Assaults on Police

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD (14:59): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking questions of the Attorney-General regarding assaults on police.

Leave granted.

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD: Members would be aware that, unfortunately, recent crime statistics reveal that there has been an almost 50 per cent increase in assaults on police over the last few years, since 2021. Following a spate of violent attacks against police, particularly in more recent times, the Police Association of South Australia has called on the state government to toughen bail provisions for alleged offenders who assault on duty police officers and to prevent convicted offenders from receiving suspended sentences.

I understand that these matters are under consultation, and the Attorney might enlighten us on that in his answer. A government spokesman, in fact, has informed the media that the Attorney-General was considering these proposals as well. My questions to the Attorney are:

1. Is the Attorney concerned that we have seen a 50 per cent increase in assaults on police in just a few years?

2. Does the Attorney agree with the Police Association of South Australia that legislative changes are urgently required and, if so, what is the progress of those proposed changes?

3. Finally, the Attorney is no doubt aware of the Liberal Party's commitment to introduce legislation to prevent suspended sentences where police have been assaulted. What is the Attorney's view of that legislation?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector, Special Minister of State) (15:00): Any crimes committed, particularly crimes committed against those who put themselves in harm's way to keep the rest of us safe, are unacceptable. Certainly, there have been suggestions put forward by the Police Association on a number of fronts—not just the one that the honourable member mentioned but a number of fronts in relation to both deterring and making sure that there are consequences for some of the things that we have seen. I don't have a timeframe, but that is under active consideration. Work is being done on that by this government.

The other part of the question was in relation to, I think, a private member's bill that has been introduced in the other place. I will go back and check, but I think there are elements of that that in an interview the police commissioner has come out and said why they don't support the particular ways that the opposition has proposed to deal with those. But I will have to go back and have a look, and I am happy to bring back a further answer in relation to that.