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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 5 Hansard (11 May) . . Page.. 1470 ..

MR HARGREAVES: I have a supplementary question, Mr Speaker. We will deal with Mr Humphries' interpretation of ancient history at a later stage.

Mr Humphries: Is there a question, Mr Speaker?

MR SPEAKER: What is the question?

MR HARGREAVES: The supplementary question is: are there burglary teams in each of the two regions, which clarifies the silly interpretation that the Attorney-General put on my last question? Is it true that now, when a home is burgled or there has been property damage, the police only take details over the phone, occasionally go and visit, and do not door-knock the area concerned?

Mr Moore: Did they ever door-knock the area?

MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Moore asked the right question: do they ever door-knock the area concerned? The answer is: on occasions when that is required, yes. The same situation applies today. If it is required in the circumstances, yes, they do that.

Mr Speaker, what areas does the burglary task force, or any burglary task force that might exist, cover? That is a matter I do not propose to disclose because it is not in the interests of the AFP doing their job. I have been given information-

Mr Stanhope: It is commercial-in-confidence.

MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, I am really not going to give this answer if I do not have a chance to be able to give it without interruption. Mr Speaker, I have been given information by the Federal Police, in my capacity as minister for police in the ACT, on the basis that that information is for my knowledge. I am told a great deal about police operations on the basis that I do not come down to this place and blurt out on the public record the details of sensitive police operations.

Surprising as it may sound, Mr Speaker, if Mr Hargreaves ever gets to be police minister in this place he will have the same obligation on him to respect the integrity and confidentiality of the information that he is given. I strongly suggest to you, Mr Hargreaves, that you respect that advice and you take it with great sensitivity. If you do not, you will blow some very sensitive police operations in this town.

MR RUGENDYKE: My question is to the health minister. Yesterday, my office met with representatives of the West City Traders Group, who represent businesses and community groups in the west of the city. They had some concerns about the placement of the shooting gallery in the QEII building. Minister, could you advise me whom the committee consulted prior to coming up with its recommendation and why the committee failed to take into consideration the concerns of nearby community groups, including the occasional care centre and the senior citizens club?

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