Police Staffing

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (14:43): A supplementary arising from the answer: is the minister prepared to guarantee that in any future decision of the commissioner to take 50 jobs currently done by police and place them with civilians there would be an increase of 50 from that date in the number of police officers being transferred into other policing activities?

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS (Minister for Police, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Road Safety) (14:44): The honourable member's question is starting to diverge into operational areas. What I would say, and what I am happy to repeat time and time again, is this government's ongoing commitment to increase the number of police officers who are serving our community.