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Mr CHRIS HARTCHER: My question without notice is directed to the Minister for Police. Given the Government's commitment after the 2004 Redfern riots that no probationary constables would be deployed to Redfern Local Area Command [LAC] due to the risks of inexperienced officers being in a dangerous environment, will any probationary constables be deployed to Redfern LAC this year and, if so, why has the Government reversed its position?
Mr CARL SCULLY: We had a fantastic day last week when 153 new probationary constables came through and the Premier and the commissioner welcomed them into the NSW Police Force. It is not the NSW Police Service, which is what the Opposition called it. We will call it the Police Force, because we will be giving a very strong message to the community under the belief that we expect them to act accordingly. In relation to Redfern, we have moved on considerably. The local member and I attended Redfern police association. Recently I went with the honourable member for Heffron—
Mr Chris Hartcher: You didn't go very well, did you? They chucked you out.
Mr CARL SCULLY: The honourable member for Gosford asked the question but he does not like the answer.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! The honourable member for Gosford will listen to the Minister's answer in silence. The honourable member for Bathurst will come to order.
Mr CARL SCULLY: I was asked by the Redfern police association to attend and meet with them and hear their concerns about human resource issues and the need for additional police officers. I indicated to them that the Premier, commissioner and I have announced another 750 police increase to authorised strength. I have to say that cops everywhere are delighted with that commitment by the Government, which will cost about $250 million. All the Opposition can do is promise in the never-never to do it. We are delivering on it. It is not an election commitment. They will all be out in commands well before the election. It will be done. I indicated to the Redfern police association that I expect a reasonable increase in authorised strength to reflect the fact that they do have intrinsic problems in their command, not the least of which was the riot that occurred the year before last.
I had a very good discussion with them, as we did with the honourable member for Heffron and with Kath Burns, a fantastic commander, and they are good police. I indicated to them that while we were assessing where those 750 police will be allocated—and that has to be done quietly and objectively—it will not be done with the sort of populist expectation that the Opposition would put in place if it had the job. We are going to allocate 750 police where they are most needed in terms of the priorities of NSW Police. I had indicated to them to expect an increase in authorised strength and, in the interim, the commissioner and I were able to allocate 10 of the probationary constables out of Goulburn, and not one person in that meeting—and the honourable member for Heffron and the commander were there with me—said, "I am outraged at getting 10 probationary constables".
Indeed, they welcomed it, and they acknowledged that it is an interim measure. Redfern has required close attention by the Government, my predecessor, the previous Premier, the current Premier, me and the senior command. Redfern is an area of particular difficulty. I do not need to go over all the issues that have occurred over the past couple of years, but Redfern needs more police officers_and it will be getting more police officers. On their behalf I am offended by the tone of the question. The tone of the question is that somehow they are not up to scratch—
Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the honourable member for Wakehurst to order. I call the honourable member for Gosford to order. I call the honourable member for Myall Lakes to order.
Mr CARL SCULLY: All the 153 graduates who have undertaken the training are good, fine police men and women. They are excited about their training program over the next 12 months. I want members opposite to send all of them a memorandum telling them that the Opposition does not think they are up to the job. I think they are.