Page 1681 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 13 May 2015
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population is about the same level as the national average; the ACT had the highest proportion of civilian staff of any police service in Australia and the highest density of police officers per 1,000 kilometres square. Being a small jurisdiction, that last one in particular is a good achievement.
To conclude, I do not agree to support Mr Hanson’s motion today. I do not think it accurately reflects what is occurring through the budget, or the ongoing discussions between ACT Policing and other parts of government about the best way to structure the organisation and realise savings and efficiencies. Just as other agencies must seek to operate as efficiently as possible, it is appropriate that ACT Policing also be asked to measure up by the same standards and to make sure that we are providing the best value for money for ACT taxpayers, as the government is striving to do right across the budget process.
MR HANSON (Molonglo—Leader of the Opposition) (11.38): I will speak to the amendment and then close. We will not be supporting the amendment. There have been a lot of words, rhetoric and fuzzy warm platitudes made by those opposite, but the reality is that they are ripping $15 million out of ACT Policing. It is incompatible to say that they have our every support in this place when in reality they are ripping funding out. It will have an effect on front-line staff. Whether front-line staff are removed or not is subject to some debate, but we know that we will see a reduction in support and administrative staff that will impact on those front-line staff and the services that they provide in our community.
The number seems to be pretty flat—the 932 for sworn officers. But what we again did not get from the minister was the explanation of how many other staff will be cut. How many jobs will be cut? I would certainly grant leave—I am sure we would in this place, Madam Deputy Speaker—for the minister to clarify that point, to explain to this place how many jobs will be cut.
If the figure is zero, I am sure we would welcome that. I am sure the minister can stand up in this place and say, “I assure the community, I assure ACT Policing, I assure those people that work so hard for ACT Policing that we are not going to cut their jobs.” The minister’s refusal to do so, in questions asked of her in this place last week and in this debate today when invited to do so, suggests that the conclusion is that the AFPA are on the money—that this minister is going to cut jobs, that the plan of this minister, Ms Burch, is to cut jobs.
In two debates today, I find it ironic, because we have this whingeing, whining response out of this mob opposite—
MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: Mr Hanson.
MR HANSON: My apologies, Madam Deputy Speaker.
MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you.
MR HANSON: Out of the Greens-Labor coalition, constantly. But behind closed doors the reality is that the Greens-Labor coalition are cutting hospital beds and cutting front-line or support staff in ACT Policing. Don’t come into this place with
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