SHARK PATROLS

Ms BETTISON (Ramsay) (15:18): My question is to the Minister for Emergency Services. Can the minister detail new arrangements for shark patrols along Adelaide's beaches this summer?

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) (15:19): I thank the member for Ramsay for her question. From Saturday, 1 December, following a call for tenders, a new contract will be in place to increase shark patrols from 734 patrol hours that we had last summer to 907 this season. Shark patrols will be operated by UniSA in conjunction with its pilot training school, giving students flying practice while ensuring swimmers' safety. The service will run until 31 March and, if warmer weather continues beyond March, we will negotiate to extend the patrols. Since 2005, UniSA has regularly monitored our beaches from—

Ms Chapman interjecting:

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: Why don't you have a quiet moment?

The SPEAKER: Order! Minister, back to the question.

Ms Chapman interjecting:

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: Why don't you have a quiet moment?

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: The only quiet moment you had, you lost the election.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: The only quiet moment you had, you lost the election.

The SPEAKER: Minister, order! The minister will sit down. Order! Minister, I refer you back to the question.

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: Thank you, Madam Speaker, and if I can have some silence, I am happy to answer the question.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: Since 2005, UniSA has regularly monitored our beaches from North Haven through to Rapid Bay. Shark patrols will now operate continuously throughout this area from 11am to 8pm, seven days a week. The service will also include patrols along the South Coast from Victor Harbor to the Murray Mouth daily during school holidays. Under the former arrangements, this only happened on weekends and public holidays.

The changes, which will be delivered within the existing budget, will replace the part use of Surf Life Saving SA's rescue helicopter. Last summer it undertook patrols on weekends and public holidays for a total of 69 hours. As a result of the changes, some additional funding is now also available to Surf Life Saving SA to operate its rescue helicopter for special community events such as VACSWIM and the Henley to Grange swim.

This funding comes on top of other arrangements that Surf Life Saving has to operate its services. Since 2002, the state government has provided more than $10 million to Surf Life Saving SA to redevelop seven local clubs and the first stage of Surf Central, Surf Life Saving SA's new headquarters at West Beach. With weekends and public holidays being the busiest times at the beach, this increase in both patrols and services will give South Australians more peace of mind in and out of the water.