Forensic Science Centre

The Hon. B.R. HOOD (15:09): I seek leave to make a brief explanation prior to asking a question of the Attorney-General regarding the South Australian forensic centre.

Leave granted.

The Hon. B.R. HOOD: As has been referenced in previous questions today, the 2024-25 budget revealed that the South Australian forensic centre will be delivered three years later than forecast, in June 2031. I acknowledge that the Attorney-General spoke on ABC radio regarding this yesterday, although when asked during estimates, the Attorney said the reason for the delay was that 'the revised project completion date will more closely align with the proposed lease period of the existing facilities'. My questions to the Attorney-General are:

1. Was the lease expiry date of the Divett Place facility known when the project was first budgeted?

2. Has the government received advice from Forensic Science SA about the risks associated with extended use of the current Divett Place facility specifically around issues that could compromise the accuracy, timeliness or integrity of forensic analysis?

3. Can the Attorney provide assurances to the people of South Australia that the facility will be ready by June 2031?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector, Special Minister of State) (15:10): I thank the honourable member for his question. I will reiterate again that there is a stark policy difference between the Labor government and the former Liberal government and now Liberal opposition in relation to this matter. The Forensic Science Centre in Adelaide does remarkable work. Its scientists are world-recognised. In fact, in a question I had earlier today I talked about one of the world-renowned scientists from Forensic Science SA who received a King's Birthday Honours this year.

We have come to government and made the decision that the scientists who work there deserve a new, purpose-built Forensic Science Centre to do the important work they do. Those opposite had a policy. Their policy was to do nothing—to do nothing at all about it. So there is a very, very different—

The Hon. I.K. Hunter: A stark difference.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: —a stark difference in terms of our attitudes towards this. We will build, and we have budgeted to build, a new, purpose-built Forensic Science Centre. The Liberal Party and the Liberal opposition have a policy to do nothing, as was reflected from their four years in government.

In relation to the building of a new Forensic Science Centre, it is important to get this right. The honourable member in his—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: The honourable member reflected in his question the importance of making sure that it is a fit-for-purpose Forensic Science Centre. We have seen issues raised around the world and in other states—I think Queensland is an example of that—where contamination of samples has occurred, which has caused significant problems. The science centre, where it is, has proven to help the world-class scientists operate efficiently and effectively, but we recognise it does need a new, purpose-built centre rather than the current premises at Divett Place that I have visited a couple of times. That is what we are doing.

In terms of making sure we get it right, we won't apologise for making sure that the design phase that it's now in is done thoroughly to make sure, as best we can, we don't see some of the problems we have seen in other places around the world.

In relation to, I think, the very first part of the question the honourable member asked about reasons that it's 2031 rather than 2028, yes, a factor, I am advised, is lease arrangements, but that is just one of the factors. Also included are making sure we get it right on what is a very, very individualised project. There are no other of these sorts of things in South Australia, and they are very unique and very one-off projects to build.