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Legislative Council - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2016-03-22 Daily Xml
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Police Stations

The Hon. R.L. BROKENSHIRE (14:36): Supplementary: given the minister's answer, if it is an operational matter to close the Hallett Cove Police Station, how can it be not an operational matter for this Labor government to announce that they were going to open the Hallett Cove Police Station only a few years ago?

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS (Minister for Police, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Road Safety) (14:36): Mr President, I have been holding back from doing this, but I feel compelled. Since the Hon. Mr Brokenshire persists in wanting to allow political interference into the police force, he should be reminded of words that he himself said on 27 September 2001. I've been sitting on this. He said, and I quote:

Separation of powers is one of the fundamental principles of the Westminster system. It is one of the fundamental principles of democracy and justice. It is about giving the police force integrity, and it is about stopping political interference.

Of course you cannot do that and nor should you. I intend to honour the words of the Hon. Mr Brokenshire back in September 2001. I will acknowledge that what he said back then was right—acknowledging the separation between this government when it comes to the police being able to perform their duties operationally in a way that they think is in the best interests of community safety. I have complete confidence in this police commissioner being able to make the appropriate operational decisions, and I would encourage all members to do the same.

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