Minister Margaret Quirk should hang her head in shame for trying to shift the blame (Countryman P14 20/5/10) for a regional police communications network which was allowed to run down under her Labor government.
Margaret Quirk was a Minister when police officers between Geraldton and Dongara had to ask passing truckies to radio for help for accident victims. She was a Minister when police had to leave the scene of an incident to make radio contact from the nearest high ground.
Margaret Quirk was a Minister when police officers between Geraldton and Dongara had to ask passing truckies to radio for help for accident victims. She was a Minister when police had to leave the scene of an incident to make radio contact from the nearest high ground.
Better Radio Communications for Bush Police
Where was Margaret Quirk’s concern between February and June 2008 when I lobbied the then Labor Government four times in parliament for a commitment to upgrading country police radio systems?
In comparison, the Barnett government started improving the system in its first budget.
In the 2009/10 budget $20.1 million was allocated to extend existing radio and mobile data communications north to Lancelin, east to Northam and south to Dunsbrough.
An additional $1 million was allocated to planning for extensions outside that area.
The Barnett government’s budget has also provided funds for a new radio system linking the Geraldton, Carnarvon and Meekatharra police stations which, according to the District Superintendent, had been operating on a mixture of mobile phones, HF radio - and silence.
The new system cost only $80,000 and removed the need to have someone sitting in the Carnarvon and Meekatharra Stations just to maintain communications.
The Barnett government also provided $120,000 to install computers in four police cars in the district so that officers have immediate access to the details of anyone they detain.
Under the Barnett government, Geraldton police officers were equipped with handheld mobile data devices called TADISlite to access names and criminal history records, addresses, offender photographs and vehicle registration details. It can also send task dispatch information directly to the handheld device, allowing police to respond to incidents more quickly and effectively.
The devices also have an inbuilt global positioning system that displays the officer’s location on electronic mapping systems. This will improve police safety, maximise resource management and fast-track deployment to emergencies.
The previous government installed an in-vehicle data system called TADIS in hundreds of metropolitan police cars. However, even though there had been 375 assaults on country police officers over the preceding seven months - equating to two a day - they did nothing to protect regional officers. In comparison, the Barnett government also funded an extra 350 TADIS in-vehicle devices which were progressively installed in regional police vehicles.
In the current Barnett budget provision has been made for $80.3 million over three years to upgrade the communications systems for regional police and emergency services.
In addition, approximately $120 million has been provided to expand mobile phone coverage on country highways, to eliminate blackspots.
In comparison, the Barnett government started improving the system in its first budget.
In the 2009/10 budget $20.1 million was allocated to extend existing radio and mobile data communications north to Lancelin, east to Northam and south to Dunsbrough.
An additional $1 million was allocated to planning for extensions outside that area.
The Barnett government’s budget has also provided funds for a new radio system linking the Geraldton, Carnarvon and Meekatharra police stations which, according to the District Superintendent, had been operating on a mixture of mobile phones, HF radio - and silence.
The new system cost only $80,000 and removed the need to have someone sitting in the Carnarvon and Meekatharra Stations just to maintain communications.
The Barnett government also provided $120,000 to install computers in four police cars in the district so that officers have immediate access to the details of anyone they detain.
Under the Barnett government, Geraldton police officers were equipped with handheld mobile data devices called TADISlite to access names and criminal history records, addresses, offender photographs and vehicle registration details. It can also send task dispatch information directly to the handheld device, allowing police to respond to incidents more quickly and effectively.
The devices also have an inbuilt global positioning system that displays the officer’s location on electronic mapping systems. This will improve police safety, maximise resource management and fast-track deployment to emergencies.
The previous government installed an in-vehicle data system called TADIS in hundreds of metropolitan police cars. However, even though there had been 375 assaults on country police officers over the preceding seven months - equating to two a day - they did nothing to protect regional officers. In comparison, the Barnett government also funded an extra 350 TADIS in-vehicle devices which were progressively installed in regional police vehicles.
In the current Barnett budget provision has been made for $80.3 million over three years to upgrade the communications systems for regional police and emergency services.
In addition, approximately $120 million has been provided to expand mobile phone coverage on country highways, to eliminate blackspots.
Copyright Brian Ellis MLC © 2009 - 2010
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Electorate Office: Unit 1, Druids Hall, Corner Durlacher and Sanford Streets, Geraldton, WA 6530. PO Box 231, Geraldton, WA 6531
Ph: +61 (08) 9923 9211; Fax: +61 (08) 9923 9222; Email: brian.ellis@mp.wa.gov.au
Ph: +61 (08) 9923 9211; Fax: +61 (08) 9923 9222; Email: brian.ellis@mp.wa.gov.au