Media response - Cost recovery for Police

Questions asked by:  The West Australian

Subject: Police charges for attending major events:

The Budget indicates that police will be able to recover costs from their presence at major events, indicating that this will generate $2.6million over four years.

Question 1:

What is the rationale for this measure?

Question 2:

How have the estimates of revenue from this measure been calculated?

Question 3:

What events will be subject to the charges - concerts, sporting events? How will this be determined?

Question 4:

At what rate will events be charged - will it be based on the size of the event, the location, the number of police required?

Question 5:

Will legislation be needed to set this up? Will organisers apply for police presence? How will it actually work?

Question 6:

Will police be able to refuse presence at an event and if so, will this prevent an event from going ahead?

Minister's Response:

"Both myself and the WA Police believe that promoters of privately funded, profit-making events should contribute to any use of publicly-funded police officers as they already do in many other States such as Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. 

"As the Commissioner has already pointed out, details of this proposal, including any rates to be charged, are still being worked out, however public and not for profit charity type events will be excluded from the scheme."

Minister's office - 9222 9211