❓ Mrs. Roberts questions the Minister for Police about budget cuts impacting police recruitment. The Minister avoids directly addressing the cuts, instead focusing on the government's commitment to increasing police numbers.
AnsweredQoN 188Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
POLICE —
RECRUITMENT
188. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS to the Minister for Police:
(1) Did the
minister approve the delay in the recruitment of 70 police officers for seven
months as part of the 2012–13 budget cuts?
(2) Did the
minister approve the deferral of the recruitment of 30 public servants as part
of the 2012–13 police budget cuts?
(3) Given that
the minister has now had a day's notice of the question, can she
outline to the house the other details of how she cut $28 million from the 2012–13
police budget?
RECRUITMENT
188. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS to the Minister for Police:
(1) Did the
minister approve the delay in the recruitment of 70 police officers for seven
months as part of the 2012–13 budget cuts?
(2) Did the
minister approve the deferral of the recruitment of 30 public servants as part
of the 2012–13 police budget cuts?
(3) Given that
the minister has now had a day's notice of the question, can she
outline to the house the other details of how she cut $28 million from the 2012–13
police budget?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3)
I am very pleased to have the opportunity to address this matter, and I am
pleased to note that the member for Midland has caught up with the information
that was made available in the midyear review detailing exactly how WA Police
were going to meet the efficiency requirements of government.
Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Several members
interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : To get back to the promise that we made to the community in
September 2008 —
Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Midland!
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : — we promised to the community in 2008 that we would
recruit an additional 350 police officers and 150 auxiliary police officers.
Point of Order
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS :
I have asked quite specific questions. This is the second day in a row that I
have asked them. The minister is merely repeating an answer that she gave
yesterday about the Liberal Party's election commitments.
Several members interjected.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS :
I have not, Mr Speaker, asked about the Liberal Party election commitment. I
have asked about the 2012–13 budget cut of $28 million.
The SPEAKER :
Right. Minister.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mrs L.M. HARVEY :
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
We implemented our election commitments of 2008 on 1 July
2009, which was the first budget of this Liberal–National government.
On that commitment, so far we have delivered 146 of the 150 auxiliary police
officers and 180 of the 350 police officers that we said we would deliver by
June 2014. I am really pleased that I have the opportunity to clarify this
matter. Yesterday, in my answer to a question without notice, I referred to
this financial year as the year that we would deliver on our commitment of
2008. It is a five-year program and I do appreciate the opportunity to correct
the record. By 30 June 2014, we will deliver on that commitment consistent with
the five-year promise from 1 July 2008. As at today, we have an additional 120 police
officers in the academy.
Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Midland!
Mrs L.M. HARVEY :
We have a new squad starting in June, we have kept pace with attrition and we
will be good for our commitment. As to how we deliver that commitment and the
way that we pace the training of those officers —
Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Midland, I will give you a supplementary question. Can you just let
the minister answer this question?
Mrs L.M. HARVEY : I
thank you for your protection, Mr Speaker.
The point of the matter is that we made a commitment to the
community. We said we would deliver the police and auxiliary police officers,
and we will. We are on target to deliver them. We have recruits coming through
the academy.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : What about recruits
coming through next year?
Mrs L.M. HARVEY :
Regardless of when those recruits go through the academy and when they
graduate, they will be online and they will be serving the people of Western
Australia, consistent with our promise, by 30 June 2014.
I am very pleased to have the opportunity to address this matter, and I am
pleased to note that the member for Midland has caught up with the information
that was made available in the midyear review detailing exactly how WA Police
were going to meet the efficiency requirements of government.
Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Several members
interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : To get back to the promise that we made to the community in
September 2008 —
Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Midland!
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : — we promised to the community in 2008 that we would
recruit an additional 350 police officers and 150 auxiliary police officers.
Point of Order
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS :
I have asked quite specific questions. This is the second day in a row that I
have asked them. The minister is merely repeating an answer that she gave
yesterday about the Liberal Party's election commitments.
Several members interjected.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS :
I have not, Mr Speaker, asked about the Liberal Party election commitment. I
have asked about the 2012–13 budget cut of $28 million.
The SPEAKER :
Right. Minister.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mrs L.M. HARVEY :
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
We implemented our election commitments of 2008 on 1 July
2009, which was the first budget of this Liberal–National government.
On that commitment, so far we have delivered 146 of the 150 auxiliary police
officers and 180 of the 350 police officers that we said we would deliver by
June 2014. I am really pleased that I have the opportunity to clarify this
matter. Yesterday, in my answer to a question without notice, I referred to
this financial year as the year that we would deliver on our commitment of
2008. It is a five-year program and I do appreciate the opportunity to correct
the record. By 30 June 2014, we will deliver on that commitment consistent with
the five-year promise from 1 July 2008. As at today, we have an additional 120 police
officers in the academy.
Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Midland!
Mrs L.M. HARVEY :
We have a new squad starting in June, we have kept pace with attrition and we
will be good for our commitment. As to how we deliver that commitment and the
way that we pace the training of those officers —
Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Midland, I will give you a supplementary question. Can you just let
the minister answer this question?
Mrs L.M. HARVEY : I
thank you for your protection, Mr Speaker.
The point of the matter is that we made a commitment to the
community. We said we would deliver the police and auxiliary police officers,
and we will. We are on target to deliver them. We have recruits coming through
the academy.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : What about recruits
coming through next year?
Mrs L.M. HARVEY :
Regardless of when those recruits go through the academy and when they
graduate, they will be online and they will be serving the people of Western
Australia, consistent with our promise, by 30 June 2014.
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