In Question Time today, Shooters Fishers and Farmers Party MLC Robert Borsak called on the National Party to guarantee 24/7 Police services in the Cootamundra electorate.

“The National Party refuses to guarantee 24/7 Police Stations in the Cootamundra electorate despite this whiz-bang ‘re-engineering’ process,” Mr Borsak said.

“I don’t believe the weak excuses that the National Party has provided, saying that Police Officers won’t be cut back in Cootamundra.

“Neither Police Minister Troy Grant nor Nationals Cootamundra by-election candidate Stephanie Cooke have guaranteed that there will be no cuts to Superintendents, Inspectors, unsworn officers and middle management.

“Moving staff out of the area is also a cut by stealth.

“If this forced amalgamation of Police Local Area Commands is good for the community, then the National Party will have no problem guaranteeing 24/7 Police Stations in Coolamon, Cootamundra, Cowra, Grenfell, Junee, Narrandera, West Wyalong, and Young – just to name a few.

“The truth is that this whole process is just like forced Council amalgamations. The Government is treating country people like mushrooms: keeping them in the dark and feeding them manure.”

Shooters Fishers and Farmers Party Cootamundra by-election candidate Matthew Stadtmiller called on his National Party opponent Stephanie Cooke to join him in fighting for 24/7 Police Stations in Cootamundra.

“My opponent appears eager to do whatever the Liberal Party and National Party Government tells her to do.

“The National Party must guarantee 24/7 Police Stations in the Cootamundra electorate. If they can’t, then how’s this forced amalgamation of Police Local Area Commands going to benefit the community?

“Cootamundra deserves better.”

Download Robert Borsak's press release here.