Page 4441 - Week 15 - Wednesday, 21 November 1990
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MR STEFANIAK (4.46): I would actually reiterate a couple of points Mr Moore made in relation to Commonwealth grants. It is important for the Commonwealth to take into account the importance of this expenditure in its grants to the Territory. It is a fair amount of money, and certainly it is something that the Government has to look at, but I think that having a police force for a State or Territory is an insurance policy. If you do not have it, you do not really have a State or Territory. It is absolutely essential to have an effective police force. We are lucky in that we do, but unfortunately police forces cost money. That is one area of government where sometimes you simply have to spend money because if you do not you do not have adequate protection and the whole system breaks down.
Mr Moore: If you spend more money on education you need less money for police.
MR STEFANIAK: Not necessarily, Mr Moore. I think you can have a highly educated society and still have considerable problems. It is certainly an area which, unfortunately, costs a lot of money, but that is just one of the key areas which government has to ensure works well. I am very happy to support division 130, Mr Speaker.
MR CONNOLLY (4.47): Mr Speaker, Mr Stefaniak is certainly correct in saying that money spent on police is important. I guess, in a sense, policing is one of the basic functions of government at a State level. Maintenance of law and order is a fundamental, but Mr Moore's comments remain of great importance. Around $54,500,000 is a massive proportion of the Territory budget.
Historically, the ACT has been provided with a police force which has cost more per capita than police forces in other places of Australia, and it is important for this Assembly, this Government and future governments over the coming years to look very carefully to make sure that we are getting the best value for our dollar. It is common ground in the Assembly that the Australian Federal Police provides a high quality service, but it must be remembered that you cannot just keep throwing money at the crime problem. There is a point at which additional expenditure on policing will not give better results, and there is always scope for efficiencies and reforms within police administration and practices to save money.
This substantial division of expenditure of $54,500,000 is a matter of some concern to this side of the house because the Territory has not had a direct input into the financing of this area. We received, effectively, a bill from the Commonwealth of $54,500,000 for the services provided under contract, and the Opposition supported that contract arrangement. But it is incumbent upon us over the next 12 months, as we move to a period when we will be assuming full financial control, to look at this matter very carefully and make sure that we are getting the best value for our dollars.
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