Labor would fund video-camera-fitted tasers for all police

This issue doesn’t even make the list of things I plan to think about before voting.

It is rather disappointing that the ACT Govt. is pushing for the distribution of Tasers for all officers. Even without this, there are numerous instance of Taser misuse eg the repeated stun shocking of an inmate at the police watch-house. The problem is that in Australia, Tasers were approved based on the clear premise that they would be used where a gun would be otherwise discharged ie where there is clear and compelling danger to life or the officer is being attacked. Instead, Tasers are used for compliance and in situations where the subject is NOT armed with a deadly weapon eg unarmed or with just a stick etc. Tasers are often used to subdue those resisting arrest without the use of any weapons and are often the first option before leading to an arrest. The quest to ask is whether a gun would otherwise have been used….if the answer is no, then Taser use is unacceptable. It will be interesting to see what the AFP’s operational guidelines are on Taser use. I doubt that they will make it available!!