School Based Police Officer Promise Axed
Date: 08 September 2011
Police and Emergency Services Minister Rob Johnson has told Parliament that the promised school based police officers would not be based at WA schools.
"It seems 'school-based' doesn't actually mean based in schools" said Janine Freeman MLA.
"It's clear that Mr Johnson his broken this promise.
"His word, given in trust to the electorate at the last election, is obviously worth nothing."
Shadow Minister for Education, Ben Wyatt said the Liberal Party's 2008 election policy document was clear and unambiguous in relation to school-based policy officers.
"The document discusses the school-based police officer program that ran from 1998 to 2001 and clearly states that a Liberal Government would 'reinstate school-based police officers in consultation with school communities'," Mr Wyatt said.
"Clearly, the Minister has no intention of keeping that promise."
Mr Wyatt said Mr Johnson's credibility and truthfulness was already under a cloud and the blatant and arrogant breaking of his promise reinforced the view that he is not fit for a Ministerial portfolio.
"Obviously the Minister thinks this was a bad promise and wants to go back on his word," he said.
"To pretend he is somehow honouring his promise by getting police officers to visit schools every now and then, or to invite kids to PCYCs, is arrogant in the extreme.
"Rob Johnson has nothing but contempt for the Western Australian public, and it shows.
"It is time the Premier stood him down."