Page 5137 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 27 October 2010

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maker on whether or not tasers are deployed more widely. I do not think that is appropriate at all. Therefore, I propose an amendment to Mr Rattenbury’s motion, and I move the amendment that I have circulated in my name:

Omit all words after “That this Assembly”, substitute:

“(1) notes:

(a) the current ACT taser deployment model which only issues tasers to members of the Specialist Response and Security Tactical Response team;

(b) the occasions of use of tasers in the ACT, with a taser discharged twice in the last two years, once in 2009 and once in 2010; and

(c) the high level of training provided to ACT police officers to equip them with skills and techniques to de-escalate confrontational and potentially violent situations; and

(2) notes:

(a) that the Government will report to the ACT Assembly on the outcome of the ACT Policing Review;

(b) that the ACT Police and Emergency Services Minister, ACT Chief Police Officer and the AFP Commissioner have agreed to a process to determine whether the use of tasers should be expanded in the ACT;

(c) that any expansion in the use of tasers shall only occur on the grounds of improved public and, or, police safety and be supported by evidence; and

(d) that the Minister for Police and Emergency Services will report that decision to the Legislative Assembly should such a decision be made.”.

MR HANSON (Molonglo) (12.14): It is a rare moment in the chamber when I agree so completely with Mr Corbell but in this case I certainly do. I support the government’s approach in this matter. I essentially endorse all of the words that Mr Corbell has spoken in this place. I congratulate him on that. It probably will not happen again too soon though, Mr Corbell, so just enjoy this brief moment of sunshine.

I and the Canberra Liberals will not be supporting the Greens’ motion. I will go into more detail on that later. I foreshadow that we will be supporting the government’s amendments as they have been put forward and as they have been explained by Mr Corbell. The Greens have put forward—I am not sure whether it has been tabled—a further—

Mr Rattenbury: It has not yet.

MR HANSON: It has not but it will be?

Mr Rattenbury: Yes.


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