Fort Largs Police Academy

Mr TELFER (Flinders) (15:06): My question is to the Minister for Police. When did the government first become aware of the safety breaches at the Fort Largs Police Academy? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

Mr TELFER: It was reported in The Advertiser today that the Fort Largs Police Academy gun range was secretly shut for five months earlier in the year after catastrophic safety failures risked lives.

The Hon. D.R. CREGAN (Kavel—Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services, Special Minister of State) (15:07): I want to emphasise that at no time was there any threat to public safety in consequence of a technical failure with the projectile barrier at the firing range at the Police Academy at Fort Largs. The suggestion that there has been a threat to public safety was described by the police commissioner this morning as outrageous.

The other matter that I want to emphasise very clearly to the shadow treasurer is that at no time did any projectiles or fragments leave either the firing range or the maintenance room. The maintenance room is rarely accessed. It's locked at all times. Training for cadets and PSOs has not been delayed in any way, I am advised, in consequence of the failure of this particular projectile barrier. That is because there are alternative arrangements in place which allow for this particular technical training to be delivered at an alternative site. Proof of the fact that there has been no delay in relation to the delivery of this critical training lies in the fact that there has been an increase in the number of graduates that this government is delivering.

Let me emphasise this point as well by way of context to the shadow minister, who, as it happens to be, is not the shadow minister for police because he has had to leave the chamber, no doubt to prepare another—

The SPEAKER: Minister, as a former Speaker you know that it's unparliamentary to reflect on who is in the chamber and who is not in the chamber. Also, on a day when we have asked for quiet on both sides, please don't provoke those opposite you. Please just answer the question.

The Hon. D.R. CREGAN: Thank you, Mr Speaker, for your direction and encouragement to follow the standing orders. These are matters that I always take closely into account. As I say, it was inaccurate to suggest that there was a risk to public safety. It was, on the police commissioner's suggestion this morning, in fact outrageous. It is also inaccurate to state that the facility was secretly shut down. South Australia Police had to inform more than 2,000 staff that alternative arrangements were in place. This wasn't some kind of nefarious bit of information that just wasn't shared widely; it was shared effectively with the entire police community. Do you know how long it took for you to do anything about it? Months. Months.

Mr TELFER: Point of order, sir: this is obviously in breach of No. 98: debate. I asked a pretty simple question about when the minister found out. I don't know what this is that he is doing.

The SPEAKER: Minister, please stick to the question with your answer.

The Hon. D.R. CREGAN: Indeed, Mr Speaker. I am endeavouring to deal with the substance of the question and certain matters which are in the public domain in consequence of a press release that has been put out that suggests that there is some danger to public safety. There is none. One of the most outrageous things that a shadow minister can do is suggest wrongly in the public domain that there is some threat to public safety—and that has been described rightly as outrageous.