Immigrant Detention

Mr TELFER (Flinders) (16:02): Supplementary to the Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services: are there any financial implications for the South Australian government due to the recent release of immigration detainees?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS (Cheltenham—Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services) (16:02): I do recall that I was asked this exact question by the member for Flinders a couple of weeks ago—in fact, sorry, it wasn't the exact question because he asked me whether there was any financial implication for SAPOL, who were to be applying electronic monitoring, and I had to inform the member that SAPOL don't provide electronic monitoring.

As in my former answer, there are two individuals in South Australia who are subject to state-based orders. They are being electronically monitored in exactly the same way that, at any given time, a very large number of individuals are being case managed by the Department for Correctional Services. So the cost implication is marginal and is, to all advice, of zero impact to our department. These are two individuals who are being supported by the outstanding workforce at the Department for Correctional Services Community Corrections.

I did advise the member, when he last asked this question in parliament, about the significant number of surge electronic monitoring devices that our department carries. That is for good measure and is exactly the reason that we don't sit back and hope for the best when it comes to additional ankle bracelets or other electronic monitoring devices. These two are immaterial; they are being managed and there is no impact.