Question Time

SOUTH AUSTRALIA POLICE

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Leader of the Opposition) (14:23): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the minister representing the Minister for Police a question about missing police officers.

Leave granted.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: Recently the government built a new police residence at Kalangadoo—interestingly, using steel framing instead of the locally-grown timber. That was three years ago. The new police station was opened with great fanfare in 2009, and the Leader of the Government opposite may well have been invited, because it is only 40 kilometres from his home in Mount Gambier.

Both the residence and new station now stand empty, and I am told that they have been empty for some months. People there tell me that they are worried about their personal safety, and I am told that police could not even attend a brawl in the pub because of a lack of resources. It is not just the South-East. There has also not been a police officer in Burra since the last one left in 2010. My questions to the Minister for Police are:

1. The government says they have record police numbers. Where are the Kalangadoo police?

2. Why build a new police station and house and then leave it empty?

The Hon. B.V. FINNIGAN (Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for State/Local Government Relations, Minister for Gambling) (14:25): In relation to the police station and residence in Kalangadoo, I will refer that to my colleague the Minister for Police in the other place. What I can advise the honourable leader is that there are 4,400 full-time equivalent police officers in South Australia, I am advised, which is 700 more than when Labor took office in 2002. The government plans to recruit an additional 313 police over the next 3½ years to meet its target of 1,000 more police since taking office.

This government is committed to the South Australia Police. We have increased the number of police and their resources. We have had a significant program of constructing new police stations and replacing police stations. How extraordinary that this question, from all people, should be coming from the honourable Leader of the Opposition. We know that the opposition no longer has confidence in the South Australia Police.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. B.V. FINNIGAN: It is very clear that the opposition no longer have confidence in the South Australia Police, but they do not have the courage to say that. They are quite happy for the Hon. Mr Wade to say that they will not listen to the police when it comes to criminal intelligence. They are quite happy for the Hon. Mr Lucas and Mrs Redmond from the other place to go out and question the integrity of the police in public. They are quite happy to do that, and then have the nerve to come in here and criticise this government, which has had record investment in police and record numbers of police in this state, and that is record of which we are proud.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. P. Holloway interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! The Hon. Mr Holloway will come to order as well. The Hon. Mr Ridgway has a supplementary question, deriving from the answer.