Australia Day Honours

The Hon. T.T. NGO (15:19): My question is to the Minister for Police and Emergency Services. Can the minister tell the council about the exceptional contributions of members of our police and emergency services sector who were recently awarded Australia Day honours?

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: We don't want to interrupt their conversation, do we?

The Hon. D.W. Ridgway: Has he finished his question? This is a joke. It's like bloody kindergarten with you in control.

The PRESIDENT: You've got to be joking. I will just bring your attention to the fact that the Hon. Mr Dawkins crossed the floor while there was a question being asked, to talk to the honourable leader. You then interrupted and then—

The Hon. D.W. Ridgway: Because I couldn't hear anything.

The PRESIDENT: Well, that is fine.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: You stand up and ask for a point of order or something; don't just complain. The Hon. Mr Ngo, will you ask that question again.

An honourable member: Time is up.

The PRESIDENT: No, he was on his feet.

The Hon. T.T. NGO: My question is to the Minister for Police and Emergency Services. Can the minister tell the council about the exceptional contributions of members of our police and emergency services sector who were recently awarded Australia Day honours?

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS (Minister for Police, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Road Safety) (15:21): I thank the honourable member for his important question and having the opportunity to answer it. This is an outstanding example of the fine work that is being conducted within our police and emergency services sector. As members would no doubt be aware, Australia Day is a significant time of the year when it comes to reflecting on and recognising those within our communities who make extraordinary contributions to our great way of life.

As both the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, I am privileged to have been able to and continue to be able to work within my portfolio responsibilities with some of the hardest working, most talented and dedicated individuals in our state. Whether it be the unsung stories of our police officers going above and beyond the call of duty, as well as their tireless and selfless dedication to keeping their community safe, or our emergency services volunteers and paid staff, I never cease to be amazed at the spirit and goodwill of our sector as a whole.

Through the awarding of the Australian Police Medal, the Australian Fire Service Medal and the Emergency Services Medal, Australia Day is a fitting opportunity to recognise exceptional service to the community above and beyond what might normally be required or reasonably expected. It gives me great pleasure to, firstly, speak about the Australian Police Medal winners for distinguished service. One such worthy winner was Senior Sergeant Trudy Andresen. Senior Sergeant Andresen has been a member of SAPOL for more than 36 years. She has demonstrated an unquestioned commitment to the South Australian community that has resulted in her receipt of this honour.

From roles in the development, facilitation and delivery of promotional programs for senior constable, sergeant and inspector courses, Senior Sergeant Andresen has demonstrated her skill as a trainer and as a role model to the course participants and supervisors. Senior Sergeant Andresen's commitment and leadership were evident in the work she undertook to deliver and implement the organisation-wide delivery of SAPOL's Shield Program. Senior Sergeant Andresen's Australian Police Medal reflects her commitment to ensuring that all front-line staff are trained to undertake their duties to keep South Australians safe.

Another worthy recipient was Senior Sergeant First Class Grant Garritty, marking his service and dedication to SAPOL for nearly 40 years. Remarkably, 33 of those years were spent in investigations, an achievement that very few can equal. Senior Sergeant First Class Garritty was a key driver of organisational reform regarding the responsible and ethical management of criminal informers. He authored and managed an operation applying a joint agency response to the importation of illicit drugs and precursors across Australian borders via post.

This initiative received national acclaim, resulting in it being adopted by other jurisdictions. Senior Sergeant First Class Garritty's innovative thinking, coupled with his drive and foresight, has been critical in the successful implementation and sustained success against serious and organised crime.

Last but not least, the third recipient of the Australian Police Medal is Senior Sergeant First Class Manfred Wojtasik. The senior sergeant first class gets this award for his dedicated service to SAPOL for the better part of 42 years. The career of the senior sergeant first class commenced in general patrols before entering police prosecutions in 1980.

His commitment and focus in the prosecutions unit is unparalleled, and his management with external stakeholders within the justice system, particularly in the juvenile justice arena, has been underpinned by professionalism. The senior sergeant first class is held in extremely high regard by colleagues and the broader legal fraternity, and resulted in his renowned reputation as a fierce courtroom adversary.

In the emergency services sector we had three recipients of the Emergency Services Medal, while four were recognised for their service as recipients of the Australian Fire Service Medal. Notably, for the first time two of the recipients of the Emergency Services Medal came from Surf Life Saving South Australia.

First, Mr John Baker, President of Surf Life Saving SA, received the Emergency Services Medal for his close to 40 years of service at all levels, including state president, board member and competitor and volunteer lifesaver with the Brighton Surf Life Saving Club and the Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter. Also from Surf Life Saving SA, Mr Shane Daw boasted 40 years of service, including thousands of volunteer hours, involvement with emergency service operations as a member of the Rescue Water Craft Group and Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter crew.

Emergency Services Medal recipient from the SES, Mr Michael Fix, demonstrated dedicated service to both the SES and CFS, including his role as unit manager of the Strathalbyn SES unit. Recipient of the Australian Fire Service Medal, Mr Corey Dunn, showed a strong commitment to encouraging the ongoing personal and professional development of others through his service to training and curriculum development within the CFS. He was also recognised for his role as principal air attack supervisor during the Wangary fire in 2005.

Mr Robert Davis was also awarded the Australian Fire Service Medal for the extraordinary commitment he has made to the CFS through more than 50 years of service, which was highlighted by having an instrumental role in the formation of the logistics brigade, as well as service as the zone supervisor for the Mount Gambier Fire Fighting Association, and service during the 1983 Ash Wednesday bushfires.

From the MFS, Mr Glenn Benham was awarded the Australian Fire Service Medal for his service to the MFS sustainable development program with the Kingdom of Tonga Fire and Emergency Service, which has seen the MFS deliver much needed appliances and protective equipment, as well as training for its members.

Finally, from the MFS, Mr Allan Voigt was awarded the Australian Fire Service Medal for his 38 years of service, his work in managing the Loxton retained fire station, his commitment to charitable actions through the Shake the Boot initiative and, in particular, his actions to rescue a person from a burning vehicle, which also saw him awarded the MFS special mention for bravery.

I congratulate all these very worthy Australian Police Medal, Emergency Services Medal and Australian Fire Service Medal winners and thank them for their continued effort and dedication to the South Australian community.