Reece Whitby won’t say what taxpayers forked out to protect Mongols bikie David Pye while on bail

Police Minister Reece Whitby has refused to divulge how much taxpayers were slugged to protect bikie David Pye while he was bailed to stand trial over the murder of ex-Rebels boss Nick Martin. The Comanchero turned Mongols bikie was granted an extraordinary release from prison in October after the Department of Justice refused to give him prescribed anti-anxiety medication. Supreme Court Justice Joseph McGrath slammed the “totally unacceptable” action by the department, which forced him to grant the bail application or abandon the trial out of concern for Pye’s mental fitness. A 24/7 police squad was tasked with protecting the bikie against a feared reprisal attack from rival gang members over the execution of Nick Martin at Perth Motorplex in December 2020. A convoy of heavily armed officers escorted Pye to the courthouse each day with the police helicopter following from overhead. It’s understood officers were also assigned to stand guard at his Baldivis address. The level of resources dedicated to the operation, and the lack of explanation from the government as to why it decided to stop providing the long-term medication, caused outrage from senior police. In November, shadow attorney general Nick Goiran requested the Police Minister provide to parliament the total cost incurred by WA Police. Reece Whitby refused due to the operational nature of the information and said that he would: “write to both houses of Parliament and the Auditor General in due course.” In deciding not to answer the question, Mr Whitby cited an obscure section of the Financial Management Act 2006 which allows the government to keep information secret if it decides it is “reasonable and appropriate” to do so. Within 14 days of making the decision, the government is legally required to write to both houses of parliament and the auditor general outlining its decision. Mr Whitby didn’t do this, and on Wednesday, more than three months later, he finally sent his letter outlining why he won’t reveal Pye’s bail costs. “In accordance with section 82(1)(a) of the Financial Management Act 2006, I give notice to you that I am unable to provide information,” he said. “I have decided it is reasonable and appropriate not to answer (the) question. “The WA Police Force advise that the agency does not capture the hours and costs assigned. The WAPF could only provide a rudimentary estimated cost for the operation.” Mr Whitby claimed that in providing the estimated dollar figure he would be revealing “operationally sensitive” police information. A police source within serious and organised crime, who asked not be identified, told The West Australian he couldn’t see any reason why the cost should not be released. “If I was to tell you that it was approximately $380,000 - that doesn’t jeopardise operational security at all,” the officer said. “That’s not the actual cost, but you could safely assume it is six figures when you account the overtime, use of the chopper, covert staff. “None of that is sensitive operationally, but politically I suspect it would be sensitive because this waste of money and resource could have been spared if the department just administered the medication to their prisoner.”