TAMWORTH MP Kevin Anderson has defended his decision not to sign a petition for 25 more police members in the region.
Mr Anderson said his track record with local police representatives to achieve that goal spoke for itself.
The NSW Police Association petition, which will be given to the state government, was launched in Tamworth earlier this month.
However, Mr Anderson has yet to put his name on the petition despite calls from political opponent Jeff Bacon to do so.
“I have no problem with the petition’s cause,” Mr Anderson said.
“However, as I have said in the past, I have been working closely with local police representatives to understand their needs and then fight for their needs in parliament.
“That’s how I operate and that’s what I have been doing for the last seven years.”
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Mr Anderson said he backed the push for more police officers in the region.
“As I have said, there’s no problem with the petition at all,” he said.
“I have spoken to local police representatives and they are fine with me not having signed it.
“It’s a community petition and I back the community’s feelings all the way.
“That’s why I will continue to push for more police officers for our region.
“Hopefully we will have good news on that front sometime in the future.”
Calls for Mr Anderson to sign the petition came from Tamworth Shooters Farmers and Fishers candidate Jeff Bacon after Mr Anderson did not attend the petition’s launch.
“Kevin Anderson has just been outed as all talk and not action when it comes to rural crime and increasing local police numbers,” Mr Bacon said.
“After publishing details in local media, the police association waited in Fitzroy Street in Tamworth – 30 metres from Kevin Anderson’s office – for him to sign their petition, but our local National Party member of parliament was nowhere to be seen.”
Billy Jupp
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
