Legislative Council Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2) 52 2 Parliament of South Australia Legislative Council published Question Time Murputja Police Station MURPUTJA POLICE STATION The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS Legislative Council MURPUTJA POLICE STATION The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS (15:16): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion, representing the Minister for Police, questions about the Murputja police station. The President Legislative Council The PRESIDENT: Which police station? The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS Legislative Council The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS: Murputja. Leave granted. The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS Legislative Council The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS: You would know it well, Mr President. The President Legislative Council The PRESIDENT: Yes, I do. The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS Legislative Council The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS: You would have shorn there at some stage, I am sure. The President Legislative Council The PRESIDENT: I might have even been inside there at some point. The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS Legislative Council The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS: I suspect. I was recently informed by locals on the APY lands in the north-west of our state that the Murputja police station is currently understaffed, with only two permanent officers instead of its station complement of three officers. Apparently this has been the case for the past 18 months. On many occasions, if one of the officers is sick or on leave or has to relieve another officer somewhere else on the lands, the Murputja station is left with only one officer. Given the remoteness of this station, this is completely undesirable and has an adverse effect on effective policing operations in these remote communities. I must say that I admire the work of these police officers under often difficult and dangerous conditions. My questions to the minister are: 1.	What is the reason for the cutback of the Murputja station to only two officers? 2.	Is the government planning on reinstating a third position at Murputja? 3.	If not, why not? The Hon. I.K. HUNTER Legislative Council Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion, Minister for Social Housing, Minister for Disabilities, Minister for Youth, Minister for Volunteers The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion, Minister for Social Housing, Minister for Disabilities, Minister for Youth, Minister for Volunteers) (15:17): I thank the honourable member for his hide, for coming in here and asking a question about police on the APY lands. I do undertake to take that question to the Minister for Police in the other place and to seek a response on his behalf.