Canberra Liberals MLA Jeremy Hanson, Shadow Minister for Police, said he was disappointed that the ACT Government yesterday voted down his motion to refer the issue of ACT police numbers and resourcing to the Standing Committee on Justice and Community Safety.

Mr Hanson argued that since the Labor-Greens government removed $15 million from the budget for ACT Police in 2013, police numbers and resources have steadily declined.

“What we have seen over the last decade, is a decision made by Labor and the Greens to defund the police,” Mr Hanson said.

“The ACT has the lowest number of police per capita in Australia. Despite this government promising 69 new officers in 2019, the number of sworn ACT officers has actually fallen.

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“It has become so bad that earlier this year, the Chief Police Officer publicly stated that police numbers need to be increased to meet current and future demand as does funding for equipment and resources.

“Not having an adequate number of police is not only a concern for the community but especially for the health and mental wellbeing of our officers.

“Despite the rhetoric from this government, like so many areas across the ACT, money has continually been diverted from policing to pay for the tram.

“While Labor and the Greens continue to neglect our frontline workers, the Canberra Liberals will continue to fight on behalf of our hardworking police officers who are continually neglected by this government.”

Police union also disappointed

The Australian Federal Police Association (AFPA) also expressed disappointment that the Assembly did not support the motion.

Mr Hanson’s motion decried the $15 million reduction in ACT Policing’s budget in 2013, the AFPA stated. At the time of the funding cut, the AFPA said it was clear that ACT Policing could not be expected to provide a consistent level of service to the community alongside the record growth in Canberra’s population.

Ten years later, AFPA president Alex Caruana said that along with being the lowest-paid in the country, Canberra police numbers are also the lowest per capita out of all jurisdictions.

“Just last year, the ACT Government acknowledged that the population had been under-reported by around 20,000 people in the greater Canberra region. How is it possible that records can be that far out, and more importantly, how can the Government make any reasonable claim to having enough police in Canberra if they don’t actually know how many people are living here?

“The Australian Bureau of Statistics recorded an increase of 85,000 people living in Canberra in the period 2011-2021, with Canberra’s population growth rate of 23 per cent being the highest of all capital cities.

“To meet the adjusted Australian average of 264 police officers per 100,000 people, there would have needed to be a net increase of 225 more police in the ACT from 2011-2021.

“Even if we were not to attempt to regain parity with other state forces, to simply match ACT police numbers to population growth would mean another 201 sworn police are needed. Yet instead of a 23 per cent increase, the period of 2011-2021 saw a 4 per cent decrease in sworn police numbers.”

Mr Caruana acknowledged the pressures this placed on the AFP, in particular the ACTP Executive.

“Commissioner Kershaw and Deputy Commissioner Gaughan are being forced to obfuscate or withhold real data on numbers and readiness,” Mr Caruana said.

“The government-driven narrative about there being a pipeline of recruits ready to hit the ground in the ACT represents a disconnect between wishful thinking and reality.”

As well as the issue of police numbers, Mr Caruana highlighted inadequate police infrastructure in Gungahlin, the fastest-growing region in the ACT.

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“Gungahlin station is a disgrace,” Mr Caruana said. “My members hold real concerns about the effect that this cramped and unsafe station will have on the forensic integrity of evidence, their own physical safety and mental health, and, most importantly, community safety. It’s not a comforting and welcoming location. We are still waiting for either a new Gungahlin station, or for ACTP to take over the entire Joint Emergency Service site. If ACTP does take over the site, it will need a significant refit to make it suitable.

“I hope any debate about resourcing is a holistic one, assessing numbers as well as infrastructure.”

Mr Caruana and the Association continue to engage with community groups representing the Gungahlin region, as well as the ACT Policing Executive and local politicians such as Mr Hanson and ACT Police and Emergency Services Minister Mick Gentleman.