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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-10-19 Daily Xml
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CORRECTIONAL SERVICES UNIFORMS

Mr ODENWALDER (Little Para) (15:11): My question is to the Minister for Correctional Services. Can the minister inform the house about the uniform ceremony for senior managers and executives of the Department for Correctional Services?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Industry and Trade, Minister for Small Business, Minister for Correctional Services) (15:12): I want to thank the member for Little Para for his keen interest in all matters corrections. I can inform the house that, as of yesterday, senior staff of the Department for Correctional Services are back in uniform. For the first time in more than three decades, senior staff will now wear a formal uniform. Included are the Chief Executive, the Director and Executive Director, Custodial Services, and prison general managers. General managers will wear the uniform every day. The Director and Executive Director, Custodial Services, will wear the uniform whenever they attend a prison. On ceremonial occasions, the dress uniform will be worn by all.

It was worn by all yesterday at the presentation of Rank Insignia by His Excellency the Governor at a reception that His Excellency and Mrs Scarce generously hosted at Government House. I would like to thank the member for Stuart for his attendance in representing the opposition at the function.

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: He is a good guy. I thank them again for giving up their time and opening up their house to us for the reception. Correctional officers are proud of their uniform. They are proud of what it represents and they are proud to wear it. It seemed logical to me and the government that the uniform should extend to managers and leaders. This is because it creates an unbroken line that leaves no room for confusion with regard to the roles and functions of those who are in our prisons. I believe it represents a greater sense of cohesion—a united front. If only some members opposite could say the same.

That is why I suggested that all custodial staff move back to uniforms, and I was pleased to find that the idea was met with overwhelming enthusiasm and positivity, which resulted in yesterday's ceremony. Also presented by His Excellency yesterday was the 15-year National Medal to the Chief Executive of the Department for Correctional Services, Mr Peter Severin. The National Medal recognises 15 years of diligent service by members of organisations that help the community during times of crisis, such as police, emergency services, lifesaving, search and rescue, and correctional services.

Peter Severin, of course, has worked in correctional services longer than 15 years. His career in corrections commenced in 1980, and he has held executive positions in large correctional organisations since 1996. I thoroughly enjoy working with Peter Severin, and I can say that he is a fine public servant; and, in the great tradition of South Australian public servants, he does his job exceptionally well and makes us all very, very proud.

On behalf of everyone in this house, I congratulate Peter on receiving the national medal. I am immensely proud to have had the opportunity to see the senior staff of the Department for Correctional Services in uniform yesterday, and to be there to witness the presentation of Rank Insignia by His Excellency.

I want to thank everyone involved, including the staff of corrections, who worked very hard and tirelessly in designing the uniform and helping to design the rank insignia; and, of course, to His Excellency for making sure that we do not politicise in any way rank insignia being given to officers as we saw in Victoria.

It is very important that our public servants know that they serve the parliament and the people of South Australia, not a political party. I think that everyone involved realises the independence of our correctional officers and the hard work that they do. I know that members opposite are regularly attending our prisons—

Mr Hamilton-Smith interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Here they are. I think that Peter Severin is a fine public servant, and I have never known anyone to criticise him from either side of politics. I really think that trying to politicise his appointment devalues the whole exercise of putting him in uniform. If I had wanted to politicise it, I would have given the rank insignia myself. I chose not to for this very reason: the very reason that I did not—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: —give him his insignia and got the Governor to do it was so that it would not be politicised. It is important that we do not politicise these positions. It was a wonderful occasion, Madam Speaker, and a milestone for correctional services in Australia.

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