House of Assembly Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1) 54 1 Parliament of South Australia House of Assembly published Question Time Police Media Conference Police Media Conference Mr MALINAUSKAS House of Assembly Croydon Leader of the Opposition Police Media Conference Mr MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Leader of the Opposition) (14:18): My question is to the Minister for Police. Why did the minister refuse to confirm or deny he had spoken with SAPOL in relation to the proposed media conference? At a media conference on 20 May, the police minister was asked, 'Did you or anyone else in the government that you know of have a discussion with the police today about this issue?' The minister said, 'I have discussions with police all the time.' The minister was asked today. The minister said, 'Yeah, I have discussions with police all the time.' The minister was asked, 'So you spoke to police?' The minister said, 'I have discussions with police all the time.' The minister was asked, 'No, specifically today?' The minister said, 'Yeah, I have discussions with police all the time.' The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN House of Assembly The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: Point of order. The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Point of order. We will hear the point of order. The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN House of Assembly The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: This is a gross abuse of the privilege of leave and leave is withdrawn. The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Leave is withdrawn for the explanation. Would you like to rephrase the question? Mr MALINAUSKAS House of Assembly Mr MALINAUSKAS: With a variation on his words, can the minister explain why he refuses to confirm or deny that he asked police to do a media conference on 20 May? The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN House of Assembly The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: Point of order: that is not a statement; that is poor debate. The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: I think there was a question asked. Minister. The Hon. C.L. WINGARD House of Assembly Gibson Minister for Police Minister for Recreation The Hon. C.L. WINGARD (Gibson—Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (14:20): I can't believe that question is even being asked in that manner. It is an embarrassment. Anyway— Members interjecting: The Hon. C.L. WINGARD House of Assembly The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: I will give you the same answer that I gave you before. Members interjecting: The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Order! The minister will be heard in silence. Give him a go to answer. The Hon. C.L. WINGARD House of Assembly The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: SAPOL made their own decision to have their own press conference. They agreed with our policy to trial light armoured vests and we will deliver on that policy.