POLICE HEADQUARTERS

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Leader of the Opposition) (14:27): Given my explanation, when I stated that, in relation to the Department of Transport, Energy and Infrastructure building, the government backed out of its commitment because it said that the $12.2 million a year was too expensive, my supplementary question is: what band of dollar value has the minister put on the rent? You cannot seek expressions of interest and commit $38 million if do not have a band of expected rent.

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Police, Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning) (14:28): I am happy to get some further detail in relation to that.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY: There is a commitment, because $38 million is being set aside in the out years in the budget tomorrow to pay for it. What will happen is that South Australia Police headquarters will need to relocate from Flinders Street by the time the lease expires in 2012 because that building is no longer suitable. Through its announcement that it will call shortly for expressions of interest for the new building, those matters will be dealt with. Of course, these property transactions are handled through the relevant government department, and the Department of Transport, Energy and Infrastructure is the body responsible for the negotiations. Those matters are not handled directly by the police but, like all other government departments, by the proper agencies.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY: If the Leader of the Opposition, as the shadow minister for police, wants to go to the next election saying that he will require the police to remain in the totally inadequate building where they are now in 2012, he can do so. He is welcome to do that, but we are not going to do it. We are saying that we will give the police a quality, state of the art premises in the city for their headquarters, and tomorrow we will set aside money in the budget for that purpose. How much rent we pay will depend on the state of the market in 2012 or 2013, when the lease expires.