POLICE FUNDING

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN (Stuart) (15:02): My question is to the Minister for Police. Is there a net funding increase to the police budget over the forward estimates with the $35 million in new funding announced last weekend and the two-year additional delay in the recruit 300 target, and, if so, what is it?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier, Treasurer, Minister for State Development, Minister for the Public Sector, Minister for the Arts) (15:03): I thank the honourable member for the question. It is clearly a question that will be addressed in the budget on Thursday; it is only a few more days, and he can see how all this has been revealed. I can say that I am very pleased that we have reached the outcome that the police commissioner is happy with, the police minister is happy with and the Treasurer is happy with. It seems the only people not happy with it are the opposition.