Police Workplace Injury Claims

The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS (14:50): Supplementary question, and I appreciate that answer. Given that in recent months SAPOL has certainly demonstrated a greater appetite to roll out specific programs to increase awareness of the impacts of mental illness and also the importance of suicide prevention, will the minister guarantee that these changes that are happening regarding injury management won't impact on the rollout of those programs?

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS (Minister for Police, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Road Safety) (14:50): It won't surprise the honourable member that providing guarantees of that nature is not something that ministers are accustomed to. What I can say, and what I can provide a commitment around, is that, as a government, we remain absolutely committed to making sure that the men and women in uniform who do an outstanding job of keeping our community safe and dealing with incredibly difficult situations are getting the support and access to services that can be reasonably provided to ensure they don't end up suffering mental illness or, if they are subject to suffering a mental illness, they get all the treatment that they should be entitled to under return-to-work arrangements and the like.

I am happy to take on notice the question from the Hon. Mr Dawkins regarding what is happening to those services as a result of the changes. What I can say is I am not currently aware of how any of those changes would result in a detrimental impact for those workers, nor have I received any representation from the Police Association of South Australia articulating a position that the change from self-insured status to ReturnToWorkSA having the responsibilities via their agents of managing injured workers' claims will result in a worse outcome for their employees. I haven't received any representations along those lines, and I think that bodes well for the positive impact that such a reform may have on those injured workers.