POLICE PORTABLE DATA TERMINALS

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN (Stuart) (14:43): Again, my question is for the Minister for Police. Can the minister advise if all of the 100 hand-held computers promised by the government at the last election are currently operational?

The Hon. M.F. O'BRIEN (Napier—Minister for Finance, Minister for Police, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Road Safety) (14:44): If we are talking about portable data terminals, they are currently in a trial phase in the Adelaide LSA.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. M.F. O'BRIEN: Do you want us to go and purchase stuff without trialling it to find out whether it is compatible?

Mr Pisoni: Why did you promise it then?

The SPEAKER: The member for Unley is warned a first time.

The Hon. M.F. O'BRIEN: Nine devices have been purchased at this particular point in time. The decision on which model to purchase and how to best deploy the technology will be made on the completion of the trial period. In addition to this, an evaluation on network security and software development requirements of the new portable data terminals is due to be completed in the next 12 weeks.