Regional Policing Review

Mr BELL (Mount Gambier) (15:16): My question is to the Minister for Police. Has the minister considered the recommendations of the regional policing review? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

Mr BELL: The regional policing review consultation paper, which was released under freedom of information, has proposed the potential closure of single-person police stations. One of these police stations, the Port Macdonnell Police Station, is in my electorate of Mount Gambier.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA (Hartley—Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services) (15:17): I thank the member for Mount Gambier for the question and also for his interest in this area. I am actually meeting with the SA Police commissioner today, and I will certainly seek an update from him in that regard.

Obviously this government has, in the past, appointed Mr Duggan AM, QC to undertake an independent review into frontline policing. The review focused on identifying time and also productivity efficiencies to streamline operations and reduce administrative burdens in relation to frontline policing. I am certainly not aware of any intention whatsoever to close any police station, I make that very clear.

While I'm at it, I would like to take the opportunity to commend the tremendous work of SA Police, and thank them for what they have done in keeping South Australians safe during what has been a very, very challenging time, a time when you consider that SAPOL, across the board, on some days has more than 600 police officers actually drawn to assist with the COVID response. Whether it is on our borders or in our medi-hotels or conducting compliance checks, they have done an exceptional job.

That is why, since coming into government, we have made sure that despite the millions and millions of dollars of cuts we inherited from the former government, we have got on with the job of making—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The minister has the call.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: We have got on with the job of making sure we provide over $170 million in new funding to South Australia Police. We have got on with the job of making sure we do things like beginning to unveil stab-resistant, bullet-resistant vests. Those opposite had 16 years. Did they get the vests done? Did you get it done? No, you didn't. I have signed the contract, $8½ million, for 800 this year and 2,200 the following year. We have also got on with the job of making sure we deliver things like $800,000 in directly funding Crime Stoppers.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: Did they get a cent out of the former government? Not one cent—the only jurisdiction, state government, that didn't directly fund Crime Stoppers.

Mr Odenwalder interjecting:

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: The member for Elizabeth wants to whinge and whine and harp on about it. We've got on with the job. We are making sure we provide eyes and ears—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Members on my right!

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: —to SAPOL to assist them, to make sure they continue to keep us safe. We know that the crime rate across the board is dropping. It's 15.1 per cent lower than it was 10 years ago but, saying that, there is always more to be done.

I will continue to talk to SAPOL. Whilst it is an operational matter, I'm certainly not aware of any intention in regard to that. I tell you what: I have been down to the member for Mount Gambier's electorate. It's a beautiful electorate. Next time I'm down there, I will make sure I also engage with him. I'm more than happy to take up his concerns.

The SPEAKER: Before I call the member for Frome, I warn the member for Chaffey.