AGY-5040 | Office of the Minister for Police and Emergency Services

Full description

The Office of the Minister for Police and Emergency Services (OMPES) was created on 26 May 1982 following the abolition of the Department of Services. (1) It was established following recommendations made by Mr. Justice Lusher in his 1981 Report on the New South Wales Police Administration to provide the Minister for Police and Emergency Services with direct and centralised policy advice, administrative support and liaison with all areas of the portfolio. (2)

The Office's objectives were:
To advise and assist the Minister in the development, co-ordination and review of policy in all areas of the portfolio.
To advise and assist the Minister in the development and formulation of proposals for legislative change.
Provide analysis of reports and recommendations of the Ombudsman in relation to complaints against police.
Provide analysis of reports and recommendations of the Police Board.
Advise the Minister in respect of matters coming under the Bush Fires Act 1949.
To provide general administrative and clerical support. (3)

The Office in 1982 also included the Bush Fires Branch and the State Electoral Office of the former Department of Services. (4) By 1986 the Office included the Minister's personal staff, the Bush Fires Branch and the Police Board Secretariat. (5)

The status of the Office was raised from that of an administrative office to that of a department under the Public Service Act 1979 on 24 July 1987. (6)

The Office was abolished on 31 March 1988 and all its branches were added to the Administrative Office of the Public Service Board of New South Wales. (7)

ENDNOTES
1) NSW Government Gazette, 26 May 1982, p.2332
2) New South Wales Office of the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Annual Report, 1985-1986, pp.6-7
3) Ibid., p.7
4) NSW Government Gazette, 26 May 1982, pp.2331-2332
5) New South Wales Office of the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Annual Report, 1985-86, p.6
6) NSW Government Gazette, 24 July 1987, p.4127
7) Ibid., 31 March 1988, p.2046.