POLICE STATIONS, NEW

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (15:02): As a supplementary question, given the—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: —minister's oft-made claim that these decisions are operational decisions for the Police Commissioner, was it the Commissioner's decision to locate these police stations in or near marginal Labor seats, or was that a decision taken by the Rann Labor government?

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Police, Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning) (15:02): Before the last election this government promised that it would put police stations in a number of seats; and I think at the time the Hallett Cove seat was held by a Liberal—Mr Matthew, wasn't it? In fact, the one up at Newton, I think, was probably in the electorate of Dorothy Kotz. At the time these promises were made these were not government seats, rather, they were—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY: Well, two of the three weren't. They were put there because of need. As I indicated earlier in my answer, the Liberal Party back in 1997 removed all police from that major growing area of Golden Grove. This government made a promise that it would put the police stations in those areas with the most need. We provided the money to the Police Commissioner. The actual location has been a matter for the police in conjunction with the Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure in terms of the availability of suitable police stations. That is up to the Police Commissioner.

The Hon. R.I. Lucas interjecting:

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY: Well, if I directed the Police Commissioner the honourable member should know that, under the Police Act, I would have had to table that direction. The honourable member will not find a tabled direction.