Legislative Council: Thursday, November 22, 2007

Contents

POLICE RESOURCES

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (15:18): I have a supplementary question. Will the minister, in his discussion with the Police Commissioner, investigate whether or not it is true that there is a list within the mounted police of police officers wanting mounted police patrols to attend personal weddings in the future?

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Police, Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning) (15:19): I will seek that information from the Police Commissioner. Let me take this opportunity—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY: —to congratulate all officers of the police force, particularly those in the mounted division, because I know, having visited, how much additional time they put into the care of those horses, and just how important they are. I know that police officers are involved in a number of voluntary community activities in their own time, and I am sure that that is true of the mounted division, as it is of other police divisions. If that is what members of the opposition think, if these are the sorts of issues that they will raise with the—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY: I am sure that the South Australian Police Association will be really impressed by the sort of support that they get from the opposition for putting their jobs on the line in this state. I will make sure that the association is well aware of it. If we are talking about responsibility, what about the shadow minister for police, the Leader of the Opposition, exerting leadership on these issues and defending the police of this state against these sorts of allegations?

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! I wonder what the young people from school think of the behaviour today in this chamber. I am sure it is better for them to go to the circus.