TOUR DOWN UNDER

371 Dr McFETRIDGE (Morphett) (18 February 2008). What was the total cost of providing all SAPOL services to the Tour Down Under, how many officers were involved and what costs came from the SAPOL budget?

The Hon. J.D. LOMAX-SMITH (Adelaide—Minister for Education and Children's Services, Minister for Tourism, Minister for the City of Adelaide): The Minister for Police has provided the following information:

The Tour Down Under consisted of a six stage cycling event held between 22 and 27 January 2008. The Down Under Classic held on 20 January 2008 at Glenelg is an associated event participated in by many cyclists as a preparatory exercise.

A specific cost centre for the tour was not considered necessary for SAPOL's normal business processes, as service delivery costs in relation to police involvement were absorbed within SAPOL's budget allocation.

The operational policing commitment made by SAPOL was determined by assessment relative to criteria used by SAPOL in the planning of all significant events held in this state. Approximately 295 officers were involved over the seven days of the event for traffic policing all stages, general policing of all stages, general policing of associated events and pre-event planning. Staff were drawn from traffic enforcement sections and local service areas.

The Tour Down Under has achieved pro tour status on the cycling calendar and is the first event outside of Europe to do so. The standard of the event is acclaimed world wide and is contributed to by SAPOL's best practice approach to the planning, staffing and policing of this and other significant events.