Domestic Violence

The Hon. A.L. McLACHLAN (14:32): Supplementary, Mr President: can the minister advise the chamber, arising out of his answer, whether the statistics he has referred to, and generally SAPOL statistics, are independently audited?

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS (Minister for Police, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Road Safety) (14:32): What I am in a position to be able to explain to the honourable member is that SAPOL, I think, do an outstanding job in ensuring the accuracy of their work. SAPOL collate data across their agency on a whole range of different issues. My experience in the relatively short time I have been Minister for Police is that, with the information they have provided us, they have always placed an emphasis an accuracy, and that is entirely appropriate. I have never seen any suggestion by anyone, or any evidence that suggests, that data that comes out of SAPOL is not accurate.

In respect of whether or not there is an independent audit, I will have to take that on notice, but I do believe, I do understand and am advised, that SAPOL have systems in place to ensure that the data they release is accurate.