Page 5656 - Week 17 - Thursday, 5 December 1991
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MS FOLLETT: Mr Speaker, I think I have answered the question. I have said that they will all be answered before the last sitting day; but I am not able to give an assurance beyond that, given the very short time that is available before then.
Police Costs - Aidex and President Bush Visit
MR STEFANIAK: Mr Speaker, my question is directed to Mr Connolly in his capacity as Minister for police. During the recent troubles at Natex, I understand that the ACT was up for about $300,000 in police wages and overtime. In the light of the forthcoming visit by President Bush of the United States and the security arrangements needed for that, will the Minister assure this house that the ACT will not be up for any additional costs for policing and that the costs will be borne by his Federal colleagues?
MR CONNOLLY: I thank Mr Stefaniak for the question. I am expecting to be briefed by the police shortly about the final costing of Aidex and, as I have previously indicated, I will make those figures available to the house, probably in the sittings next week. The forthcoming visit by President Bush will be somewhat different to the Aidex exercise. The expectation had always been that the Aidex protest would be a peaceful protest, and we were somewhat surprised at the level of violence that was offered. Thus, there was a need for a higher level of police response than had been anticipated.
The Bush visit has been planned for for some months. It was, of course, expected originally that it would be taking place around about now, I think; but Mr Bush cancelled the original dates for domestic reasons. So, the police have much more time to plan. It is expected that Australian Federal Police members from all over Australia will be coming to Canberra to provide backup which will be paid for by the Commonwealth Government. We will share a component of the costs, but only a similar component to what any State will bear.
I understand that Mr Bush is also visiting Melbourne for a day and Sydney for a day. But I expect that the major additional costs, the costs for extra police from out of the State, will be borne by the Commonwealth Government. Should there be any contrary advice or advice from the police that there are problems, I will of course raise the matter with Senator Tate as a matter of urgency.
MR STEFANIAK: I have a supplementary question, Mr Speaker. Will the Minister also assure this house that if there is any trouble - and hopefully there will not be anything like the trouble there was at Aidex, but if there is trouble along those lines - he and his Government will not wait three or four days before they actually give some backing to the police; and that they will act immediately?
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