Question Time

POLICE NUMBERS

Mr MARSHALL (Norwood—Leader of the Opposition) (14:24): My question is to the Premier. Who is right? Was the Premier right when he said, and I quote, 'There will be no cut in police numbers. In fact, police numbers will grow,' or was SAPOL's evidence to the Budget and Finance Committee right, that this financial year there will be a cut of 71 police officers?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier, Treasurer, Minister for State Development, Minister for the Public Sector, Minister for the Arts) (14:25): I thank the honourable member for his question and, unsurprisingly, I am right. Properly understood, I think the evidence that was given is really a discussion about the rate of growth of police numbers. I've got to say, it sits ill in the mouth of those opposite to be talking about police numbers when they couldn't actually furnish South Australia with the police force that it demands and needs.

We have done that consistently during our term of office, and so what we are talking about here is the rate of growth of police numbers. The rate of growth of police numbers. Now, true it is that we've asked the police department, as we've asked every agency, to contribute to the savings effort. I might quickly add that the police agency has been asked to do less of the heavy lifting than almost any other agency, in recognition of the central role that they play in protecting our community and their need for resources.

They have a relatively light savings task; we expect them to meet that. At the same time, in every year of the forward estimates, the police budget grows considerably, so we do expect police numbers to grow and not be cut. We've delivered 100-odd of the 300 that we committed to, and we will continue to work with the police agency. The minister will work with the police agency to make the sensible economies that will allow us to both achieve the savings targets and grow our police numbers.