Page 4058 - Week 13 - Thursday, 2 December 2021
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MR CAIN: Minister, what do you see as the precise role of the Chief Psychiatrist in the ACT, and is it independent of the executive?
MS STEPHEN-SMITH: My understanding is that the Chief Psychiatrist reports to the Minister for Mental Health, so I will take that question on notice and consult with my colleague.
ACT Policing—resources
MR HANSON: My question is to the minister for police. Minister, I refer to statements from the Australian Federal Police Association in relation to the new police online reporting system. I quote from the AFPA: “I believe that the ACT community may be concerned about this change in policy and question the decision. ACT Policing has been robbing Peter to pay Paul for far too long in relation to officer numbers. Of concern to the AFPA is that ultimately this is a resources issue.” Minister, how do you reassure the Canberra community who are concerned, as the AFPA have identified?
Mr Parton: Just answer the question online! That will be sufficient.
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Hanson—Mr Parton. It is habit forming. I will admit that. I think all of you would agree with me.
MR GENTLEMAN: I look forward to Mr Parton being online into the future as well!
The ACT government does continue to resource police and increase those resources each and every year. I am very pleased with the work ACT Policing have been able to do with that resourcing. It is reflected in the drop in crime statistics that they recently published on their website. For members’ interest, you can go to ACT Policing and look at the website, see the interactive map and have a look at the difference between crime trends year after year.
We do, of course, intend to keep resourcing ACT police and increase those resources where needed. I am very pleased that police have been able to do the work they have been able to do. They will continue to do the best for the ACT community.
On resourcing, we have been providing $11.4 million to improve accommodation for police and emergency services in Gungahlin, $4.2 million to meet the growing and increasingly complex workload associated with forensic medical services, $6.6 million to replace the ACT—
Mr Hanson: Madam Speaker, on a point of relevance—
MADAM SPEAKER: Minister, resume your seat.
Mr Hanson: Although the question’s preamble talks about resourcing, the specific question was about the quote from the AFPA that the Canberra community may be
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