Page 2645 - Week 07 - Tuesday, 28 June 2011
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I am sure that Mr Hanson will be very interested when we report against these every six months over the next year.
MR SPEAKER: A supplementary, Mr Hanson?
MR HANSON: Thank you, Mr Speaker. In estimates hearings, Chief Police Officer Quaedvlieg stated that in reality they would actually decrease the number of staff in 2011-12. How will an increased police presence be achieved with an actual decrease in staffing numbers?
MS GALLAGHER: I was not at the estimates hearing when those comments were made, and I would have to review them in the context in which they were made before I would accept them—or I will accept them as Mr Hanson’s interpretation of interaction at an estimates committee. But, again, it is not only about resources; it is around how those resources are allocated and what priority areas across the policing area are identified. I think we are already seeing very pleasing results, in particular from the liquor reforms, around reductions in the numbers of people who have been taken in for drunk and disorderly behaviour and the numbers being arrested for that sort of behaviour. Again, it shows that where we can identify a clear outcome that we would like to see, where those resources are allocated and those priorities are made, we do see improvements in crime reduction across the community.
MR COE: A supplementary, Mr Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Mr Coe.
MR COE: Are additional police required to achieve a greater police presence?
MS GALLAGHER: Yes, they are and they have been provided.
MR COE: A supplementary, Mr Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Mr Coe.
MR COE: Will additional resources be provided to the police to allow them to achieve a greater police presence?
MS GALLAGHER: Additional resources have been provided to the police, but again this government does not believe that it is only about additional resources. It is about how those resources are allocated, just like every other area of government business.
Schools—suspensions
MR DOSZPOT: My question is to the Minister for Education. Minister Barr, you said in answer to a recent question in estimates that all ACT public schools and colleges promote and seek to provide a supportive learning environment in which all students can expect to feel safe. Given that two ACT schools alone account for 1,000 days of suspension in 18 months—147 students are reported as being from Wanniassa and another school with a high suspension rate is the new Kingsford Smith school—
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