Knife Crime

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA (Hartley—Leader of the Opposition) (14:07): My question is again to the Premier. When will the government release the outcome of its consultation, or take any action at all, in relation to the discussion paper titled 'Tackling knife crime in South Australia'? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: The discussion paper was released around three months ago, but we have seen no action from the government despite a spate of recent knife crimes.

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Premier) (14:08): What's interesting is that the Leader of the Opposition, in his explanation just then, has actually identified exactly what I was referring to earlier about the comprehensive effort that the state government is undertaking. Let's provide the Leader of the Opposition even more detail, which I am more than happy to furnish the house. We released our comprehensive discussion paper from 21 July to 25 August. That has resulted in over 100—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: As I was saying, that resulted in over 100 survey responses.

The Hon. V.A. Tarzia interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Leader, you will listen to the Premier in silence, as will your colleagues.

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: That has delivered over 100 survey responses. We will undertake the exercise to familiarise ourselves where the opposition have made a thoughtful contribution to that extensive survey process, although the Leader of the Opposition might want to rule that out off the bat; time will tell. We have had over 100 responses and there is a range of issues that the government is working through in conjunction with AGD and South Australia Police that goes beyond just the increasing of the age for the prohibition of the sale of knives. It also goes to metal detector search powers, the definition of 'school', the requirements around storage for the sale of knives, questions around the display of prohibition notices and even potentially a licensing or registration scheme for particular categories of knives.

What we are undertaking is a serious and comprehensive exercise to tackle some of the challenges, and we have done that in concert with South Australia Police. I am not too sure if the shadow minister for police, whoever that is—and I am not being facetious here, I don't know—is that you?

The Hon. J.A.W. Gardner: I see what you did there; you made a little funny—

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: It's not a funny, I'm actually being serious. Is it you? I don't know. I am actually being serious. I know it's not you anymore because you were upgraded to the Treasury portfolio at the expense of the member for Colton, who has been ceremonially dumped.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: No; we are getting on with the task of a comprehensive exercise to make South Australians safe in concert with South Australia Police which, I suspect, those opposite haven't done.