Question Time

POLICE RESOURCES

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Leader of the Opposition) (14:33): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Mineral Resources Development a question about police resources.

Leave granted.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: As members are aware, the minister is no longer the police minister. He was sacked in the last reshuffle. However, the question relates to a period of—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! We know the Leader of the Opposition sometimes gets tangled up.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: Thank you, Mr President. I am a little confused. He was the police minister and now he is no longer the police minister—that was sacking in my day but perhaps it is something different in this government's day.

The PRESIDENT: Order!

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! The council will come to order. I think all members know that there was a promotion.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: A demotion, did you say?

The PRESIDENT: A promotion.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: This particular event relates to the time when the minister was Minister for Police. It relates in particular to the services that metropolitan police stations and their staff offer. The police, as sworn officers, serve summonses on members of the public. Under this minister's watch as police minister, it became apparent that some metropolitan stations were up to 2,000 summonses in arrears being served on the community. Can the minister explain why, if in his and the Premier's words we have the most police in the state's history, some police stations would be 2,000 summonses in arrears being served on the community; and, also, was he aware that this was the case?

Members interjecting:

The Hon. D.W. Ridgway: I knew he would be gutless and not answer it.

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. D.W. Ridgway: Well, come on, Mr President.

The PRESIDENT: No, you come on.

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Road Safety, Minister for Gambling, Minister Assisting the Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (14:36): I thank the member for his question in relation to—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. D.W. Ridgway interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! The Hon. Mr Ridgway will come to order. You are wasting a lot of your question time.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Are we all finished?

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO: I thank the honourable member for his question in relation to police matters. I will refer his question to the police minister in the other place and ensure that he has a response.