Page 1555 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 2 May 1990
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
police force. Many members of the AFP who are stationed in Canberra have grown up here and are well aware of the problems in the Territory or, if they were not born and bred here, they have served for a lengthy period in the Territory and enjoy policing here. We are rather lucky in that we have a home-grown police force in Canberra which, I think, rightly is regarded as the best in Australia.
Another important consideration, Mr Temporary Deputy Speaker, is the cost of policing. To date, we have been somewhat in the dark as to exactly how much it will cost to provide police services in the ACT. Whilst I concede that it is not a simple matter to arrive at a really accurate figure, discussions and negotiations between the ACT and the Commonwealth have been taking place since last year, and the Commonwealth has still not provided us with a definite figure.
Members will recall that at the Estimates Committee meeting last year a figure of $41m or $42m was bandied about as being the cost of providing policing services in the ACT. You heard the Attorney-General today indicate that approximately $42m is what it costs to run the police force in the ACT. Negotiations are continuing in relation to who exactly is going to pay what. I believe it would be irresponsible of this Government to contemplate any arrangements for the provision of police services without knowing the full financial implications. It is therefore important to proceed cautiously, and it would be much better to extend what is, after all, an artificial deadline of 1 July than be too hasty in agreeing to arrangements which may in future prove to be detrimental financially and to the efficient and proper policing of the Australian Capital Territory. Here we have another situation in which the Federal Labor Government should be honouring its obligation in granting self-government to the Australian Capital Territory by providing the necessary funds so that we can effectively govern ourselves. In the area of policing I think that is very apparent.
Mr Collaery also indicated interim arrangements which are in place to keep the Government informed of all matters relating to policing in the ACT. There are regular consultations, as he indicated, at senior officer level between the Government Law Office and the Australian Federal Police. There is a clear indication that the focus of the ACT component of the AFP is directed to the priorities of the ACT community and the ACT Government. Members may also be aware that the police officer in charge of the ACT region is now addressed as the Chief Police Officer of the ACT. I think we are lucky to have a man of the calibre of Brian Bates who will effectively be our Chief Police Officer when the police force is taken over. We are also lucky in having a police force, the ACT component of the AFP, which is geared to community policing, servicing the needs of the ACT community. As I have indicated, we will be taking over a very efficient police force when it comes over to us. As Mr Collaery
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .