ALEXANDER, MR P.

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY (Port Adelaide—Deputy Premier, Treasurer, Minister for Industry and Trade, Minister for Federal/State Relations) (15:32): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: Can I say from the outset that I have seen a ring cycle: Cold Chisel in the ring at the Entertainment Centre about three years ago. It was terrific.

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: No, in the ring.

Mr Pisoni: That's it? That was a good ministerial statement.

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: No, but I just thought you would enjoy me sharing it.

Mr Pisoni interjecting:

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: You don't like Cold Chisel?

Mr Pisoni: Get on with your statement.

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: Yes, sir.

The SPEAKER: Order!

Mr Pisoni interjecting:

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: Have you always been like this, or is this arrogance just something you developed when you came into this place?

The SPEAKER: Order!

Mr Pisoni: I'm learning from the masters over here.

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: Fair enough.

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: Yes. I would normally table this ministerial statement, because it has been read in another place but, because of the substance of the statement and because the person in question is someone with whom I have worked for many years, I would like to read it and perhaps add a few comments of my own, if I can be so indulged.

Today we see the end of an era with the retirement of the President of the Police Association, Mr Peter Alexander. Peter Alexander's career started back in 1967, when he joined the South Australian police force as a 20 year old. He served the majority of his 24-year police career in the CIB. After stints in the old general squad, the Elizabeth CIB and the Drug Squad, he was posted to the Major Crime Investigation Branch, in which he worked as a detective-sergeant on many high profile murder cases.

Peter's service to the Police Association began with two terms as a delegate in the 1980s and continued with his election as a committee member in 1987. He became vice-president in 1989 and the first full-time president in 1991. For 10 of his 17 years as head of the Police Association of South Australia he also served as president of the Police Federation of Australia. Peter retires not only as the longest serving president in the 97-year history of the Police Association but also as the longest serving president of the Police Federation of Australia. During his 17 years at the helm of the association, Peter has worked with five premiers, nine police ministers (of which I was one) and two commissioners of police. This is what the current Minister for Police is saying:

What stands out for me the most about Peter has been his ability to foster good relations with all political parties, and how he has created a positive public image for the policing profession and police unionism. His dedication, professionalism and engaging manner have gained him enormous respect not only from both sides of politics but, I believe, the wider community.

During his career, Peter has been an outstanding operational police officer, a skilled investigator, and someone who has tirelessly served the police, his members and the people of South Australia. We have one of the best, if not the best police services in the country and it is the integrity and reliability of people like Peter Alexander that has helped set the high standards of professionalism that exist in the police service in our state.

Peter has given his valuable expertise to police unionism at not only local and interstate levels, but also on the global scene through his participation on the International Law Enforcement Council. He was also the unifying force that rallied other police union leaders to form the Police Federation of Australia.

Honourable members: Hear, hear!

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: The statement continues:

He has fought and won significant improvements in police wages [I can attest to that] and conditions over the period of his tenure. This includes last year's EB agreement which delivered an average wage increase of 16 per cent during the three-year life of the enterprise agreement, backdated to 1 July 2007. He helped influence many new laws, including tougher laws for those who assault our police, changes to DNA law, and the list goes on.

These improvements are testament to the hard work of Peter Alexander. His departure will take place at the declaration of the poll to elect his successor, occurring later on today, that will bring about the first change to the association's presidency in more than 17 years.

On behalf of the state government, I [the police minister Mr Holloway]) extend my gratitude to Peter Alexander for his 41 years of dedication to public service and police unionism.

Mr Holloway wished him, and also his wife, Joan and their family, all the very best for the future and a long and happy retirement.

I would like to say a few words, in addition to Mr Holloway's statement: I proudly served as police minister for three years and, in that time, developed a very constructive working relationship with Mr Alexander. We certainly did not always agree (and often we did not). The very first meeting was, I think, a bit of a shake-down meeting when Mr Alexander wanted to see whether I had the mettle, the ability or toughness to handle negotiations with him and, from memory, we asked all advisers to leave the room. As you can imagine, a few expletives were exchanged from either side but, following that short exchange, we developed a very close relationship on a professional basis. Indeed, I became, I think, a good friend (I would hope) of Peter Alexander and always enjoyed a robust relationship with him.

I witnessed a very good relationship between him and the police commissioner. There were always very serious points of difference between them, but both Mr Mal Hyde and Mr Alexander are very strong individuals, men of principle, men of good intent, and it was an enjoyable and somewhat enlightening experience to watch the interchange between the two.

Peter Alexander has served this state well, and I think it can be summed up in this way: when I was police minister (and to this day) one wakes up and reads the paper or sees the TV news and one hears about and reads about issues that have been occurring in other states, in terms of the politics of police associations (as we see in Victoria) or matters of corruption that we may have seen elsewhere, but in this state the quality of our police administration, the quality of our police unionism and, indeed, the quality of our police force is such that we can be proud of the best police force in this nation, and a police force that serves the people of this state extremely well.

I have no intention of canvassing the issues that were discussed earlier today in question time, because this is a moment to reflect upon the career of one very important and very significant contributor to policing in this state in the post-Second World War period. He probably will not like me saying that. However, over the last 41 years Peter Alexander has, in my view, demonstrated the very best in South Australians when it comes to dedication to public service, and I will miss working with him.

I wish him, Joan and his family all the best. Peter can be very proud of his outstanding service to his state and to his police force.

Honourable members: Hear, hear!