TASERS

The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS (14:46): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Police a question about tasers.

Leave granted.

The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS: The opposition has welcomed the news that tasers will be trialled for six months in two metropolitan local service areas and also in the Port Augusta LSA. We are delighted that these tools of modern policing will be available to officers who may have to deal with high-risk situations. I have mentioned before in this place that officers in the APY lands have remarked to me in the past that they would really appreciate being equipped with taser devices. The APY lands are an isolated area and, regrettably, small groups of police officers have been forced to confront large groups of violent people from time to time, and the last thing that they want to do is draw their firearms. I believe that including officers in the isolated APY lands in a taser trial is a logical move. My questions are:

1. Did the minister raise this issue with the Commissioner when he was informed of the new (and very welcome) taser policy?

2. What was his response?

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Police, Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning) (14:47): I have been discussing the issue of tasers with the Police Commissioner for quite some time now. I certainly recall having discussions with him during the past year. Indeed, the honourable member has asked questions about this issue and I congratulate him on his endeavours in pursuing it, and he well deserves the nickname of 'Taser Terry'. He has certainly been very persistent in that.

The honourable member has asked questions in the past about tasers. If he goes back over the record I think he will see that I have referred to discussions with the police. I think I indicated, not that long ago, that the Police Commissioner was considering what options he felt would be best in looking at the wider use of tasers and, of course, the Commissioner announced that last week. Obviously, the question about where they are best employed is something he has put his mind to. That is what the trials are all about—to ensure that not only the equipment meets the requirements of police but also that, with the further extension of this equipment, the guidelines for its operation can be set to ensure that the best value from tasers is given to the police.

It is important that they be deployed in the right situations. It is also important, of course, that police officers be properly trained in the use of this equipment so that, again, the best value is given. I am sure the honourable member is aware of the benefits of tasers. Undoubtedly, he has seen a demonstration of this equipment. Tasers have a number of benefits, one of which is that, in terms of detection, every time a particular cartridge is fired from one of these devices it is specifically traceable.

Unlike with firearms, where ammunition is much more difficult to trace and that has to be done forensically, with tasers the time of firing and everything else is automatically recorded in these devices. So, this equipment provides a lot of safeguards. However, the important thing is that it be deployed correctly, both for the protection of the police officer and also to minimise any harm to individuals.

However, the honourable member's question was essentially about the APY lands. Undoubtedly, that is an area where this equipment could have some benefits. I understand that, initially, apart from the local service areas the Commissioner was looking at trialling it in the Port Augusta region. That LSA is ultimately responsible for the APY lands, so I would assume that, if the equipment is effective during the trial, one of the first areas where these devices would be extended to would be the APY lands, but that is really an operational matter for the Commissioner, so I will take that part of the question on notice and bring back a response.