HIV

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS (15:13): A supplementary: if these procedures aren't changed and indeed it is rolled out so that a blood-borne virus is tested for when a saliva exchange has taken place, will those officers be provided with information that will allay their fears and ease their psychological distress, with the science that shows them that they will not contract HIV or other blood-borne viruses?

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS (Minister for Police, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Road Safety) (15:14): Again, I thank the honourable member for her supplementary question. A range of information is always sought to be provided with those members who serve in SAPOL who have been subjected to a particular incident. SAPOL, I am pleased to inform, do have a rather comprehensive resource in place to be able to assist those officers who deal with stressful circumstances.

I understand and I have been advised that there is an employee assistance program in place within SAPOL, which is comprehensive, and I dare say, without knowing specifically whether or not that sort of information is provided, that a whole range of different pieces of information are provided to SAPOL members who have found themselves facing a difficult situation. Of course, the overall majority of employees within SAPOL are members of the Police Association of South Australia and I also dare say that they would be going out of their way to provide whatever information police officers require to be able to give them comfort in their times of distress.