Question Time

POLICE, SUPER LOCAL SERVICE AREAS

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Leader of the Opposition) (14:18): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Police a question about super local service areas.

Leave granted.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: I have been advised that a project team has been put together within SAPOL to investigate a proposal to realign local service areas to make them more consistent with the current local council boundaries. Apparently, these new areas will be named super local service areas and may be formed next year. A concern was expressed to me that the accessibility of police stations in regional towns may now be compromised if the new boundaries place the nearest station in a different LSA. My questions to the minister are:

1. What is the current status of this proposal for super service areas to date?

2. Who has SAPOL consulted with on this proposal?

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Police, Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning) (14:19): It is much broader than the honourable member suggests. In fact, the state government some time ago now (more than a year ago, I would have thought) was looking at having common boundaries for government agencies, because there is a great deal of benefit to be gained by having consistent boundaries. As members may know, in many of the regions of this state there are senior public servants who meet regularly to discuss issues. Just as the heads of the Public Service in Adelaide would meet on a state basis so, too, in many of the regional areas there are local heads who meet in relation to regional issues.

There is a good exchange of information between agencies such as SAPOL, emergency services, social welfare, health, and so on. There is a lot to be gained from that. That is why the government through cabinet some time ago in principle supported common government boundaries. I am sure if the honourable member looks on the website he will see that it was announced some time ago. It was always recognised that there would be some difficulties—

The Hon. D.W. Ridgway interjecting:

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY: It is not a matter of neglecting communities. In fact, it is giving better service to local communities. It is recognised that the boundary for one government agency will not always be the most appropriate or the best boundary for another government agency. As a result of that decision, a lot of work has been done in relation to the boundaries.

Clearly, there are some anomalies. The boundaries under which police operate will not necessarily be the best boundaries for others. As Minister for Urban Development and Planning I have already exempted SAPOL where there are clear anomalies. For example, in the West Coast, if the anomaly had not been corrected, Port Augusta police would have been responsible for policing part of Flinders Highway south of Whyalla. Clearly, that would be absurd.

When these situations arise, the boundaries will be adjusted but, generally, the government will try to get common boundaries, so that when a senior police officer in a particular district meets with his Public Service colleagues, whether from health or Aboriginal affairs, and so on, about issues of mutual concern within the area they will be talking about the same jurisdiction. That is the point of it. It is a simple principle. By and large, we want the boundaries to align, but it is recognised that it will not always be possible in every case and when there are anomalies there is provision in the policy to make exemptions.