2765 PROOF LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS No. 123 TUESDAY 19 FEBRUARY 2013 (The Questions and Answers Paper published for the first sitting day in each week will contain, by number and title, all unanswered questions, together with questions to which answers have been received on the previous sitting and any new questions. On subsequent days, new questions are printed, as are questions to which answers were received the previous day. Consequently the full text of any question will be printed only twice: when notice is given; and, when answered.) Notice given on date shown 2766 Legislative Council Questions and Answers No. 123— Tuesday 19 February 2013 Publication of Questions Answer to be lodged by Q & A No. 114 (Including Question Nos 2390 to 2391) 27 November 2012 Q & A No. 115 (Including Question Nos 2392 to 2404) 28 November 2012 Q & A No. 116 (Including Question Nos 2405 to 2418) 29 November 2012 Q & A No. 117 (Including Question Nos 2419 to 2443) 18 December 2012 Q & A No. 118 (Including Question Nos 2444 to 2446) 19 December 2012 Q & A No. 119 (Including Question Nos 2447 to 2448) 20 December 2012 Q & A No. 120 (Including Question Nos 2449 to 2524) 25 December 2012 Q & A No. 121 (Including Question Nos 2525 to 2871) 26 December 2012 Q & A No. 122 (Including Question Nos 2872 to 3104) 27 December 2012 Q & A No. 123 (Including Question Nos 3105 to 3131) 26 March 2013 2767 Legislative Council Questions and Answers No. 123— Tuesday 19 February 2013 23 OCTOBER 2012 (Paper No. 114) *2391 POLICE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES—TASER COMPLAINTS—Mr Shoebridge asked the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Minister for the Hunter, and Vice-President of the Executive Council— (1) How many complaints were made regarding police use of Tasers in: (a) 2008? (b) 2009? (c) 2010? (d) 2011? (e) 2012 to date? (2) How many claims for compensation were made against the Government in relation to police use of Tasers in: (a) 2008? (b) 2009? (c) 2010? (d) 2011? (e) 2012 to date? (3) How many court proceedings were commenced against the Government in relation to police use of Tasers in: (a) 2008? (b) 2009? (c) 2010? (d) 2011? (e) 2012 to date? (4) How many court proceedings against the Government in relation to police use of Tasers were settled with a payment to the plaintiff or concluded with a judgement in favour of the plaintiff or applicant in: (a) 2008? (b) 2009? (c) 2010? (d) 2011? (e) 2012 to date? (5) How many court proceedings against the Government in relation to police use of Tasers were dismissed in: (a) 2008? (b) 2009? (c) 2010? (d) 2011? (e) 2012 to date? (6) How many court proceedings against the Government in relation to police use of Tasers were withdrawn in: (a) 2008? (b) 2009? (c) 2010? (d) 2011? (e) 2012 to date? (7) How many settlements did the Government make with people in relation to police use of Tasers in: 2768 Legislative Council Questions and Answers No. 123— Tuesday 19 February 2013 (a) 2008? (b) 2009? (c) 2010? (d) 2011? (e) 2012 to date? (8) What was the total amount paid out to individuals as a result of settlements in relation to Taser use in: (a) 2008? (b) 2009? (c) 2010? (d) 2011? (e) 2012 to date? (9) In how many of these settlements were the individuals required to sign non-disclosure statements in: (a) 2008? (b) 2009? (c) 2010? (d) 2011? (e) 2012 to date? (10) What was the total amount paid out to individuals as a result of court ordered compensation, including by consent and as to costs, in relation to police use of Tasers in: (a) 2008? (b) 2009? (c) 2010? (d) 2011? (e) 2012 to date? (11) What legal costs were incurred by the Government in relation to these settlements and court orders in: (a) 2008? (b) 2009? (c) 2010? (d) 2011? (e) 2012 to date? Answer— (1) The NSW Police Force has advised me : (a) 11. (b) 23. (c) 36. (d) 31. (e) 25 (to 7 November 2012). It should be noted that these figures include self-generated matters, ie. those arising from deliberations of NSW Police Force Taser Review Committees, as well as complaints made by members of the community to police. (2) (a) Nil. (b) One. (c) One. (d) There were four claims made in 2011 that included direct claims for compensation in relation to Taser use. Two further indirect claims, both related to one of the direct claims, were made. 2769 Legislative Council Questions and Answers No. 123— Tuesday 19 February 2013 (e) There have been five claims made to date in 2012 which include direct claims for compensation regarding Taser use. (3) (TO 6.) Court proceedings are a matter for the Attorney General. (7.) (a) Nil. (b) Nil. (c) Nil. (d) Nil. (e) Two direct claims and two related indirect claims have been settled in 2012 to date. (8.) (a) Nil. (b) Nil. (c) Nil. (d) Nil. (e) The total paid to plaintiffs was $240,000 (inclusive of plaintiff's legal costs) (9.) (a) Nil. (b) Nil. (c) Nil. (d) Nil. (e) Three matters were settled in 2012 on the basis of deeds of release. These deeds are subject to legal professional privilege. One additional matter was settled by way of a Consent Judgement which included a standard non-disclosure paragraph. (10.) (a) Nil. (b) Nil. (c) Nil. (d) Nil. (e) $30,000 was paid in court ordered compensation in 2012. This figure included plaintiff's compensation and costs. (11.) (a) Nil. (b) Nil. (c) Nil. (d) $52,879.61 (in relation to the matters finalised in 2012). (e) $77,180.99 24 OCTOBER 2012 (Paper No. 115) *2393 PRIMARY INDUSTRIES—WATER QUALITY IN THE COOKS RIVER—Mr Secord asked the Minister for Roads and Ports representing the Minister for Primary Industries, and Minister for Small Business— (1) Since 1 April 2011, how much has the Government spent to improve water quality in the Cooks River in Sydney? (2) What was the budget to improve water quality in the Cooks River in Sydney for the 2011-2012 financial year? 2770 Legislative Council Questions and Answers No. 123— Tuesday 19 February 2013 (3) (a) Does the Government regularly test water quality and pollution levels in the Cooks River? (b) If so, where are those tests taken? (c) What are the results of the most recent tests? (d) Has water quality improved or worsened since 1 April 2011? Answer— Please refer to the answer provided for Question 2392. *2395 PRIMARY INDUSTRIES—BLUE GREEN ALGAE IN SYDNEY WATERWAYS—Mr Secord asked the Minister for Roads and Ports representing the Minister for Primary Industries, and Minister for Small Business— (1) Since 1 April 2011, how much has the Government spent to combat blue green algae in Sydney waterways? (2) What was the budget to combat blue green algae for the 2011-2012 financial year? (3) (a) How many points are there in Sydney Water's jurisdiction where the Government regularly tests water quality, pollution levels and for blue green algae? (b) Where are those tests taken? (c) What are the results of the most recent tests? (d) Has the incidence of blue green algae improved or worsened since 1 April 2011? (4) What is the worst place for blue green algae in: (a) Sydney? (b) The Hunter? (c) The Blue Mountains? (d) The Illawarra? Answer— (1) (and 2.) Within the Primary Industries portfolio, the costs incurred by the Metropolitan⁄South Coast Regional Algal Coordination Committee, the NSW Office of Water and Sydney Catchment Authority in monitoring and dealing with blue-green algal issues in the Sydney area since 1 April 2011 equates to approximately $1.34 million. (3) (a) The NSW Office of Water is responsible for blue-green algal monitoring at four locations on the Hawkesbury-Nepean River. Other NSW government agencies also undertake algal monitoring at other locations within the Sydney Basin. The Sydney Catchment Authority undertakes algae related monitoring in all its storages and inflow streams. (b) The NSW Office of Water's four monitoring sites along the Hawkesbury-Nepean River are Nepean River at Penrith Weir, Hawkesbury River at Cattai, Hawkesbury River at Sackville and Hawkesbury River at Lower Portland. Sydney Catchment Authority's 2011-12 water monitoring results are in its Annual Water Quality Monitoring Report. (c) Recent test results for the four sites on the Hawkesbury-Nepean River (samples collected 25 November 2012) were:- Details on the alert levels are available on the Office of Water website at www.water.nsw.gov.au. The SCA's water monitoring results are in its Annual Water Quality Monitoring Report. • Nepean River at Penrith Weir – Nil 2771 Legislative Council Questions and Answers No. 123— Tuesday 19 February 2013 • Hawkesbury River at Cattai – Amber • Hawkesbury River at Sackville – Amber • Hawkesbury River at Lower Portland – Green (d) The recent La Nina weather pattern has meant reasonably wet weather over the past two years and a relatively low incidence of blue-green algal problems. (4) Blue-green algal blooms are more likely to occur where there is more runoff from surrounding urban areas. 25 OCTOBER 2012 (Paper No. 116) *2405 PRIMARY INDUSTRIES—SYDNEY WATER CATCHMENT AUTHORITY PATROLS—Mr Secord asked the Minister for Roads and Ports representing the Minister for Primary Industries, and Minister for Small Business— (1) Since 1 April 2011, how many people are employed to protect Sydney's drinking water supply through surveillance and patrols of the Sydney Water Catchment Authority? (2) What is the total budget for patrols and surveillance for the 2011-2012 financial year? (3) How much is spent on remote surveillance technologies throughout the "special area" of the Sydney Water Catchment Authority? Answer— (1) The SCA ensures that all its assets are adequately protected by security surveillance and patrols.