POLICE
— WORKING CONDITIONS
611. Ms M.J. DAVIES to the Minister for Police:
I have a supplementary
question. Just so I am clear, my question was: does the minister endorse the
police commissioner's support for penalty rates, and does the
minister support the police in their calls to establish a switch-off clause in
their conditions?
The SPEAKER: I just have some advice. You repeated two
questions there. A supplementary is an opportunity for a short, sharp, single
question. I will ask the minister to respond.
Mr P. PAPALIA replied:
Thanks, Speaker.
Police receive penalty rates now. I am not sure what part of
the comments the commissioner may or may not have made the member is referring
to. He is supportive of the police being paid more. As I said at the outset,
that is the whole intent of the wages policy. They will be paid more. I support
the police. I am always supporting the police, unlike many on the member's side of the house, who seem
determined to constantly undermine the performance and command of the Western Australia Police Force,
suggesting that somehow morale is down, when, quite clearly, police have
every reason to be proud of the service that they deliver to the state.