Youth Crime

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) (14:41): You don't even answer the question.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Do you want to ask your third question, the honourable Leader of the Opposition?

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI: I won't be asking it to her, that's for sure.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI: I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Attorney-General on the topic of youth crime in the CBD, because you might actually answer it.

Leave granted.

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI: On 4 September, the police commissioner told ABC radio that because of 'anti-social behaviour' and 'offences being committed' on Gouger Street he had asked, and I quote, 'my people to make an assessment as to whether we should put an application to the Attorney-General' to make Gouger Street a declared public precinct. My questions to the Attorney-General are:

1. Has he been briefed on the issue of escalating youth crime on Gouger Street?

2. Has he received a request or application from SA Police to make Gouger Street part of the city's declared public precinct?

3. Does the Attorney-General have the confidence that SAPOL has the resourcing to boost its presence in the CBD, given the rising crime?

4. Is the Attorney-General considering any reforms to criminal penalties or bail conditions for such crimes that are occurring repeatedly on our CBD streets?

5. Is the Attorney-General concerned about the growing area of the Adelaide CBD that is already either currently a declared public precinct or is looking to become a declared public precinct, and is this an indication that his government has dropped the ball in protecting the South Australian community and keeping them safe?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (14:43): I thank the honourable member for her question. I regularly meet with the police commissioner and certainly we discuss many issues, including community safety in and around the CBD. In relation to a declared public precinct in the Gouger Street area, no I haven't, unless it's come in very, very recently, to my knowledge received an application from SAPOL in relation to declaring Gouger Street or its environs a declared public precinct. In relation to crime generally, there is a group that has many stakeholders, particularly from the retail sector, looking at ways we can make retail spaces safer, including any legislative sort of change.