POLICE NUMBERS

Mrs VLAHOS (Taylor) (15:00): My question is to the Minister for Police. Can the minister inform the house whether the state government intends to reduce the number of South Australian police officers serving our community?

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) (15:00): I thank the member for Taylor for her question. I think it is a fair question to ask. I can be very clear that my answer is: absolutely not. Not only do I not have any intention of cutting police numbers, but—

Mr Williams interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! What is your point of order?

Mr WILLIAMS: I think the minister has answered the question. She can now sit down.

The SPEAKER: Thank you, member for MacKillop. Minister, I am sure you have more to add.

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: I do, Madam Speaker, I do.

An honourable member interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: Last Wednesday, I joined our new commissioner and the member for Morphett to welcome 27 new probationary constables to SAPOL. This government has committed to providing 313 additional sworn police officers to the ranks of our South Australian police force by 2015-16, and this is on top of the 700 extra police already working our streets and 200 additional civilian staff who provide important support. South Australia has had the highest rate of operational police of any state for five years in a row and, as I have said, their ranks are continuing to grow. It was a fair question the member for Taylor asked for a couple of reasons. When the Liberals were elected in 1993 police numbers went down and crime skyrocketed by about 1,000 offences per week—

Mr WILLIAMS: Point of order: the minister is now clearly debating the answer to the question. As I said, she answered the question with a no, the first word she gave, and the rest is irrelevant.

The SPEAKER: Thank you. We don't need a speech from you. Minister, continue with your answer.

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: Thank you, Madam Speaker—200 more victims of crime every week, 200 more victims traumatised than is the case now. We increased police numbers, and despite our population growth of about 8 per cent, victim-reported crime has plummeted by 37 per cent to the end of 2010-11. I expect that to continue, and I know our community wants that to continue, but it is clear that our state Liberals are studying the play books of their colleagues in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria.

Mr WILLIAMS: Point of order: the minister is clearly—

The Hon. J.M. Rankine interjecting:

Mr WILLIAMS: Point of order, Madam Speaker.

The SPEAKER: Minister, point of order.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Mr WILLIAMS: Point of order: the minister is clearly debating. She was asked a very simple question: did the government intend to cut police numbers?

The SPEAKER: Thank you; we know the question. We have heard it three times now. Minister, I would ask you to wind up your answer.

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: If those states really are the trial sites for mass reductions here in South Australia, Campbell Newman's slashing of public servants is likely to be a case of just—

The SPEAKER: Thank you, minister.

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: —dipping their toes in the water.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! We don't need another point of order. I have asked the minister to finish her answer. The member for Bragg.