Ministerial Statement

Police Review

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD (Gibson—Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (14:02): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: I am pleased to announce that the Marshall Liberal government has met our 100-day election commitment to commission a review of police work. There are a number of components to the review, including:

1. Developing recommendations to ensure police have more time to devote to front-line policing;

2. Improving community safety;

3. Streamlining police operations so that police can focus on front-line operations;

4. Exploring innovation and new technologies to enhance the work undertaken by police; and

5. Reviewing legislation and internal protocols with a focus on reducing red tape and delays associated with police having to spend significant time in courtrooms and on paperwork.

The report will also consider what community expectations are regarding police operations and functions. The report will provide ways in which South Australia Police may be able to improve on the wonderful work they already deliver for all South Australians. The Marshall government has commissioned this report because it is our priority to keep South Australians safe, and reviewing police work will provide ways in which we can improve community safety.

Police already do a fantastic job, and our government will continue to back our police, but we must continue to look for areas of improvement and this report will explore those areas. The person who has been appointed to undertake the review is the Hon. Kevin Duggan AM QC. Mr Duggan QC has 46 years experience in the legal profession, 23 of those years on the Supreme Court bench, and has been a Queen's Counsel since 1979. He is a highly decorated and respected member of the community and, in particular, the legal community.

Mr Duggan QC will commence the review in October this year. There is a substantial amount of work to be undertaken, and he will be supported by SAPOL throughout this process. SAPOL, and in particular the police commissioner, have been consulted when developing the framework for this review. I thank the commissioner for his input during that process. Other key stakeholders have also been consulted, including the Police Association, and I thank Mark Carroll for his interest in this matter.

I am looking forward to continuing to work with SAPOL and other stakeholders during the course of the review and to receiving a final report from Mr Duggan QC. The government is committed to delivering the best police force it can for South Australia and this report will help deliver that.