CRIME GANGS TASK FORCE

The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS (14:45): How many semi-automatic hand guns are you purchasing in the next financial year, given that we are heading for 4,000 police officers?

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Police, Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning) (14:45): I will get those figures from the police service, but obviously they will need to be introduced progressively.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY: As the question asked by the Hon. Mr Finnigan showed, the fact is that under this government the police are having the greatest success they have ever had in dealing with bikie gangs. Perhaps the question the honourable member should be asking is: why was the Liberal government so bad, up until 2001, in dealing with bikie gangs? Why was there a series of murders and explosions in 2000 and 2001 prior to the election of this government? Perhaps that is the question they should be asking: why did they do nothing about it?

Why, during those eight years, did they allow police numbers to drop to as low as 3,400? Why did they not build all the new police stations that we have been building? Why did they not provide the police with a new aircraft? Why did they not replace the boats that the police had, which has happened under this government? Why did they make them use secondhand boats that were not fit for the job?

They are the questions members opposite should be answering. Perhaps if they do a bit of soul searching on that at the next election they might come up with some policies that actually deal with this, but I would not hold my breath.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!