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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 9 Hansard (2 September) . . Page.. 2754 ..

MR HUMPHRIES (continuing):

resources of the ACT Region of the AFP, but in doing so there needs to be a better understanding on the part of the Commonwealth about its expectations of law enforcement agencies. The massive Commonwealth budget cuts forced on the AFP in recent years have resulted in a minimal replacement of attrition across the police service.

I should add, Mr Speaker, that falling numbers is not a recent problem. In fact, while numbers have been steadily declining in recent months, they have not, at this stage, reached a level as low as they did under the former Labor Government, when in September 1994 they stood at just over 640, the lowest point in the records that have been kept. But, again it should be pointed out that this does not include non-operational personnel who may actually be assigned to the ACT Region but be on leave.

Mr Wood: Have we been subsidising the Commonwealth?

MR HUMPHRIES: To some extent we have, yes, since at least 1994.

Mrs Carnell: This is not the only area in which we do.

MR HUMPHRIES: Yes, indeed. The question of police numbers assigned to the ACT will always be a problem while we have a police service serving two masters. The benefits gained by the ACT by being part of the wider AFP structure are significant and not traded off lightly, but we do need better accountability structures in place and those will be the subject of continuing discussions between me and the Commonwealth Attorney-General.

Finally, Mr Speaker, in relation to Mr Wood's question on Thursday, when he asked how many police were available for operational duties on Thursday afternoon, I am advised that there were 116 operational members and 13 staff members rostered who were involved in district operations. In addition, other police and staff members were available for deployment from the regional investigation teams, communications, intelligence, sexual assault and child abuse team whose personnel were available to assist in other duties if required. There were, as members will see, 116 operational members plus 13 staff members available to deal with problems on the streets of Canberra at that time of the question being asked.

Mr Wood: Mr Speaker, would the Minister table the document he has been reading from?

Mrs Littlewood: He just put it in Hansard.

Mr Wood: I want to see it now; that is all.

MR HUMPHRIES: It is the usual practice in this place not to have Ministers table the briefings from which they have read. On this occasion I do not mind the request from Mr Wood; so, breaking tradition, I will table that document.

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