It was only two weeks ago I stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the Police Association in Gunnedah, calling for Corrective Services to take over prisoner transport.
This would free-up overstretched Police in the Oxley District, rather than having them act as a glorified taxi service for prisoners.
Don't forget: the reason we have this issue in the first place is because the National Party won't stand up to the city Liberals wanting cutbacks to give them a surplus for new Sydney stadiums.
Last Thursday local MP Kevin Anderson met with the Police Association in Tamworth, and the following day our electorate received a visit from Corrections Minister David Elliott.
Were we finally getting the additional staff needed for prisoner transport? No. It was just another photo opportunity for Mr Anderson.
It not good enough that police here don’t have the same resources as those in the city-based districts.
Police in Tamworth have a 175 per cent greater workload than their counterparts at similar-sized commands in Newcastle or Sydney.
I won't give up the fight for more police, but what about Kevin Anderson? For now, he's asleep on the job. We deserve better.
Jeffrey Bacon
Tamworth Candidate
