ALEXANDER, MR P.

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Police, Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning) (14:18) I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY: Today we see the end of an era with the retirement of the President of the Police Association, Peter Alexander. Peter Alexander's service started back in 1967 when he joined SAPOL as a 20 year old. He spent the majority of his 24 year police career in the CIB. After stints in the old General Squad, Elizabeth CIB and the Drug Squad he was posted to the Major Crime Investigation Branch, in which he worked as a detective sergeant on many high-profile murder cases.

Peter's service to the Police Association began with two terms as a delegate in the 1980s, and it continued with his election as a committee member in 1987. He became vice president in 1989 and the first full-time president in 1991. For 10 of his 17 years as head of the Police Association of South Australia, he also served as President of the Police Federation of Australia. Peter retires not only as the longest serving president in the 97 year history of the Police Association but also as the longest serving president of the Police Federation of Australia. During his 17 years at the helm of the association, Peter worked with five premiers, nine police ministers and two commissioners of police.

For me, what stands out the most about Peter is his ability to foster good relations with all political parties and how he created a positive public image for the policing profession and police unionism. His dedication, professionalism and engaging manner have gained him enormous respect from not only both sides of politics but also, I believe, the wider community.

During his career, Peter has been an outstanding operational police officer, a skilled investigator and someone who has tirelessly served the police, his members and the people of South Australia. We have one of the best, if not the best, police services in the country, and it is the integrity and reliability of people like Peter Alexander that have helped set the high standard of professionalism that exists in the police service in our state. Peter has given his valuable expertise to police unionism at not only local and interstate levels but also on the global scene through his participation on the International Law Enforcement Council. He was also the uniting force that rallied other police union leaders to form the Police Federation of Australia.

He has fought for and won significant improvements in police wages and conditions over the period of his tenure. This includes last year's EB agreement, which delivered an average wage increase of 16 per cent during the three year life of the enterprise agreement, backdated to 1 July 2007.

He helped influence many new laws, including tougher laws for those who assault our police, changes to DNA laws, and the list goes on. These improvements are a testament to the hard work of Peter Alexander. His departure will take place at the declaration of the poll to elect his successor, occurring later today. This will bring about the first change in the association presidency in more than 17 years.

On behalf of the state government, I extend my gratitude to Peter Alexander for his 41 years of dedication to public service and police unionism. I wish him and Joan all the very best for the future and a long and happy retirement.