Question Time

POLICE HEADQUARTERS

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Leader of the Opposition) (14:41): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Industrial Relations a question about working conditions at the new police headquarters.

Leave granted.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: SAPOL is now moving into its new police headquarters at 100 Angas Street. The soon-to-be removed Premier Mike Rann announced in March 2009 that the government would lease the building and taxpayers would fund the $38 million fit-out. The government called the building 'state-of-the-art to ensure it meets the needs of the South Australian police'.

Both the Premier and the police minister boasted about the $100 million building's five-star energy rating. They said, 'We make no apology for providing up-to-the-minute facilities for our dedicated police.' In fact, the government further claimed that the Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure had worked on the fit-out. Given that his portfolio of industrial relations means representing the interests of public sector employees, my questions to the minister are:

1. Does he acknowledge that the police and of course the civilians who work with the police who attend crime scenes including murders, house break-ins, road deaths and suicides should have access to hot showers at work after their shift?

2. Does he acknowledge that access to hot water at the handbasins in the work environment is a matter of employee conditions as well as a health issue?

3. Has he been informed that this $100 million energy-efficient building does not have hot water at all handbasins and showers?

4. Does he believe that this multimillion dollar building should be able to deliver that hot water where and when it is needed?

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for State/Local Government Relations) (14:43): I would like to thank the member for his very important question. These issues were aired on TV a few nights ago. I will be looking for a report into this and I will be discussing it with the Minister for Police, so I will take the question on notice and get back to you.