APY Lands

In reply to Dr McFETRIDGE (Morphett) (6 May 2014).

The Hon. A. PICCOLO (Light—Minister for Disabilities, Minister for Police, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Road Safety): I have been advised:

Police on the APY lands remain vigilant in their efforts to detect and apprehend those who bring both cannabis and alcohol onto the APY lands. Vehicles and persons are regularly stopped and searched, and measures including drug transit route operations are regularly conducted to deter the supply of cannabis.

South Australia Police (SAPOL) investigators have undertaken lengthy covert operations in relation to those who engage in the organised sale of cannabis to Anangu people, and SAPOL continues to work collaboratively with police agencies in the Northern Territory and Western Australia to combat the supply of drugs through the Substance Abuse Intelligence Desk.

SAPOL is aware of sexualised behaviour on the APY lands, however there is no evidence currently available to police which would indicate that prostitution is occurring on the APY lands. No actionable intelligence has been provided by the Australian Crime Commission to support this claim. Specialist SAPOL sex-crime investigators, currently posted to the APY lands, advise that they have not received any reports of prostitution occurring on the APY lands.