Page 2183 - Week 07 - Wednesday, 22 June 2005

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .

---

The Assembly voted—

Question so resolved in the negative.

Amendment negatived.

Motion agreed to.

Policing levels

MR PRATT (Brindabella) (4.47): I move:

That this Assembly:

(1) expresses its:

(a) deep concern that the level of ACT Policing as revealed in the Estimates hearings and despite the Government’s persistent denials, deteriorated quite dramatically since this Government came to power; and

(b) concern, as a consequence, about the pressures on an overstretched police force to do its job protecting the community; and

(2) calls on the Government to take immediate action to effectively increase ACT Policing strengths.

The minister has continually misled the community as to the real strength and therefore the operational capability of ACT Policing. He has continually misrepresented the facts in this place. More recently, he did so before the estimates committee. I intend today to demonstrate that to the Assembly.

I remind members that Mr Hargreaves, in his first ministerial statement, made some bold assertions about how the ACT government would be managing the police portfolio and dealing with crime in the territory. From the outset, he has defended the indefensible. Let’s look at some of the things the minister has said. He has said:

Refining how crime may be best addressed in the future is a constant and important public policy debate … The government is committed to providing quality policing to the ACT … Customer service and professionalism are key elements in the strategy, and are fundamental to enhancing community contact and cooperation.

---

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .