Port Stephens Electorate Policing

Mr CRAIG BAUMANN: My question is directed to the Minister for Police. Does the Minister continue to stand by his claim that no commitment ever was made by the Iemma Labor Government for a new Port Stephens local area command when a transcript in today's Port Stephens Examiner has the Deputy Premier, John Watkins, stating nine times "There will be a new local area command for this area." That was in Raymond Terrace in March.

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Terrigal will remain silent.

Mr DAVID CAMPBELL: Last year I remember a debate in this Chamber around a piece of legislation called the Charter of Budget Honesty for election commitments. The Government proposed it and, if I recall, proposed it somewhat based on a model out of Canberra, put up by Peter Costello and John Howard, the dream team. As I recall, the Opposition supported that legislation.

The SPEAKER: Order! I call the Leader of The Nationals to order.

Mr DAVID CAMPBELL: As I recall, the Government subjected its formal election commitments and policies to that process for funding and verification. As I recall it, the Opposition refused to do that.

Mr Adrian Piccoli: Point of order: My point of order relates to relevance under Standing Order 129. We have waited patiently for the Minister to come to the leave of the question, which has nothing to do with the charter of budget honesty. It is about a promise made nine times by the former Minister for Police to have a local area command at Port Stephens, something that is refuted by the present Minister for Police. This is an important matter for the constituents of Port Stephens. They want an answer to this question. I ask that you bring the Minister back to the leave of the question so that the people of Port Stephens can have an answer.

The SPEAKER: Order! I am confident that the Minister has made his introductory remarks and will now respond to the question.

Mr DAVID CAMPBELL: The question was about election commitments and so is the answer. Treasury costed all of the Government's published election promises and there was no election commitment as part of that documentation about providing a new local area command in the Port Stephens area. But there was an election commitment for a new police station to service the Port Stephens area. On 10 August, when I visited Raymond Terrace with the member for Maitland and Jim Arneman, I made an announcement that the Government would deliver on an election commitment and rebuild a new police station at Raymond Terrace to support the Port Stephens area—another example of how this Government improves services, delivers on its commitments and implements its plans.