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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 3 Hansard (25 March) . . Page.. 857 ..

MR WOOD: Mr Berry, I am not sure that it is the valuable rubbish. Up to three police cars have been present to observe an alleged potential scavenger.

Opposition members interjected.

MR WOOD: Minister, the response of members is appropriate. But there is a serious question. Minister, is this the priority that the police give to fighting crime in our community?

MR HUMPHRIES: I am a little bit concerned about the merriment and mirth on this subject. First of all, let me say that the Government does not prescribe the circumstances in which the police will attend particular incidents. That is entirely and appropriately a matter for the police to determine according to a system which prioritises their work and gives it three different priorities.

Mr Hargreaves: Tip, robbery and violence.

MR HUMPHRIES: I will come back to your comments in a minute, Mr Hargreaves. If it is the view of the communications centre that a particular matter raised with that communications centre warrants - - -

Mr Wood: Someone scavenging.

MR HUMPHRIES: Whatever it might be. If the conduct that is related by a telephone call to the communications centre discloses - - -

Mr Wood: From Urban Services officers.

MR HUMPHRIES: If the information supplied to the communications centre discloses an offence against the Territory's laws and is considered to be a serious matter that warrants the attendance of police, then appropriately the police attend in those circumstances. I do not know, Mr Speaker, whether the particular attendances concerned are appropriate or not, because I do not know what incidents police have been called to.

Mr Wood: Ask them questions.

MR HUMPHRIES: I do not know why I am bothering to answer this question, Mr Speaker.

MR SPEAKER: I must admit that they seem to be quite capable of answering it themselves. Maybe you would like to sit down.

MR HUMPHRIES: I understand that there have been some quite serious disruptions - - -

Mr Osborne: That property is the property of the ACT Government.

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