“We have no need for real penguins…” – Police Minister David Campbell, 13 May 2008

Peninsula residents would be disappointed to know the State’s Police Minister told the NSW Parliament yesterday the Government had no need for penguins, in a statement ridiculing the Member for Manly’s stance against the police college redevelopment at North Head.

“North Head is one of the most precious environments in the country, home to the only colony of breeding penguins on the mainland, and the Government is making a mockery of the community’s stance to protect it,” said Member for Manly Mike Baird.

Police Minister David Campbell criticised the Member for Manly for saying the community wanted ‘Penguins, Not Police’ to be prioritised in the Government’s consideration of the $20 million redevelopment proposal at North Head.

“Here we have plans for a three-storey Las Vegas style complex to be built on one of the most environmentally sensitive sites in the country. It is an insult that the NSW Government is not taking the community’s objections seriously, and it is especially insulting to our volunteer Penguin Wardens.

“There is absolutely no need for a new Australian Institute of Police Management college to be built in this location, directly above the largest concentration of breeding penguins in the national park. If it comes to choosing between penguins or police on this site, I will back penguins every day of the week.

“It was sad to see the Police Minister treat the danger posed to the Fairy Penguins as a joke, particularly as the NSW Department of Planning is currently considering the development proposal on this site.

“I think the public would also question the Police Minister’s priorities. While serious crimes are occurring throughout the State, he is perusing my website to find things to criticise.”

Mr Baird said the Police Minister did not even get his facts right in his tirade against supporters of the North Head environment.

“To add to the insult, the Police Minister did not even know the college belongs to the Australian Federal Police and not the NSW Police – or does he have plans to hold a staff retreat there when it’s built?

“The least the Police Minister can do is come to North Head and review the site so he has some understanding of what he’s talking about.”

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