Question Time

POLICE RESOURCES

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Leader of the Opposition) (14:33): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Police a question about police resourcing.

Leave granted.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: This government has continually made a lot of noise during its term and a half in office about being tough on law and order and tough on crime. On 11 September 2007 the Minister for Police said, in relation to Taser technology, that the STAR Group was the group best equipped to deal with any offender presenting a risk to the public. Police officers on the beat in South Australia have expressed their concerns about community safety, and these officers, in addition to STAR Group officers, are faced with a constant threat of dangerous and combative or high-risk subjects who endanger police officers, bystanders and even themselves. My question is: will the Minister for Police place on record his government's commitment to finally get tough on law and order, in particular in relation to gang-related crime and violence, by supporting today's call for the deployment of Taser devices to all South Australian police patrols, thereby safeguarding the South Australian community?

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Police, Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning) (14:34): It is a pity that the shadow minister for police was not at the Police Association conference this morning. His colleague the Hon. Terry Stephens was; and perhaps if he asked the Hon. Terry Stephens he would know that the Police Commissioner mentioned that in the last, I think, four years there had been just 25 occasions on which Taser devices had been deployed by the STAR Group. What the Police Commissioner also indicated in his address to the police conference this morning was, of course, that Taser technology has improved significantly over recent years. The range was originally as little as 10 feet, but those devices have improved significantly and now have a greater range. However, because they use significant force there is a need to consider the circumstances under which police would use them.

At the moment, the police are equipped with a significant amount of gear. They have, obviously, firearms, capsicum spray, handcuffs, spare ammunition, batons and the like. We can keep giving police extra gear but, at the end of the day, if we are not careful, we will have to give them a stronger belt to keep all the equipment on. What is important is that the South Australian police are equipped with the best equipment to deal with the situations with which they are faced. This government has provided record amounts of money for the police force and has made a very fair but generous offer to the police to address many of the issues the police face, including looking at the attraction allowance to get police into the more remote locations in the state and to retain detectives, prosecutors and the like. That enterprise bargaining offer is being considered by police as we speak.

In relation to the matter of Tasers, like all equipment, the government will take the advice of the Commissioner and senior police officers, and if that advice is considered appropriate to deal with situations that they face then the government will provide that. Nobody could say that the South Australian police force has been under-resourced under this government. We have just provided it with a new aircraft and a new boat for water operations. The police have been provided with a number of new police stations: Berri, Port Lincoln, Victor Harbor, Mount Barker, Gawler, Golden Grove and Aldinga. A series of new police stations have been built by this government. Indeed, if one reflects on what has happened with infrastructure generally within this state, when this government came to office the previous government was spending about $330 million a year, or thereabouts, on—

The Hon. R.I. Lucas: That is not true.

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY: Well, it was just over $300 million. If one looks at the budget—

The Hon. R.I. Lucas interjecting:

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY: The person who is interjecting is extremely embarrassed by his record. This government is now spending about three times more on capital than the previous government was, and one of those areas is the police. So, as I said, there is a new police aircraft, a new boat, a series of new police stations and we have increased the numbers of police from as low as 3,400 back in the mid 1990s to now over 4,000. The causes of crime within our society are complex. Tasers will not provide a golden bullet to solving all of the issues with crime in South Australia. If that is the response to crime that members opposite have, if the best they can do is to say, 'Look, let's go for another piece of technological equipment', if they think that that is the sole solution to complex issues then they really need to think again.

As I said, there has been a trial of Tasers. The Police Commissioner is considering how that particular piece of equipment would be best employed and the conditions under which it is done. One of the things that needs to be considered is the safety of the equipment that police use. The police have to be adequately trained in the use of that equipment and they have to develop the protocols for when such equipment would be best used. But, as I said, given that they have been employed 25 times (I think it was) over four years, let us not pretend that this opposition's sniping is in any way adding any worthwhile contribution to the debate on law and order in this state.

What this government has done is to give the police the physical resources, unprecedented levels of budget, new police stations and new equipment. What is more, the government is providing the police with adequate remuneration, where necessary, to attract and retain police officers to difficult parts of the state. Further, some of the best legislation has been introduced to assist the police; for example, the DNA legislation, which was passed by this parliament last year and which is providing huge benefits to the police. This state is leading the country and, indeed, in many respects leading the world with the introduction of this legislation. The ministerial statement made by the Attorney-General which I have just tabled announces that we will be introducing some more changes to Youth Court legislation, as a result of a report by Monsignor Cappo, to address particular problems in that area.

I can assure all members of this place that there will be a constant stream of legislation. This government will back the Police Commissioner and, if the Police Commissioner wants additional equipment, this government will support him in those requests. Also, there will be a stream of legislation that will enable our police to better enforce the law within this state.