Page 3258 - Week 11 - Thursday, 13 September 1990
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was conflicting information provided by the AFP on civilian staffing numbers.
The Commission had difficulty drawing certain conclusions about above standard police vehicles and above standard kilometres travelled. I quote:
The Commission considered that, based on these ratios, the ACT was providing levels of service higher than those provided in the States, despite an apparently lower level of demand in the ACT as indicated by offences per thousand of population.
So, whilst the ACT had less requirement for police so far as the Grants Commission was concerned, we were at that time spending much more. At this stage, according to our new budget, we have gone on a total and complete blow-out - a 53 per cent increase. This is absolutely amazing when you consider that this Government - the Liberal Government anyway - was elected on fiscal restraint. There are alternatives - - -
Mr Jensen: It is being paid for by the Commonwealth.
MR MOORE: I had forgotten to mention this. I am glad Mr Jensen interjects that it is being paid for by the Commonwealth because we have certainly heard that as a response up until now. I quite accept that this is to be paid for by the Commonwealth until next year. But what are we going to do next year? We have now a 53 per cent increase. Next year are you going to just cut back their funds, cut that same 53 per cent back, and bring them back to standard?
Mr Jensen: Not necessarily.
MR MOORE: Of course; not necessarily. That is the whole point that I have been trying to make. You are committing the ACT to a police force expenditure that is out of all proportion and it is particularly worrying - - -
Mr Jensen: That is what the Grants Commission is going to look at, Michael.
MR MOORE: Well, that is - - -
Mr Collaery: We will give you input to the Grants Commission. You can help us with our input.
MR MOORE: I certainly will. But, having made the sort of commitment that has already been made, the contract that Mr Collaery has signed, and then having spent this kind of money on it, we are obviously going to be in an absolutely disastrous position with this budget blow-out.
What should we be doing with the police force? In a very recently published book - in fact, I think it was released only last week, and I must say I was delighted to be at the
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