Page 4610 - Week 14 - Thursday, 24 November 2005

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MR HARGREAVES: Mr Speaker, I do not need any help from Mr Beaker over there, either.

MR SPEAKER: Order! You have to address members by their correct titles.

MR HARGREAVES: All right, Mr Pratt: aptly named. Mr Speaker, I have all the confidence in the world in the AFP. Operation Halite produces crime reductions that those opposite could only ever dream about; Operation Globin is brilliant; the whole range of things. I believe ABS figures. I believe AFP figures. I think that they are doing a fantastic job. Why are they doing a fantastic job? It is because the Stanhope government has backed them. They have increased the number of police over time. We have increased the resources that they have.

Mr Pratt: That’s a mislead.

MR SPEAKER: Order, Mr Pratt!

MR HARGREAVES: Mr Speaker, I ask that Mr Pratt withdraw the comment about misleading.

MR SPEAKER: Order! Mr Pratt, just withdraw that.

Mr Pratt: I withdraw, Mr Speaker.

MR SPEAKER: Thank you.

Mr Pratt: A 14 net loss.

MR HARGREAVES: Mr Pratt looks into his New Idea and comes out with another figure of a net loss. Obviously, he needs some remedial mathematics, because the Stanhope government has increased the number of police incredibly at two levels, and an examination of the budget documents will reveal that. Mr Pratt over there is either mistaken or mischievous, and I do not really care which. In either case he is absolutely an abomination for that side, part of the gang of four that I do not want to be associated with.

The other thing that has happened is that the Stanhope government has given community support to the police, as evidenced over my time particularly and I know during Mr Wood’s time, and we have seen a growth in community appreciation of the police so denigrated by the people over there. All that character over there can do is run them down.

Did I see Mr Pratt at the open day at Woden police station? No, I did not. When I spoke to the police at that open day they said that they were heartily sick and tired of that character denigrating them in public. That was from the constables. In terms of objects pathetic, that chap over there is an absolutely pathetic opposition spokesman on police affairs.


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