Media release – Felix Ellis, Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Management, 5 August 2024
Crooks on notice: Full-time Special Operations Group keeping Tasmanians safe
Criminals and those seeking to do harm in Tasmania stand no chance with our Special Operations Group now operating at full strength with 20 full-time members.
Tasmania’s ability to respond to high-risk situations has been significantly bolstered with the establishment of a full-time Special Operations Group (SOG).
It marks the completion of the Tasmanian Government’s $8.9 million commitment to establish a dedicated full-time SOG capability in 2024.
Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Management, Felix Ellis, said keeping Tasmanians safe was a key part of the Government’s 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania’s Future.
“When the time comes, Tasmanians want to know that Tasmania Police have the capability to respond to high-risk situations,” Minister Ellis said.
“Whether it’s organised crime, hardened criminals, or threats against Tasmania’s way of life, Tasmania’s SOG will be there to protect our state.
“The establishment of this group sends a strong message: crime won’t be tolerated in Tasmania.”
The highly-trained officers will handle a wide range of security challenges, ensuring the safety and protection of Tasmanians when they need it most.
The full-time establishment of the Special Operations Group marks a significant step forward in Tasmania Police’s ability to respond swiftly and effectively to critical incidents and high-risk situations.
Minister Ellis thanked those who have come forward and fulfilled these roles for serving their community in this way.
Media release – Jen Butler MP, Shadow Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Management, 5 August 2024
Ellis continues to ignore impact of upcoming police cuts
Minister Felix Ellis’ “nothing to see here” approach to $35 million worth of cuts to the Department of Police, Fire and Emergency Management does nothing to ease concerns about the ability of our hardworking police to safely perform their duties and protect the community.
The Minister announced today that Tas Police’s Special Operations Group (SOG) is now operating at full-strength with 20 full-time members, while again failing to acknowledge the impact his government’s cuts will have on the force.
We welcome a ‘full strength’ SOG, but information revealed about the Government’s efficiency dividend show that police are going to have to pick up the work of the jobs that are being cut from the department.
Documents obtained by RTI show that DPFEM believe frontline services will be affected – is Minister Ellis going to be up front about the cuts’ impact on frontline police services?
Police stations across the state are stretched to the limit, leading Police Association of Tasmania President Shane Tilley to declare the workforce in “crisis mode” while saying that there’s already a shortage of police.
If Minister Ellis really wants to address this issue, he must be upfront about the impact of his government’s cuts to police rather than continuing to hide behind empty rhetoric.
