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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2010-05-06 Daily Xml
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SUDANESE COMMUNITY

Mr ODENWALDER (Little Para) (17:10): My question is to the Minister for Police. Can the minister update the house on SAPOL's work on building ties with the Sudanese community?

The Hon. M.J. WRIGHT (Lee—Minister for Police, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (17:10): I thank the member for his question and congratulate him for joining us here in the house. I also congratulate you, Madam Speaker.

SAPOL has a strong focus on working with communities to enhance relationships and mutual understanding, and it is making a special effort to develop bonds with South Australia's Sudanese community by appointing Juma Abuyi as a community constable. Juma was displaced from Sudan by civil war and spent years in a Kenyan refugee camp before immigrating to Australia nine years ago. Since immigrating to Australia, Juma has worked closely with the African Communities Council, the Migrant Resource Centre of South Australia, and Families SA's refugee program helping new communities settle and understand the justice system in South Australia.

Mr Williams interjecting:

The Hon. M.J. WRIGHT: You will get another question, as long as you shut up and stop interrupting. It will not take very long, I promise you. I know you did not get very many votes, Mitch; the party wanted Martin, the leader wanted Ian, but look what we finished with!

Since Juma's emigrating to Australia, SAPOL recognised that his personal and professional history provided the experience and understanding required to act as a bridge between SAPOL and the Sudanese community, leading to mutual benefit. As the Sudanese liaison officer for South Australia Police, Juma will provide SAPOL with a vital understanding of the structure and traditions of South Australia's Sudanese community. Police now have someone who can communicate perfectly with members of the Sudanese community, cutting through the language barrier and the fog of misunderstanding. As a large proportion of young Sudanese people in Adelaide were born during civil war and have spent many long years in refugee camps, the notion of a police force can be unusual or even threatening to many.

By understanding the work that police do, and the protection and support they offer, a foundation of trust, respect and confidence in our police force can be built. Confidence is essential to police forces all over the world; when people trust police and are confident that they will get results, police operate with the information flow they need for maximum efficiency. I congratulate SAPOL for introducing this initiative, which will improve understanding and develop stronger bonds with the Sudanese community.

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