Road Safety

The Hon. R.L. BROKENSHIRE (15:08): A supplementary based on the minister's answer: does the minister agree that traffic police are significant in reducing road crashes and fatalities, based on the information that he has just given the parliament, and, if so, will the minister address the reduction in traffic police numbers that has occurred over the last two years in SAPOL?

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS (Minister for Police, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Road Safety) (15:08): I would like to thank the honourable member for his important question. In answer to the first part of his question, yes, I do accept that police play a fundamental role in safety on our roads in South Australia. I do accept that. I think that the men and women who serve in the South Australian police force, in our traffic branch or our general patrol officers, who are regularly policing our roads, make an outstanding contribution to preserving the law and order on our roads and ensuring that people comply with the law on our roads.

With regard to the second part of the Hon. Mr Brokenshire's question, as I have stated repeatedly in this place before, this government's commitment to having a well-resourced, well-funded, modern and professional police force is second to none. We have the largest police force of any state in the country on a per capita basis. We are increasing the number of police in this state—we have contributed more funds to be able to do that. In terms of where all those additional resources are allocated is a matter for the police commissioner—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS: It is not up to me, it is not up to the Hon. Mr Brokenshire and it is certainly not up to the Hon. Mr Ridgway to determine which way the police commissioner should allocate where to put the resources. I will not be attempting to tell the police commissioner where to put all the additional resources this government has provided him with. We want him to be able to have the flexibilities to make the operational decisions that he is adept at in being able to deliver the law and order of the state. We want to make sure the police commissioner has the ability to use all the additional resources we provided him with to be able to make the best decisions to preserve the community's safety generally, and that includes in the area of road safety.