South Australia Police

Mr TELFER (Flinders) (14:37): My question is to the Minister for Police. Has the SAPOL officer contingent that was deployed to Alice Springs returned? If so, how long were they deployed for, and what was the cost to the South Australian taxpayers?

The Hon. D.R. CREGAN (Kavel—Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services, Special Minister of State) (14:38): I thank the member for Flinders for this important question. Australian states are of course required to assist communities in other territories or states where that is appropriate, and it will be the ongoing policy of this government that we will support South Australia Police where there is a request from the Northern Territory or any other state to provide policing assistance.

It has been a longstanding practice that this state has assisted the Northern Territory, wherever that might be required. It also has been a longstanding practice that other Australian states would respond immediately to any request for support—and that request might come informally, it might be a conversation between police commissioners, it might be at a government level, and it might be that additional resources are required in order to fulfil those interstate commitments.

Can I say this: we are not going to quibble around dollars and cents when other Australian states and territories want to ensure that they are meeting their policing needs; and it has been a matter that has been well ventilated in the public square that additional assistance was required. I have been assured that there were two deployments, that volunteers were called for, that there was no impact on South Australian policing needs and, more importantly, I am absolutely sure that if an additional request was made it would be honoured tomorrow.