Mounted Operations Unit

Mr BATTY (Bragg) (14:22): My question is to the Premier. What sites is the government considering for the new police horse barracks? With your leave, sir, and that of house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

Mr BATTY: It has been reported that the government considered 14 sites for the new police horse barracks. The Premier is reported this morning as saying, 'We're looking at all the options we can possibly get our hands on.'

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Premier) (14:22): That is exactly what we are doing, sir: we are looking at all of our options. That includes, of course, the government having received very clear advice from South Australia Police about what its operational requirements are for the Mounted Operations Unit. We are moving police off the Thebarton barracks. Most of the business units that operate at the Thebarton barracks—I think there are 15 from memory—have been able to identify an alternative location.

The Mounted Operations Unit presents a particular challenge because they've got requirements in terms of proximity to the CBD and they've got other requirements that need to be actively considered in terms of the space, places for the horses to agist, places for the horses to be stabled safely in a more modern facility.

There is an opportunity, from the government's perspective, to work closely with SAPOL to see an improvement to the arrangements that the horses are now stabled in, in a way that would give a better welfare outcome for the horses themselves and even, potentially, a better operational outcome for South Australia Police.

I am trying to remember the dates now, but very early in the 20^th century the horses moved off a site off the river bank behind the State Library to where they are now at the Thebarton barracks, so we haven't had a move of this nature in a very long time indeed. That does present an opportunity for renewal of the facilities which is something we are turning our minds to as well. We are looking at all the options we can with a mind to those objectives, and certainly with a mind to ensuring that SAPOL's capability with the Mounted Operations Unit is able to be maintained, if not improved, and when the government makes a final decision about the location of the new Mounted Operations Unit site that will be made publicly available as quickly as possible.