ID :
178915
Fri, 04/29/2011 - 14:46
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/178915
The shortlink copeid
Vic emergency depts won't get armed guards
SYDNEY (AAP) - The Baillieu government has broken its promise over putting 120 armed guards in hospital emergency departments.
It will now wait for a parliamentary committee to tell it whether or not it should proceed with its own election policy.
Police Minister Peter Ryan talked down the promise made to Victorians before winning office, repeatedly describing it as one line in a 10-page policy document.
The promise was valued at $20.9 million over four years, $1.2 million of which was to be allocated for 2011-12 in the budget to be delivered on Tuesday.
"I am able to confirm to you without any qualification that the $21 million will certainly be available at an appropriate point in time to provide those additional (hospital security) services in whatever form it is thought to be appropriate," he told reporters on Friday.
"That may or may not include the operation of the protective services officers.
"We will see that when the time comes."
Mr Ryan said some policies mentioned on the coalition's 2010 election commitments list has "evolved".
"I venture to suggest that the initiatives which are broadly outlined in a number of instances ... have evolved," he said.
"I don't think there is anything strange about that."
Mr Ryan said $21 million would be made available for hospital security measures after parliament's drug and crime prevention delivers its report on the issue on a date he would not reveal.
Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association policy manager Cydde Miller said introducing guns into hospital emergency departments could lead to tragic consequences.
"Where people are armed obviously with deadly weapons ... it does happen that people end up dying," she told AAP.
"It does have the potential to be quite inflammatory."
Opposition frontbencher Tim Holding said the government's law and order policies had been poorly thought out.
"It was not our policy to have security guards, armed with semi-automatic weapons, patrolling our emergency departments while our health professionals are seeking to work with people, in often in a highly distressed state," he told reporters.
"It's not surprising the state government conveniently forgot this promise."
Promises involving armed protective services officers (PSOs) have caused major headaches for the government.
Earlier this month Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Simon Overland said the current eight weeks' training for PSOs would not be enough for those deployed to railway stations.
Mr Ryan said there would be plenty of cash available to strengthen the training, suggesting the policy could cost more than the original price tag of $161 million, plus $20 million for capital works.
It will now wait for a parliamentary committee to tell it whether or not it should proceed with its own election policy.
Police Minister Peter Ryan talked down the promise made to Victorians before winning office, repeatedly describing it as one line in a 10-page policy document.
The promise was valued at $20.9 million over four years, $1.2 million of which was to be allocated for 2011-12 in the budget to be delivered on Tuesday.
"I am able to confirm to you without any qualification that the $21 million will certainly be available at an appropriate point in time to provide those additional (hospital security) services in whatever form it is thought to be appropriate," he told reporters on Friday.
"That may or may not include the operation of the protective services officers.
"We will see that when the time comes."
Mr Ryan said some policies mentioned on the coalition's 2010 election commitments list has "evolved".
"I venture to suggest that the initiatives which are broadly outlined in a number of instances ... have evolved," he said.
"I don't think there is anything strange about that."
Mr Ryan said $21 million would be made available for hospital security measures after parliament's drug and crime prevention delivers its report on the issue on a date he would not reveal.
Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association policy manager Cydde Miller said introducing guns into hospital emergency departments could lead to tragic consequences.
"Where people are armed obviously with deadly weapons ... it does happen that people end up dying," she told AAP.
"It does have the potential to be quite inflammatory."
Opposition frontbencher Tim Holding said the government's law and order policies had been poorly thought out.
"It was not our policy to have security guards, armed with semi-automatic weapons, patrolling our emergency departments while our health professionals are seeking to work with people, in often in a highly distressed state," he told reporters.
"It's not surprising the state government conveniently forgot this promise."
Promises involving armed protective services officers (PSOs) have caused major headaches for the government.
Earlier this month Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Simon Overland said the current eight weeks' training for PSOs would not be enough for those deployed to railway stations.
Mr Ryan said there would be plenty of cash available to strengthen the training, suggesting the policy could cost more than the original price tag of $161 million, plus $20 million for capital works.
