Question Time

Police And Community Engagement Forums

Mr MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Leader of the Opposition) (14:17): My question is to the Minister for Police. Who was the minister's senior staff member he sent to the southern suburbs community forum into violent crime on 16 April?

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD (Gibson—Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (14:17): I thank the leader for his question. It was my most senior staff member in the office at the time, who did a marvellous job, along with all the SAPOL—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER Order!

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: —operators that were there. This was one of the PACE forums that police have been running since 2013. They have these PACE forums, which are absolutely outstanding and a great way for the community to engage with police. These PACE forums, as they state, are—

An honourable member: Don't you know their names?

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: —police and community engagement forums. They have been running since 2013.

Mr KOUTSANTONIS: Point or order, sir, one of relevance. The question was very simple: who was the senior staff member the minster sent?

The SPEAKER: Minister, if you could please better direct your answer to the question.

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: Thank you.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER Order!

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: As I outlined, it was my most senior staff member at the time.

Mr Koutsantonis: Who was it?

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: It was my most senior staff member at the time, who was listed on the running sheet that was presented at the end of the day. She did a marvellous job—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER Order!

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: —along with the SAPOL people who were there. They ran a very good forum. I stress again that the PACE forums that are run by the police are absolutely outstanding. This was another one of their very good forums to engage with the community and hear about what is going on. As I said, the superintendent of the local LSA down there, Yvette Clark, did a brilliant job and listened to what the community had to say.

A few of these forums were lined up. SAPOL really actually got on the front foot here, and I want to commend them for it because they took control of this forum. Speaking with the commissioner and the assistant commissioner, they have every faith in their operators to run these forums and engage with the community. Those on the other side may not have that faith in SAPOL. Here we do. They can run their forums, and they run them incredibly well.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: In fact, I was speaking to—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER Order! It's your question time.

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: —the SAPOL operators and inquired about how many of these other forums there are. They do it in a number of different ways, as hopefully those on the other side were aware when they were acting as police ministers—

Mr KOUTSANTONIS: Point of order, Mr Speaker: again, to relevance. The opposition asked a very simple question: who was the senior member he sent?

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The minister will be seated. I have given the minister an opportunity to directly answer the question. He has had reasonable scope, and I uphold the point of order. Next question.

Members interjecting:

Mr KOUTSANTONIS: He upheld the point of order.

The SPEAKER: Before I call the next speaker, I find it necessary—I have upheld your point of order.

Mr KOUTSANTONIS: Yes, sir, so are you directing him to—

The SPEAKER: I have asked the minister to be seated and I am just addressing some—

Mr KOUTSANTONIS: I'm not quarrelling with you, sir. I asked, if you have upheld the point of order, will you now direct the member to answer the question?

The SPEAKER: No.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! I have given the minister reasonable scope. The point of order has been raised, and I have called that out and I have upheld your point of order. Before I move to the next question, for repeated interjections I call to order the member for Kaurna; I warn the member for Lee; I also call to order the leader, and we move on to the member for Newland.

Mr Koutsantonis interjecting:

The SPEAKER: No. We move on to the member for Newland, who has the call.