Legislative Council Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1) 52 1 Parliament of South Australia Legislative Council published Question Time Question Time Traffic Police Plan TRAFFIC POLICE PLAN The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY Legislative Council Leader of the Opposition TRAFFIC POLICE PLAN The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Leader of the Opposition) (14:28): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for State/Local Government Relations, representing the Minister for Road Safety, a question about SAPOL's recently proposed traffic police plan. Leave granted. The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY Legislative Council The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: As reported on the ABC on 6 July, Adelaide currently has more than 50 police officers on motorcycles, but the newly proposed traffic police plan would cut that number by 22. Deputy Commissioner of Police Gary Burns said that the plan would result in an additional 15 police within the metropolitan area but that there would not be as many on motorcycles. Opposition to the plan has been voiced considerably by the Police Association and officers within SAPOL, as evidenced by Twitter and anonymous calls to my office. The Police Association made a statement in the Sunday Mail that it is simply folly to underestimate both the practical and psychological deterrent effect which motorcycle and rider have on an errant road user. In other words, this proposal has significant implications for road safety. The role of the Road Safety Advisory Council is to monitor road safety performance in South Australia and make recommendations to the Minister for Road Safety and the state government for strategies and actions that will reduce road trauma. My question is: has the minister received any advice from the Road Safety Council on this SAPOL proposal and, if so, will he provide a copy of that advice to this house? The Hon. G.E. GAGO Legislative Council Minister for State/Local Government Relations, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister for the City of Adelaide The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for State/Local Government Relations, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister for the City of Adelaide) (14:29): I thank the honourable member for his question, and I will refer it to the Minister for Road Safety in another place and bring back a response.