Kalangadoo Police Station

The Hon. B.R. HOOD (15:13): I seek leave to provide a brief explanation before asking a question of the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development on the Kalangadoo Police Station.

Leave granted.

The Hon. B.R. HOOD: On 3 April 2019, the now minister spoke to her own motion expressing, and I quote, 'how important it is for the town of Kalangadoo that their police station stays open'. Given the recent reports that the Minister for Police has now closed the Kalangadoo Police Station, my question to the minister is: what does the minister say now to the Kalangadoo community, now that her government has backflipped on its position now that she is in government?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (15:14): I thank the honourable member for his question. I think he needs to perhaps go back a little bit and consider the four years of the former Liberal government. During that time, they were constantly asked—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: —they were constantly asked whether they would reinstate the police station at Kalangadoo and they constantly failed to give a decision. There was no decision from the former Liberal government, and that was the kind of feedback that I was having from those in the local community. One of them was that at least they wanted certainty.

The policing review has, as I understand it, resolved in the station remaining closed. I think the honourable member's characterisation of it as somehow being recently closed is certainly a misrepresentation, given that it has been closed now for quite a number of years. However, in positive news, I was very pleased to be part of the advocacy for the attached house to become available for rental by non-police officers.

That was a related matter, the fact that there was a house that was erected not that many years earlier. It was in very good condition and, of course, was sitting empty because there was no police presence resident in Kalangadoo. I was pleased to write to the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure in the other place as well as liaising with the Minister for Emergency Services, also in the other place, and as a result of that advocacy—as well I might acknowledge from the Hon. Nick McBride, the member for MacKillop—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: He is certainly honourable. It's a shame that those opposite are indicating that the member for MacKillop isn't honourable.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: I think he has stood by his credentials, stood by his integrity in terms of his beliefs.

The PRESIDENT: Minister, I'm not sure it's up to you to confer the title 'honourable', but anyhow.

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: Unfortunately, because of that, he didn't feel that he could retain his integrity and remain a member of the Liberal Party, it would appear. However, be that as it may, I was very pleased with the outcome of those representations and that that home has now been available to others, who are other public sector employees who may need accommodation. That, of course, then relieves the private rental market, which frees up potentially another home for the private rental market.

So I am pleased that that has been an outcome, the decision has been made and the local community at least finally has an answer after four years of refusing to be able to get an answer from the former Liberal government.