Police Complaints and Discipline Act

The Hon. F. PANGALLO (15:24): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Attorney-General, representing the Minister for Police in another place, a question about the Police Complaints and Discipline Act and the Police Union president, Wade Burns.

Leave granted.

The Hon. F. PANGALLO: Mr Burns' notorious history was exposed nationally last night on the Nine network's top-rated program A Current Affair. Mr Burns suffered the biggest demotion in South Australian police history after an alleged sexual assault involving a young female SAPOL employee during a night out in 2017.

An internal misconduct investigation was undertaken where Mr Burns agreed to a set of facts and was demoted from chief inspector to senior sergeant. The commissioner further confirmed that the matter was criminally investigated but it did not proceed because the alleged victim declined to proceed. Due to the draconian confidentiality provisions of the PCDA these findings, and any other investigations into proven misconduct within SAPOL, cannot be published and cannot be discussed publicly unless authorised by the police commissioner.

Arrogantly, Mr Burns has repeatedly dismissed the allegation as a workplace incident which was 'recycled in a desperate last-ditch attempt to manipulate voter sentiment'. He is now in charge of one of the most powerful unions in South Australia, representing more than 4,500 female and male police officers whose role it is to uphold community safety, and which they do diligently.

Today, the association's vapid deputy president, Daryl Mundy, issued an hysterical, inaccurate and defamatory statement attacking me and A Current Affair without addressing the crux of the report: that its president is not a fit and proper person to hold the job. My questions to the minister are:

1. Has the police investigation into the 2017 incident at the Distill nightclub been reopened?

2. Will the government now seek a briefing from the police commissioner about the incident and how he and the government plan to conduct business with the police union when these disturbing allegations hang over the head of the union's leader, which have brought SAPOL and the union into disrepute?

3. Has the commissioner officially approved Mr Burns' secondment to allow him to undertake his new duties as PASA president?

To the Attorney-General:

1. When will your and the government's proposed amendments to the PCDA be introduced?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (15:27): I thank the honourable member for his question. In relation to the last question, the Crime and Public Integrity Policy Committee of the parliament I know has conducted a review of the police complaints processes. I can't remember but I think there are 16 or 18 recommendations at least, off the top of my head, and the government will be considering them.

In relation to the other matters that the honourable member has raised, I certainly will pass them on to the police minister in the other place and see what information can be brought back, noting that there may well be some that are subject to provisions of confidentiality, but I will pass that on and see what can be brought back.