❓ Opposition questions the Police Minister's handling of crime concerns raised by the Carnarvon shire president. Minister defends his actions, citing increased police resources and the Commissioner's authority.
AnsweredQoN 451Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CRIME AND ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOUR — CARNARVON
451. Ms M.J. DAVIES to the Minister for Police:
I
have a supplementary question. The minister denied there was a crime wave and
now he is denying any responsibility . Why
is he continuing to ignore the pleas of the shire president of Carnarvon who
came to meet with him face to face and has now been forced to put his
concerns in writing publicly because he is not getting the attention he needs?
The
SPEAKER : Leader of the
Opposition, a supplementary is to be a single sharp question and not contain
argument.
451. Ms M.J. DAVIES to the Minister for Police:
I
have a supplementary question. The minister denied there was a crime wave and
now he is denying any responsibility . Why
is he continuing to ignore the pleas of the shire president of Carnarvon who
came to meet with him face to face and has now been forced to put his
concerns in writing publicly because he is not getting the attention he needs?
The
SPEAKER : Leader of the
Opposition, a supplementary is to be a single sharp question and not contain
argument.
AnswerView source ↗
I will repeat what I said and I am
sure that Eddie will not contradict my observation about our conversation. He
said that he had no question about the quality of policing in Carnarvon. The
issues that he was raising with me were not to do with my portfolio and they
were not to do with policing. If the Leader of the Opposition wants to dispute
that and make a different claim, she should ask Eddie to come and see me and
tell me about it because that is not what he said to me. That is not what he
put in writing to me post the meeting we had. He came to advocate for his
initiative —
Ms M.J. Davies : It's
not your problem. Is that what you're saying?
Mr P. PAPALIA : I am the
police minister. I am saying that contributions have been made in the police
portfolio towards addressing concerns around juvenile offending in Carnarvon.
We have more police than when the Liberals and Nationals were in government.
That is a fact. There are more police. We have initiated Operation Regional
Shield right across the state to respond, as necessary, to acute issues around
juvenile offending. That is currently active in the Kimberley and the Pilbara—not
in the midwest because it is not required at the moment. The Commissioner of
Police determines where it is required and when it is required. There are as
many resources as necessary to address any issues observed by the Commissioner
of Police. The Commissioner of Police determines where police resources are
required. Does the Leader of the Opposition think she knows more about policing
than the Commissioner of Police? Is that what she is suggesting? The
Commissioner of Police for Western Australia should be taking advice from the
Leader of the Opposition on policing operational matters. That is what she is
saying. There is more than $1 million to rebuild the police and community youth
centre, more police than was the case under the former government and more
resources for police, if necessary, in the event of any acute matter that
confronts the police commissioner. There is no problem with policing in
Carnarvon, according to Eddie Smith. If the Leader of the Opposition is making
a claim that there is, she should —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
Mr P. PAPALIA : Eddie, if you
are watching, give me a call because the Leader of the Opposition claims that I am not telling the truth about our conversation.
Give me a call because you have my number, and we talk regularly.
sure that Eddie will not contradict my observation about our conversation. He
said that he had no question about the quality of policing in Carnarvon. The
issues that he was raising with me were not to do with my portfolio and they
were not to do with policing. If the Leader of the Opposition wants to dispute
that and make a different claim, she should ask Eddie to come and see me and
tell me about it because that is not what he said to me. That is not what he
put in writing to me post the meeting we had. He came to advocate for his
initiative —
Ms M.J. Davies : It's
not your problem. Is that what you're saying?
Mr P. PAPALIA : I am the
police minister. I am saying that contributions have been made in the police
portfolio towards addressing concerns around juvenile offending in Carnarvon.
We have more police than when the Liberals and Nationals were in government.
That is a fact. There are more police. We have initiated Operation Regional
Shield right across the state to respond, as necessary, to acute issues around
juvenile offending. That is currently active in the Kimberley and the Pilbara—not
in the midwest because it is not required at the moment. The Commissioner of
Police determines where it is required and when it is required. There are as
many resources as necessary to address any issues observed by the Commissioner
of Police. The Commissioner of Police determines where police resources are
required. Does the Leader of the Opposition think she knows more about policing
than the Commissioner of Police? Is that what she is suggesting? The
Commissioner of Police for Western Australia should be taking advice from the
Leader of the Opposition on policing operational matters. That is what she is
saying. There is more than $1 million to rebuild the police and community youth
centre, more police than was the case under the former government and more
resources for police, if necessary, in the event of any acute matter that
confronts the police commissioner. There is no problem with policing in
Carnarvon, according to Eddie Smith. If the Leader of the Opposition is making
a claim that there is, she should —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
Mr P. PAPALIA : Eddie, if you
are watching, give me a call because the Leader of the Opposition claims that I am not telling the truth about our conversation.
Give me a call because you have my number, and we talk regularly.
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