Page 3361 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 17 August 2011
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MR CORBELL: I thank Ms Hunter for the question. The question does not understand what has occurred in relation to either the decision making in relation to this matter or, indeed, what the resolution of the Assembly actually said. The fact is that this was a process that involved a final decision being taken only in the last week in relation to whether or not tasers should be rolled out to sergeants, operational front-line sergeants, in ACT Policing.
It is the case that the AFP Commissioner and the Chief Police Officer determined that it would be desirable to expand the provision of tasers to front-line sergeants in February this year, and that was the trigger point for them to start discussions and consultations with the ACT government and me as the ACT Minister for Police and Emergency Services about their proposal. They made it clear to me that they would not make a final decision on the rollout of tasers—
Ms Le Couteur: On a point of order, Mr Speaker, Ms Hunter’s question was about a report. Mr Corbell has not mentioned any report.
MR CORBELL: No, it was not just about the report; it was about the process.
MR SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr Corbell. There is no point of order at this stage. You have the floor.
MR CORBELL: Thank you, Mr Speaker. The AFP Commissioner and the ACT Chief Police Officer made it clear that they would not introduce a rollout of tasers without the agreement of the ACT government and, in particular, without the agreement of me as the Minister for Police and Emergency Services. That process was completed within the last week. Today after question time, as members would be aware, I will be making a statement to the Assembly fulfilling my obligations under that resolution to advise the Assembly of the outcome of that process. So what I have done is entirely consistent with the resolution of the Assembly.
MR SPEAKER: A supplementary, Ms Hunter?
MS HUNTER: Minister, could you please table a copy of all the evidence of improved public and police safety you relied on to make your decision, as the motion passed by this place says you would?
MR CORBELL: I am very happy to provide all the material that has been provided to me, subject to any issues of confidentiality that the police may raise with me, noting that this is a matter that has been referred to me by ACT Policing. But the suggestion from the Greens that there has been some failure of process on the part of the government is false. It is completely false because the decision about the rollout of tasers was contingent upon my agreement as minister. The Chief Police Officer and the AFP Commissioner have made clear that they are not going to roll out the deployment of additional tasers without getting the concurrence and the agreement of the ACT government. That agreement was forthcoming within the last seven days.
So to suggest that in some way there has been a decision taken months and months ago that has not been reported is false. It is completely false, and I am fulfilling my
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