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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1995 Week 11 Hansard (14 December) . . Page.. 3168 ..

I propose that the previous focus on reviewing ACT Police Services which has been jointly undertaken by ACT and Commonwealth officials, will now move toward a concentration on developing a new policing arrangement which delineates clear procedures for policy direction by, and accountability to, the ACT Government and describes the operational framework for a statutory appointed ACT police chief.

As I said earlier Mr Speaker, the Government is particularly supportive of a statutory appointment. While the details of this have yet to be decided a possible legislative framework would involve the introduction into the Assembly, of legislation to provide for the appointment of an ACT police chief and the procedural and administrative arrangements associated with that office.

Given the relationship between the policing of the ACT and the Australian Federal Police it would be logical and necessary that the ACT police chief would retain strong links with the AFP. The legislative model may possibly involve a single person occupying both an ACT statutory office and an identically-titled unique position within the AFP rank structures. Policing of the ACT would be carried out in accordance with the provisions of the AFP Act, - the proposed ACT Act, and a new Policing Arrangement.

To assist in the development of an appropriate framework the Commonwealth Government will be asked to make a regulation to amend the relevant provisions of the Self Government Act which currently restrict the Assembly from making laws with respect to the provision by the AFP of police services in relation to the Territory.

I wish to turn now from the new legislative framework to the recommendations relating to the handling of complaints against police.

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