Mr. Martin Callinan:

All I can do is make a recommendation. It is a matter for the Minister and is a political decision. I will explain my role in this. There was clearly a need to downsize because of the circumstances in which we find ourselves. There is also a need for us to provide for an additional unit in the new rostering arrangements. All of those things came together. There was a need to look at our estate and how we manage it.

I sent down, centrally, a request to regional commanders, the assistant commissioners, who in turn spoke to their chief superintendents and superintendents in an effort to provide a listing of stations that could be closed while still maintaining an appropriate policing service in those areas. That process was completed and a list was provided to me. Based on those recommendations from my senior management team, I forwarded the proposals to the Minister who then made a decision.