POLICE — MEDICALLY RETIRED POLICE OFFICERS
803. Hon CHARLES SMITH to the minister representing the
Minister for Police:
I refer to the minister's response to my question on
22 August 2018 asking whether she would immediately suspend section 8
dismissals. In reply, the minister stated —
The
use of section 8 of the Police Act 1892 is instigated by the Commissioner of
Police. The Minister for Police is committed to amending section 8 as soon as
possible; however, until the act is amended, it is the current law.
Bearing in mind that under section 8(l) the police
commissioner cannot remove a non-commissioned officer without the approval of
the minister, will the minister now concede that she has the means to suspend
section 8 dismissals; and, if so, will the minister now commit to suspending
all section 8 dismissals for medically retiring police officers; and, if not,
why not?
Hon
STEPHEN DAWSON replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question. The following information has been provided to me
by the Minister for Police.
The minister is committed to
progressing the amendment to section 8 of the Police Act 1892 as soon as
possible to provide for an alternative for medically retired police officers.
However, until the act is amended, it is the current law. In a recent case in
which a police officer was suffering a terminal illness, the officer was
retired on medical grounds under section 8. In this circumstance, the
Commissioner of Police recommended the section 8 retirement because of the
officer's medical condition. It was effected in a timely manner. Any
section 8 application to the minister is contingent upon receipt of a recommendation
from the Commissioner of Police. The Minister for Police is obliged to give
consideration to the commissioner's advice.