Legislative Council Fifty-First Parliament, Second Session (51-2) 51 2 Parliament of South Australia Legislative Council published Question Time Question Time Police Headquarters POLICE HEADQUARTERS The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY Legislative Council Leader of the Opposition POLICE HEADQUARTERS The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Leader of the Opposition) (14:20): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Police a question about the $38 million provided in this year's budget for the relocation of the police headquarters. Leave granted. The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY Legislative Council The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: In yesterday's question time, members will recall that I asked the minister a question in relation to the $38 million that was in The Advertiser yesterday which we assume is part of the budget that is being announced today. He indicated that the $38 million is the cost that will be involved in relocating the police headquarters. He then said, 'There are a number of options.' Further on in his response, he said, 'I guess the government will have the option of whether it leases or seeks to provide its own building.' Given that in the past we have had two big building projects announced by the government (one being the Department for Transport, Infrastructure and Energy new building and of course also a relocation of the new police building), what are the options that the minister is considering, and can he give the building and property industry of this state comfort to know that this is not a hollow promise and that the government will deliver on a new police building? The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY Legislative Council Minister for Police, Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Police, Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning) (14:22): I thought I answered the question yesterday: that was that you would either lease the building or I suppose you do have the option, through whatever means of financing, of building your own. Obviously, the funding comes out of the police budget, and it does concern the police that the relevant sections of government that make that decision are ultimately within the Department for Transport, Infrastructure and Energy. I made it quite clear yesterday that the lease on the police building expires in 2012 and, as I indicated yesterday, while the building has served its purpose over the past 15 years or so, it is now at a stage where the police really do need much more appropriate accommodation. That is why, one way or the other, the offices of the police have to be relocated, and the government is determined that that will happen one way or the other.