Police Staffing

Ms LUETHEN (King) (14:46): My question is to the Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services. Can the minister please inform the house on how the Marshall Liberal government is boosting Australian police resources in the state budget to keep South Australians safe and strong?

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA (Hartley—Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services) (14:46): I thank the member for King for her advocacy in community safety, in reducing crime, and for the great work that she does in her local electorate. Obviously keeping South Australia safe and strong would have to be the ultimate priority for the Marshall Liberal government.

The COVID-19 pandemic has, of course, created one of the greatest health and economic crises the world has faced, but thankfully, because of the strong leadership of the government and the people of South Australia, our state has tackled this pandemic head-on and all South Australians have played their part in our state's response.

Of course, South Australia Police have played an enormous role in fighting this pandemic. Recently, I was able to be in Rundle Mall with the police commissioner and also the Premier announcing an additional 114 PSOs who will be funded as part of a $23.6 million commitment in this state budget. This builds on the more than $21 million that we invested in last year's budget to fast-track the recruitment of 72 cadets and 54 PSOs. The PSOs' employment will be extended as part of the additional funding in this year's state budget.

Yesterday, I was actually at the Police Academy where I saw over 20 new recruits graduate. It was an absolute privilege to stand side by side and have a chat to some of those recruits. I wish them well in keeping our state safe and strong—and what a fantastic career opportunity they have ahead of them.

This significant boost to SAPOL resources is just another example of our government's continued support for SAPOL's response to COVID-19. As I said, more than $21 million was announced in last year's budget and there is a further $77.5 million injection in this year's budget. Therefore, our government has provided almost $99 million to support SAPOL's COVID-19 response.

This additional investment puts the total additional officers since February 2020 to 240, in fact. It is critical to not only ensure that South Australians are protected from the ongoing threat of COVID-19 but, of course, that SAPOL continue to have the resources they need to keep South Australians safe and to protect us from crime as well.

We have seen recently, only in the last sitting week, the significant policing efforts that were required as a result of Operation Ironside, an operation that continues and will require work for an extended period of time still to go. The additional PSOs will obviously be deployed and undertake a range of COVID-related duties while sworn police officers maintain oversight of COVID activities.

Our dedicated officers have gone above and beyond in their response to COVID-19, and I want to say thank you to each and every one of them. They have had to work long hours. Many of them have not only had to sacrifice time away from friends and family during this time but also had to place themselves at the very frontline of community safety. To each and every one of them I say: thank you very much and our government certainly appreciates it.

This is why the Marshall Liberal government will continue to provide SAPOL with the resources and the support that they need to keep South Australians safe as we navigate through this pandemic. SAPOL have a dedicated recruitment and training program, and we want to ensure that extra resources are available for deployment as soon as possible.

The last group of PSOs from the pool of 54 graduated on 28 May this year. I encourage anyone who is interested in becoming a PSO to please seek more information, get online and have a look through the SAPOL website.