WA news LIVE: WA Liberals unveil $500m policing pledge, but Premier labels it ‘insulting’
The WA Liberals have announced an election commitment of $500 million towards a bolstered police force and a “crackdown on crime”.
The measures were put forward yesterday by party leader Libby Mettam and Legislative Council opposition leader Peter Collier – hot on the heels of conservative victories at the recent Northern Territory and Queensland elections, on the back of tough-on-crime policy agendas.
If elected in 2025, the Liberals’ policy would include 500 additional police officers over four years, an external review into WA policing and increased superannuation and welfare services for police.
WA Liberals’ four-point crime and policing plan
Safer communities
- Additional 300 frontline police officers through overtime;
- 500 additional police officers over 4 years – dedicated to regional areas, domestic violence unit, traffic control unit, meth taskforce and district shortages;
- School Engagement Officers – 20 retiring police officers to work with disengaged youth in our schools; and
- Increase the number of police dogs by 10 for high crime areas and regional districts.
Career policing
- Increase superannuation for police serving five years by 2 per cent and 10 years by an additional 3 per cent (to 5 per cent in total).
Healthier policing
- Significantly increasing welfare services for serving and former police officers; and
- Increased psychologists and chaplains and funding for external psychologist and psychiatrist services.
Enhanced policing
- Broad ranging and comprehensive review of WA policing conducted by an external consultant from another jurisdiction.
Mettam said “much of regional WA is living through the worst crime wave on record”.
“There has been an exodus of police officers in the last two years with more than 1000 mostly experienced officers having left,” she said.
Collier added: “Crime is out of control throughout Western Australia and police resignations are at a
record high – the WA Liberals’ will address these issues with a comprehensive and innovative suite of policies through our Community Policing policy.”
However, Premier Roger Cook seized on the proposed external review, saying it would be conducted by other state police forces and shows little faith in WA’s police.
“Today’s announcement…is about cops on the east coast coming over to tell cops on the west coast how to do their jobs,” he said.
“Quite frankly, I think it’s insulting to our men and women in blue who are doing an amazing job for Western Australians.”
