she will do her best. I ask members to keep questions concise. Mrs ROBERTS replied: (1) No, I cannot confirm that summonses are being sent out this week. (2)-(3) Those matters are the Attorney General’s responsibility. The member may care to redirect his question to him. Several members interjected. Mrs ROBERTS: I issued a press release because it is an important matter - Several members interjected. Mrs ROBERTS: I am clearly the minister responsible for the Police Service, police officers and the public servants who work for the service. I put out a press release assuring Police Service personnel that they would be represented before the royal commission. I sought those undertakings from the Attorney and Cabinet and received them. I was very pleased to be able to issue that press release last week. Clearly, the day-to-day operations of the royal commission are not my business. I am not aware of that detail. Perhaps the member should ask the appropriate minister.
The SPEAKER: Questions are getting detailed and lengthy. It is unreasonable to expect the minister to remember the parts of such a complex question, but I am sure she will do her best. I ask members to keep questions concise. Mrs ROBERTS replied: (1) No, I cannot confirm that summonses are being sent out this week. (2)-(3) Those matters are the Attorney General’s responsibility. The member may care to redirect his question to him. Several members interjected. Mrs ROBERTS: I issued a press release because it is an important matter - Several members interjected. Mrs ROBERTS: I am clearly the minister responsible for the Police Service, police officers and the public servants who work for the service. I put out a press release assuring Police Service personnel that they would be represented before the royal commission. I sought those undertakings from the Attorney and Cabinet and received them. I was very pleased to be able to issue that press release last week. Clearly, the day-to-day operations of the royal commission are not my business. I am not aware of that detail. Perhaps the member should ask the appropriate minister.
Mrs ROBERTS replied: (1) No, I cannot confirm that summonses are being sent out this week. (2)-(3) Those matters are the Attorney General’s responsibility. The member may care to redirect his question to him. Several members interjected. Mrs ROBERTS: I issued a press release because it is an important matter - Several members interjected. Mrs ROBERTS: I am clearly the minister responsible for the Police Service, police officers and the public servants who work for the service. I put out a press release assuring Police Service personnel that they would be represented before the royal commission. I sought those undertakings from the Attorney and Cabinet and received them. I was very pleased to be able to issue that press release last week. Clearly, the day-to-day operations of the royal commission are not my business. I am not aware of that detail. Perhaps the member should ask the appropriate minister.
(1) No, I cannot confirm that summonses are being sent out this week. (2)-(3) Those matters are the Attorney General’s responsibility. The member may care to redirect his question to him. Several members interjected. Mrs ROBERTS: I issued a press release because it is an important matter - Several members interjected. Mrs ROBERTS: I am clearly the minister responsible for the Police Service, police officers and the public servants who work for the service. I put out a press release assuring Police Service personnel that they would be represented before the royal commission. I sought those undertakings from the Attorney and Cabinet and received them. I was very pleased to be able to issue that press release last week. Clearly, the day-to-day operations of the royal commission are not my business. I am not aware of that detail. Perhaps the member should ask the appropriate minister.
(2)-(3) Those matters are the Attorney General’s responsibility. The member may care to redirect his question to him. Several members interjected. Mrs ROBERTS: I issued a press release because it is an important matter - Several members interjected. Mrs ROBERTS: I am clearly the minister responsible for the Police Service, police officers and the public servants who work for the service. I put out a press release assuring Police Service personnel that they would be represented before the royal commission. I sought those undertakings from the Attorney and Cabinet and received them. I was very pleased to be able to issue that press release last week. Clearly, the day-to-day operations of the royal commission are not my business. I am not aware of that detail. Perhaps the member should ask the appropriate minister.
Several members interjected. Mrs ROBERTS: I issued a press release because it is an important matter - Several members interjected. Mrs ROBERTS: I am clearly the minister responsible for the Police Service, police officers and the public servants who work for the service. I put out a press release assuring Police Service personnel that they would be represented before the royal commission. I sought those undertakings from the Attorney and Cabinet and received them. I was very pleased to be able to issue that press release last week. Clearly, the day-to-day operations of the royal commission are not my business. I am not aware of that detail. Perhaps the member should ask the appropriate minister.
Mrs ROBERTS: I issued a press release because it is an important matter - Several members interjected. Mrs ROBERTS: I am clearly the minister responsible for the Police Service, police officers and the public servants who work for the service. I put out a press release assuring Police Service personnel that they would be represented before the royal commission. I sought those undertakings from the Attorney and Cabinet and received them. I was very pleased to be able to issue that press release last week. Clearly, the day-to-day operations of the royal commission are not my business. I am not aware of that detail. Perhaps the member should ask the appropriate minister.
Several members interjected. Mrs ROBERTS: I am clearly the minister responsible for the Police Service, police officers and the public servants who work for the service. I put out a press release assuring Police Service personnel that they would be represented before the royal commission. I sought those undertakings from the Attorney and Cabinet and received them. I was very pleased to be able to issue that press release last week. Clearly, the day-to-day operations of the royal commission are not my business. I am not aware of that detail. Perhaps the member should ask the appropriate minister.
Mrs ROBERTS: I am clearly the minister responsible for the Police Service, police officers and the public servants who work for the service. I put out a press release assuring Police Service personnel that they would be represented before the royal commission. I sought those undertakings from the Attorney and Cabinet and received them. I was very pleased to be able to issue that press release last week. Clearly, the day-to-day operations of the royal commission are not my business. I am not aware of that detail. Perhaps the member should ask the appropriate minister.
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