Band of SA Police

Mr ODENWALDER (Little Para) (14:31): My question is also to the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure representing the Minister for Police. Can the minister advise the house on the important role the band and other sections of South Australia Police play in our community?

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN (Lee—Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Minister for Housing and Urban Development) (14:31): Can I thank the member for Little Para for his question. I know firsthand how highly regarded the South Australian police band is in his mind, and indeed amongst members of this chamber—at least those on this side of the chamber. The South Australian police band is steeped in history. It is the oldest police band in the nation, being formed in 1884 as a brass band. The band became a full military band in 1974, with the addition of woodwind instruments. After 1974, woodwinds were added to the band. I am not sure when bagpipes made an appearance, but as a member of the Clan Campbell Society of South Australia, I will do my best to try to find out.

There is a long history of critical acclaim for the South Australian police band, with international recognition for its performance, harking back to 1990 at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo. This performance is used by the Tattoo organisers as a demonstration of the standard required to perform at this international festival. These international appearances build pride in our police amongst the local community. They foster goodwill towards policemen and women. We are looking forward to another great opportunity for our police and our police band to gain international exposure for South Australia in May this year, when the band has been invited to perform at the Queen's 90^th birthday—

Honourable members: Hear, hear!

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: —to be held at Windsor Castle. The South Australian police band is the only police band from Australia to be invited to play. This is a tremendous opportunity for South Australia. But in Adelaide and in South Australia, the band also builds strong relationships with the local community. It is part of SAPOL's community programs and crime prevention initiatives. They are often on the front line of efforts to engage with our community, and they play an important role supporting SAPOL messages on wise choices, particularly with young people, in relation to safe driving and the dangers of illicit drugs. It is in this manner that our police band are on the front line of crime prevention.

The police band is much loved in South Australia, just as the police greys and the police dogs are. They also play an important crime prevention role and other important operational roles in South Australia. Who could forget when the previous government decided to cut the food budget for the police dogs and the police greys? The food budget was cut so severely that they could not even feed the dogs meat.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Point of order, member for Morialta.

Mr GARDNER: The Treasurer is making a display.

The SPEAKER: I warn the Treasurer.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: I call the member for Newland to order and I call the member for Wright to order in the hope that their interjections may be recorded on Hansard. The minister.

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: What sort of political party would deny a police dog the satisfying sucking sound of jellied meat coming out of a Chum can?

The SPEAKER: Point of order.

Mr GARDNER: I am just wondering if this is taking place in any of the eight police stations the government just closed?

The SPEAKER: The member for Morialta will leave us for the next hour for a bogus point of order.

The honourable member for Morialta having withdrawn from the chamber:

The SPEAKER: Does the minister have anything more to tell us?

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: I am nearly there, Mr Speaker. The fact is, it is only this Labor government that ensures that units like the police band, dog operations and police greys will be adequately funded and supported. The police band and their supporters can be assured that, while we are in government, they will continue to play an important role in our community.

The SPEAKER: Supplementary.