POLICE — RECRUITMENT
1022. Hon Dr STEVE THOMAS to the minister representing the
Minister for Police:
My question without notice, of which
some notice has been given, is to the Minister for Health—sorry,
Minister for Mental Health, for now!—representing the Minister for
Police.
I refer to the McGowan government's
media statement of 8 October 2020 titled ''More police on the streets to
help keep WA safe and strong'', which included the statement —
The
total number of new police funded by the McGowan Government since taking office
is now 1,100 in total.
(1) Given that the State of the Western Australian
government sector workforce 2020–21 report released today
highlights that the number of sworn officers has increased by only 424
full-time equivalents since 2016–17, does the government still stand by
its claim that as of 2020 it had increased police numbers by 1 100?
(2) If yes to (1), will the minister table the FTE
numbers for every year that clearly show the increase in sworn FTE
numbers?
(3) Why are the
Public Sector Commissioner's numbers so different from the numbers that
the government has publicly provided?
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 Western Australia Police Force advises the
following.
(1) The media statement refers to the fact that funding
has been provided for 1 100 police officers since 2017–18. The commitment referred to in the statement was
for an additional 1 100 police officers to be recruited by June 2024.
The agency is progressing well in delivering all 1 100 police officers by June
2024.
(2) Police
officer authorised strength as at 30 June 2017 was 6 228, as at 30 June 2018
was 6 269, as at 30 June 2019 was 6 370, as at 30 June 2020 was 6 423, and as
at 30 June 2021 was 6 741.
(3) Not applicable.