QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Twinning Arrangement with Versailles

MS FOLLETT: I direct a question to Mrs Carnell in her capacity as Chief Minister. I refer Mrs Carnell to the two letters that she mentioned in this morning's debate. They are to the Mayor of Versailles and to the President du Conseil General des Yvelines. I ask Mrs Carnell: As these letters are dated today, will you attempt to withdraw the letters before they are dispatched? If that is not possible, will you immediately advise both the mayor and the president of this morning's decision of the Assembly stating that the ACT Government is now withdrawing its support for the sister city relationship?

MRS CARNELL: I have already put that in process. Yes, absolutely.

MS FOLLETT: I ask a supplementary question, Mr Speaker. I take it, then, that Mrs Carnell has in effect withdrawn the letters. If not, if she intends writing again, I ask: Would she make copies of the second letters available to members of the Assembly?

MRS CARNELL: The answer is yes, I will attempt to stop the letters that have already been sent; but, most importantly, I will be writing to the Mayor of Versailles and the administrator of Les Yvelines to make sure that they realise exactly what the Assembly decided this morning. I am very happy - and I assume that it will be the case - for every member of this Assembly to have a copy of that letter.

Australian Federal Police - Major Crime Squad

MR KAINE: I address a question to Mr Humphries as the Minister responsible for policing. Minister, can you tell the Assembly what effect the decision to disband the Major Crime Squad of the Australian Federal Police will have on police numbers and disposition in Canberra?

MR HUMPHRIES: I thank Mr Kaine for the question. I can indicate that this is an issue of some importance. This Government came to office with the clear promise that it would do its best to ensure that resources were placed, to the maximum extent possible, at the sharp end of policing, rather than having police driving desks. Obviously, there are some support and administrative functions which every police man and woman needs to perform, but there are also roles for which the police are trained and which we believe they should be given the maximum opportunity to perform wherever possible.

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