Minister Felix Ellis’ “nothing to see here” approach to $35 million worth of cuts to the Department of Police, Fire and Emergency Management does nothing to ease concerns about the ability of our hardworking police to safely perform their duties and protect the community.

The Minister was today repeating his empty “more police on the beat” rhetoric, while again failing to acknowledge the impact his government’s cuts will have on the force.

The graduation of 42 new constables is strongly welcomed, but information revealed about the government’s efficiency dividend show that police are going to have to pick up the work of the jobs that are being cut from the department.

Police stations across the state are stretched to the limit, leading Police Association of Tasmania President Shane Tilley to declare the workforce in “crisis mode” while saying that there’s already a shortage of police.

If Minister Ellis really wants to address this issue, he has to be upfront about the impact of his government’s cuts to police rather than continuing to hide behind empty rhetoric.

Jen Butler MP
Shadow Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Management