Page 3121 - Week 09 - Thursday, 13 October 2022
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I want to make the point that it is possible to respect the role of police and it is possible to value the role of police but have different views on particular matters. For Mr Hanson it is: “You’re all in or you’re all out.” That is simply not the case. The ACT government works pretty closely with ACT Policing. As attorney, I have considerable dealings with ACT Policing in the particular roles I have. Obviously, Minister Gentleman has the lead responsibility. I hope that, in the event that Mr Hanson ever became a minister in an ACT government, he would apply a little more critical thinking than he conveys in this chamber on some of these issues.
It is possible to support our police force, to support those on the front line. They do have a challenging job. I chat to various of them. When I see them in public, I make a habit of chatting to the officers that I see. I often have quiet conversations with them about a range of matters, and they share their views with me freely, which I appreciate. There are things that they have concerns about and there are things that the government is doing that they are very supportive of. I think that there is a degree of sophistication there which is not reflected in the remarks that were made in the chamber this evening.
I am mindful of the hour. I will conclude my remarks there. As Minister Cheyne just did—and I think it is a good reminder—I take this opportunity to thank the staff of the Justice and Community Safety Directorate that I work with, because they work incredibly hard and they are really thoughtful in the advice that they provide to the ACT government on what are often really complex legal issues.
I often joke that if you put five lawyers in a room you will get six different opinions, and JACS works in that space. That is challenging work, but they do it with tremendous grace and tremendous enthusiasm. From those who do the complex policy work to those who work in our finance team, putting the budget bits together that get to be in this appropriation bill, I value all of their work. We do not often get to say it to them, so I will follow Minister Cheyne’s lead and take this opportunity to put a plug in. Hopefully, none of them are still at work at 6.30 at night. With that, I am very pleased to commend this part of the budget to the Assembly.
Proposed expenditure agreed to.
Community Services Directorate—Part 1.8.
Debate (on motion by Ms Cheyne) adjourned to the next sitting.
Adjournment
Motion (by Ms Cheyne) proposed:
That the Assembly do now adjourn.
Work health and safety—emergency responders
MR BRADDOCK (Yerrabi) (6.29): I wish to start a conversation today about the price our emergency responders pay with their psychological health. As we run from danger, they move towards it on our behalf. Every day, they deal with community
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