Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .
Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 7 Hansard (29 June) . . Page.. 2345 ..
Motion (by Mr Humphries ) agreed to, with the concurrence of an absolute majority:
That standing order 76 be suspended for the remainder of the sitting.
Proposed expenditure-Part 14-Justice and Community Safety.
Debate resumed.
MR STEFANIAK (Minister for Education) (10.56): I am amazed at the hypocrisy of the ALP in this matter.
Mr Stanhope: Who do you call a hypocrite?
MR STEFANIAK: You people. I mentioned earlier in the debate on health where the decline in police services started.
Mr Stanhope: Where is the Belconnen pool?
MR SPEAKER: It is not in Justice and Community Safety, I would suggest, Mr Stanhope.
MR STEFANIAK: Thank you, Mr Speaker. In 1991 the then Labor government, under the then Attorney-General and police minister, Terry Connolly, initiated a cut in the police budget. That was something that continued under Labor. When the Alliance government signed the police agreement with the federal government, I think we had something like 694 police. For the Labor Party to say that it is not going to vote for this police budget is amazing. If they purport to support police in our community and support efforts to stop community crime, surely they can have the decency to acknowledge that this budget creates an additional 50 police, plus another 40 police who will be released from other duties to go out onto the streets to combat crime. That is 90 additional police.
Mr Stanhope: Has your house been knocked over yet?
MR SPEAKER: Order! Mr Stanhope, you have already made your contribution.
MR STEFANIAK
: The place next door has, Mr Stanhope. There have been a lot of burglaries around here for many years. Sadly, that is something that occurs throughout Australia. But this government is doing a lot about it. You people have done nothing for police since the start of self-government. You have cut police budgets. You have introduced laws that have not assisted police in curbing crime. You have watered down laws which would have assisted the courts in dealing with crime and giving decent
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .