Police Numbers

Mr TELFER (Flinders) (14:37): My question is to the Minister for Police. How many SAPOL police officers left the force in the first three months of 2024?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS (Cheltenham—Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services) (14:37): There have been a number of retirements. The attrition rate of South Australia Police is around 5 per cent. It has been decreasing over the last six months. The reality is that we had, and we still have, amongst the highest retention of any police service in the country. There is a very good reason for that: South Australia Police is a wonderful employer.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: It is led by exceptional people, including Grant Stevens, the police commissioner. The idea that at 5 per cent people shouldn't be retiring from South Australia Police—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Chaffey, you are on three warnings.

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: —after 10 or 20 years, seeking to pursue other career opportunities, including—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: —in a very significant way in the rest of the Public Service, is quite remarkable. I don't, as police minister, have an aspiration where we tie as chattels police to one job for the rest of their life. We want to support them. We retain the highest number of police by way of retention in the nation. At the same time, we have recently released ROGS data showing that we have the highest number of sworn police per capita of any state in the country.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! I call the member for Flinders, then the member for King.