Legislative Council Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3) 51 3 Parliament of South Australia Legislative Council published Question Time Police, Indigenous Staff POLICE, INDIGENOUS STAFF The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS Legislative Council POLICE, INDIGENOUS STAFF The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS (15:17): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Correctional Services, representing the Minister for Police, a question about the number of indigenous staff employed by SAPOL. Leave granted. The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS Legislative Council The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS: In 2006-07, there were 62 full-time employed indigenous staff, which represented 1.2 per cent of total FTE staff employed by SAPOL. In 2007-08, the number of indigenous staff is listed as 63, and indigenous staff still represent just 1.2 per cent of SAPOL's FTE staff. The strategic benchmark currently stands at 2 per cent. What is the police minister doing to address the situation to see that recruitment of indigenous staff is improved to at least the benchmark of 2 per cent? The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO Legislative Council Minister for Correctional Services Minister for Road Safety Minister for Gambling Minister Assisting the Minister for Multicultural Affairs The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Road Safety, Minister for Gambling, Minister Assisting the Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (15:18): I thank the honourable member for his question relating to indigenous staff employed by SAPOL. I will refer his question to the Minister for Police in the other place and bring back a response. Of course, the honourable member would know that the employment of SAPOL staff is the responsibility of the Police Commissioner but, nonetheless, I will refer that question to the minister in the other place and bring back a response.