Question On Notice No. 268 asked in the Legislative Council on 16 August 2017 by Hon Robin Scott
Question Directed to the: Minister for Environment representing the Minister for Police
Parliament: 40 Session: 1
Question
(1) Is the Minister aware that Kalgoorlie-Boulder Police have vacancies which have not been filled and that police who have been appointed to Kalgoorlie-Boulder are still performing duties in Perth because of a lack of housing in Kalgoorlie-Boulder?
(2) Will the Minister take swift action to ensure that Kalgoorlie-Boulder police are always fully staffed?
(3) Is the Minister aware that police offered housing in the Goldfields have had their rental increased by $30 a week?
(4) If this is correct, will the Minister assist police by arranging for the cancellation of the increase?
(5) When will the Minister arrange for the appointment of permanent Aboriginal police liaison officers to Kalgoorlie-Boulder police?
(6) When will the Minister arrange for an accelerated police cadet recruitment program in Kalgoorlie-Boulder and the Goldfields?
Answered on 14 September 2017
(1) - (2) The Western Australia Police Force advise there are a small number of unfilled vacancies at Kalgoorlie. All officers on transfer to Kalgoorlie have been allocated housing. All steps have been taken to encourage officers to consider transferring to Kalgoorlie.
(3) – (4) Under a decision of the former government, the Western Australia Police Force has been required to increase rents by $30 per week with effect from 21 September 2017, in line with increases across all government agencies. This is in accordance with the decision by the former Government to increase the cap under the Tenant Rent Setting Framework (TRSF) to $30 per week.
(5) The WA Police Force ceased employing new Aboriginal Police Liaison Officers (APLO) in 2006. Those existing officers who did not elect to take up the role of an operational police officer were retained until they retired or resigned at which time they were replaced by a police officer.
(6) The new Commissioner of Police has indicated that he will look to expand the Aboriginal Police Cadet pilot program.