Police Workers Compensation

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (14:48): Supplementary question: given the minister has referred to ongoing discussions with the Police Association of South Australia, does the minister stand by the statement he made in December when he said:

…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.

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS (Minister for Police, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Road Safety) (14:48): I have spoken on a verbal basis with the Police Association about a range of issues on a regular basis.

The Hon. R.I. Lucas: How else would you speak to them?

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS: Via correspondence, email, text message, any number of forms of communication.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS: Look, I appreciate that the Hon. Mr Lucas has been around a long time, but I am pretty sure he is au fait with more modern forms of technology.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS: The discussions I have had with the leadership of the Police Association of South Australia have conveyed to me that they do not have any particular concerns or reservations around the movement of case management for workers compensation away from SAPOL to an alternative case provider.