Shadow Minister for Primary Industries & Water, Shadow Minister for Police & Emergency Services, Shadow Minister for Parks & Wildlife, Shadow Minister for Local Government

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08
Sep

Stab vests should be considered

2009

Following the stabbing of a police officer last night, the Acting Police Minister should explain whether consideration has been given to the availability of stab-proof vests for police officers attending high-risk situations

These vests are used by officers in New Zealand and the UK.
These vests protect against slashing and stabbing injuries, and if the Government won’t provide them, then police officers should be given permission to buy their own and wear them on duty under appropriate circumstances.
Further, we wish the injured officer a speedy recovery, however it should be noted that under a Hodgman Liberal Government he would not face a step-down in income if his recovery takes longer than 13 weeks. Liberal policy is to separate police officers injured in the course of duty from the workers’ compensation laws currently in place in order to reflect the unique dangers that police officers face every day.
Labor voted against our legislation to provide greater support to police officers injured in the line of duty, a most regrettable decision which does not have the support of the wider community.