District Policing Model

The Hon. F. PANGALLO (14:40): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Attorney-General, representing the Minister for Police in the other place, a question about SAPOL's district policing model.

Leave granted.

The Hon. F. PANGALLO: Last week, Inspector Wade Burns—the disgraced President of the Police Association who I exposed in this place as a sex pest and who admitted to an alleged sexual assault complaint kept secret because of the draconian PCD Act—attacked Commissioner Grant Stevens, a warmly received nominee for Australian of the Year, over SAPOL's district policing model.

Mr Burns accused the commissioner of gaslighting the union's members, whatever that means, and claimed he wasn't listening to his workforce. Mr Burns has hardly set a good example to his 5,000 members, particularly females, going by his notorious past, which he failed to disclose while running for President of PASA in June and July, but as Mr Burns has said publicly and I will quote him, 'I never said I was perfect.'

Commissioner Stevens responded to Mr Burns' criticism, stating that PASA's attitude was disingenuous and unhelpful and was making it even more difficult to attract new recruits to SAPOL to replace those retiring or leaving the force. Yet Mr Burns now gives the impression of shock and horror about the tasking and resourcing situation with SAPOL, when in fact he knew all about it all the time because two years ago he was a member of the Premier's Taskforce that investigated it.

Furthermore, how can all PASA members have confidence they will continue to receive legal and other support from their own union, which has just reported a loss deficit of $1.225 million in 2024—up from $731,916 from 2023—in their latest annual report? My questions to the minister are:

1. Does he support Commissioner Stevens' widely held view that the Police Association's attack on the district policing model is hindering the recruitment process and will discourage people from considering policing as a career?

2. Has the minister met with Mr Burns to discuss the district policing model, and what came out of that meeting?

3. Does the minister have confidence in SAPOL's district policing model and the current recruiting program?

4. Will the minister now demand PASA's full financials be independently audited and presented to ensure that its policing members can have confidence they will receive legal or urgent assistance, considering the union's current financial plight?

5. Can he ask the commissioner for an update on SAPOL's investigation into bullying and harassment of staff at PASA's headquarters and report back to parliament?

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 his questions. I will refer those to the police minister in another place, the Hon. Dan Cregan, member for Kavel, and bring back a response for the honourable member.