Regional Police Radio Network
I was amazed to hear Opposition MP Margaret Quirk on ABC radio on 19 February calling for an upgrade of the regional police communications systems.
Margaret Quirk should hang her head in shame. Where was she between February and June 2008 when I lobbied the then Labor Government four times for a commitment to upgrading country police radio systems?
During that period police officers between Geraldton and Dongara were having to ask passing truckies to radio for help for accident victims. Sometimes they had to leave the scene to make radio contact from the nearest high ground.
On 11 March 2008 in reply to my parliamentary question asking if there was going to be an upgrade, Minister Jon Ford sidestepped with: “This is being considered as part of the current budget process.”
On 13 May 2008 I asked the Labor Police Minister if there had been 70 major breakdowns in the twenty five year old system in the past 12 months. He admitted this was true.
I then asked what funding had been allocated to upgrade the system, and what interim measures had been put in place. He could only say: “The government is considering options”.
On 24 June 2008, under more questioning, Labor Minister Jon Ford procrastinated with: “Improvement to the regional radio systems, including the rollout of TADIS, is one of the remaining challenges to be addressed.”
On 30 June, Acting Police Minister Eric Ripper told the Geraldton Guardian: “The implementation of the communications project is a huge undertaking in a state the size of ours.” He refused to commit to an implementation date and would only say that “Police will continue to work on a cost-effective solution.”
And nothing more happened for the rest of that year either.
Margaret Quirk should hang her head in shame. Where was she between February and June 2008 when I lobbied the then Labor Government four times for a commitment to upgrading country police radio systems?
During that period police officers between Geraldton and Dongara were having to ask passing truckies to radio for help for accident victims. Sometimes they had to leave the scene to make radio contact from the nearest high ground.
On 11 March 2008 in reply to my parliamentary question asking if there was going to be an upgrade, Minister Jon Ford sidestepped with: “This is being considered as part of the current budget process.”
On 13 May 2008 I asked the Labor Police Minister if there had been 70 major breakdowns in the twenty five year old system in the past 12 months. He admitted this was true.
I then asked what funding had been allocated to upgrade the system, and what interim measures had been put in place. He could only say: “The government is considering options”.
On 24 June 2008, under more questioning, Labor Minister Jon Ford procrastinated with: “Improvement to the regional radio systems, including the rollout of TADIS, is one of the remaining challenges to be addressed.”
On 30 June, Acting Police Minister Eric Ripper told the Geraldton Guardian: “The implementation of the communications project is a huge undertaking in a state the size of ours.” He refused to commit to an implementation date and would only say that “Police will continue to work on a cost-effective solution.”
And nothing more happened for the rest of that year either.
Copyright Brian Ellis MLC © 2009 - 2011
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
.