Henley Beach Police Station

The Hon. R.L. BROKENSHIRE (15:19): Supplementary to the minister's answer: the minister clearly said in his answer that the building of the new police station at Henley Beach was a commitment by the Premier prior to the last election. Can the minister explain how the government can make a decision to build a police station as a commitment when closing police stations is always the commissioner's fault because it is operational? How can it be operational to make a political decision in a marginal seat to build a new police station but when you close half a dozen police stations, it is operational? What is the truth here, minister?

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS (Minister for Police, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Road Safety) (15:20): Thank you, Mr President.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS: Despite my earlier remarks regarding the Hon. Mr Brokenshire when I actively suggested that he apply for the role of police commissioner, I think he has just demonstrated why that probably is not a very good idea. What we know about the Henley Beach Police Station is that there was a station there previously that has now been rebuilt with a fantastic new facility and where in SAPOL, just like in many other parts of government, we see tired and ageing facilities that are no longer fit for purpose for a modern, well-resourced police force, of course we work closely with SAPOL and hear their concerns about upgrading those facilities. This is an upgrading of a new facility to ensure that people of the western suburbs are well served into the future for many years to come.