The Government is considering legislation for police to recoup the cost of operations that go beyond normal duties, such as policing privately run music concerts, wine festivals or sports events.
But new Police Minister Anne Tolley has already quashed a police request to have it on the legislative agenda for this year.
The idea was raised by the Police Association before last year's election. It suggested recovering costs for policing for-profit events that drew resources from the wider community.
"In principle, where public police resources are diverted to provide a private benefit in security services for a commercial event, the commercial operator ought to be compensating the community, which sees its police resources depleted as a result," association president Greg O'Connor said at the time.
"Police ... have a presence at, for example, rock concerts and wine festivals ... Police are not generally providing the main security service, but are required to be there, particularly because where alcohol and crowds are involved, there is always potential for violent disorder." Police cost-recovery took place in the UK and Australia, he said.
In a briefing to Mrs Tolley, released yesterday, police raised the opportunity to "recover the costs of providing some services 'over and above' its main functions" as one of its bids for new legislation in 2012.
Mrs Tolley said she was working on the proposal, but there were logistical difficulties to sort out, such as the criteria, and how police would charge a private company. It certainly would not be on the agenda for 2012, she said. There was "a lot of legislation on the Order Paper now".
She supported police finding new ways to generate revenue because, she said, "there isn't any more money coming from central Government for the next four years".
