Crime Stoppers SA

Mr ODENWALDER (Elizabeth) (15:29): My question is to the Minister for Police. Why did the minister cut $960,000 in funding to Crime Stoppers?

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD (Gibson—Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (15:29): I thank the member for the question. Again, this is another one of these tales of another Labor promise. There was no money in the budget for Crime Stoppers.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: You can't cut something that doesn't exist. That is what the member on the other side doesn't understand. I know he was made to sit rows back when Labor was on this side, but there was no money in the budget—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: —from the other side for Crime Stoppers. Let's be abundantly clear: under the previous Labor government, Crime Stoppers got no funding. They do get in-kind support from SAPOL, with police officers and telephone assistance, etc., and we are continuing that support. Crime Stoppers are getting the same support from us as they got from the previous government, and they will be able to provide the same services as they provided under the previous government. We look forward to Crime Stoppers continuing to do the great work they do.

The SPEAKER: Before I call the member for Morphett, I have given the opposition a fair bit of scope in relation to asking certain questions about the budget. I make a ruling that questions about policy are certainly not out of order: they are highly in order. Questions of a general nature are certainly permissible; however, when we start outlining specific budget lines I make it clear that some of these findings are better made in estimates committees.

There has always been some opportunity to answer questions of a general nature, and I only had to peruse the questions asked after the budget was introduced last year by the then opposition about the bank tax, etc. That one is close to the edge, but I have allowed it. I will now move on to the member for Morphett.