Southern Expressway

Mr MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Leader of the Opposition) (14:48): My question is to the Minister for Police. Given another spate of rock-throwing incidents in recent days, will the minister now declare the Southern Expressway a protective security area, so protective security officers can be deployed?

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD (Gibson—Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (14:48): I thank you for the question.

Mr Mullighan interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Lee is warned.

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: As I have said previously in this place, we are taking this very seriously. We have a very firm and appropriate and timely action for rock throwing, with SAPOL. As I have said previously in this place, this isn't a new issue, but it is one that has been ignored by those opposite for far, far too long. As I have said previously in this place, rock throwing—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, members on my left! It is your question time.

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: —hasn't just happened over the past three months; it has happened over the past three years. Those on the other side did nothing in government again. In 16 years they did nothing when it comes to this situation—

Mr Duluk interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Is the member for Waite interjecting?

Mr Duluk interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: —over the past six years. But what they have done in opposition is put out a press release saying they want security guards to patrol the Southern Expressway. On this side of the house, we back police.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Mr Duluk interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Minister, please be seated for one moment. The member for Waite is well and truly on two warnings. If he continues to interject, he will be departing the chamber under 137A.

Mr Malinauskas: Good coach; well done!

The SPEAKER: And the leader is warned.

The Hon. D.C. van Holst Pellekaan: Good team over hear, mate.

The SPEAKER: The Minister for Energy is also warned.

The Hon. T.J. Whetstone interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The Minister for Primary Industries is warned. The Minister for Police will be heard in silence. Minister.

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: Thank you, Mr Speaker, and I thank you for your protection. They are so nasty on the other side, I must say.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Please get on with it, minister.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: Mr Speaker, I make the point with a lovely smile on my face.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The minister has the call.

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: I stress the point again: 16 years and they did nothing. They get into opposition and they put out a press release, another one of their mighty press releases, saying, 'We want security guards down there.' Well, on this side of the house, we back police. We want police to do policing. We don't want to put policing in the hands of security guards. Security guards can do security; police will do policing.

We know police have increased their presence down there, with Operation Watercolour. They have called on the resources of the local LSAs to get more people down there, more people actioning when something goes wrong and/or patrolling when it doesn't. In fact, I have had a number of people contact me, and they have said that as they have driven on the Southern Expressway they have been amazed at the amount of police on the Southern Expressway. Patrols, foot patrols, bike patrols, motorbike patrols and also mounted police and other units as well have been called to this issue. What we are saying—

The Hon. T.J. Whetstone: So what did you do, Chris?

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: What we're saying is—

The Hon. T.J. Whetstone: What did you do in 16 years?

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: —after 16 years, those on that side did nothing. Now they want security guards. They want to bring in security.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: They are ignoring police and they want security guards. On this side of the house, we are backing police. Police do policing; security guards can do security.

Dr Close: Stop the rot instantly.

The SPEAKER: Before I call the member for West Torrens, the deputy leader I call to order. The member for West Torrens.