POLICE NUMBERS

Dr CLOSE (Port Adelaide) (14:54): Can the Minister for Police inform the house about the increase in police numbers and specialist equipment to support community safety?

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE (Wright—Minister for Police, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Road Safety, Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (14:54): I thank the member for Port Adelaide for this question. On 23 May I had the pleasure of attending yet another graduation at our new $53.4 million purpose-built police academy. Twenty-nine officers who previously served in the UK and New Zealand became members of the South Australian police force, and I welcome them and wish them well in their new home. Even though they are new to policing in South Australia, I understand these officers bring with them more than 200 years of collective police experience, including working in criminal investigation, royal protection, dealing with gangs and community policing.

Our world has changed so much compared to the days when a journey between the UK and Australia took six months on a boat, but the choice to move thousands of miles from your home, family and friends to start a new life is no less daunting today. As Minister for Multicultural Affairs, I take a great interest in what draws people from around the world to South Australia to live, work and study. These new officers spoke of opportunities for themselves and their families—opportunities for a better job, open spaces and fresh air, high quality education and a sense of community and, for those posted to the Eyre and Western Regional Local Service Area, there will be no shortage of open spaces. This LSA is larger than the whole United Kingdom (including Northern Ireland) and the Far North LSA is twice as big again.

Young Australians used to go to the US or UK in droves to earn money and gain experience in the wider world. Now, the tide has turned and the wider world is bringing experience and skills to South Australia. By 30 June, another three courses of international, interstate and local recruits are expected to graduate from the academy. These officers are part of our government's commitment to add an extra 313 sworn officers by 2015-16, with 129 of them scheduled to start work this financial year. These officers are on top of the 170 to 180 we recruit every year to maintain our existing strength and come on top of the 1,000 extra staff who have joined SAPOL in the first 10 years of this Labor government.

We are also ensuring our police have the tools they need to protect and keep our community safe. On Friday 1 June, I was joined by the member for Port Adelaide, senior police, members of the SAPOL Water Operations Unit and members of our volunteer marine rescue squadrons to launch the Investigator II—a 20 metre, $2.5 million new flagship for SAPOL Water Operations Unit. This vessel delivers new and expanded capabilities, with a range of 700 nautical miles, space for six crew to sleep and advanced electronics to support on-board safety and search and rescue missions. Just like our new police academy, the Investigator II is purpose-built and will serve our police and our community well into the future. This is compared to one-way expressways and second-hand equipment that had been delivered under previous governments.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. I.F. Evans interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Member for Davenport, order!

Mr Pisoni interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Member for Unley, order! The member for MacKillop.