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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-11-22 Daily Xml
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EMERGENCY SERVICES, COMMUNICATIONS

Mr ODENWALDER (Little Para) (15:05): My question is to the Minister for Police. Can the minister provide details on how the CFS and SAPOL are using social media to provide up-to-date information on key activities?

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE (Wright—Minister for Police, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Road Safety, Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (15:05): I thank the member for Little Para for this important question and for his ongoing commitment to community safety. I know it is particularly important to him given he does have a very definite CFS/MFS interface and some very active CFS brigades in his electorate.

In a world where technology delivers information to your fingertips, the CFS and SAPOL have recently embraced the use of smartphone applications. It is important to note that these communication methods are not about providing last-minute advice on what action to take, and they do not replace what we have always done. They simply help spread key messages further. Nor must we overlook the fact that vigilance in any emergency situation is the responsibility of the individual.

The best way to be prepared is to have access to the latest information. This is why the new CFS smartphone application will be handy in planning for the bushfire season. The free service, available from the iTunes app store, will provide key features including: maps and tables showing all current CFS incidents, including prescribed burns; current fire ban and fire danger rating information; advice on what to do on days of high fire danger; information on nearby Bushfire Safer Places; a call 000 function; an email friends function to keep them informed of personal intentions in the event of a bushfire; a bushfire-ready checklist; and the ability to listen to the standard emergency warning signal to alert the public before broadcast of warning messages.

I am pleased to advise that our police have become the first in Australia to launch their own mobile web-based application. The SA Police News application is also free and works straight on a smartphone by visiting their website. It will allow users to read the latest news from the SA Police News website, watch the 'caught on CCTV' clips from the SA Police YouTube channel—

Ms Chapman interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: —receive information about natural disasters and emergencies, check speed camera locations, find out how to report a crime, find the local police station, see the list of SA's most wanted, access SAPOL's social media sites and share news articles on Facebook and Twitter. As part of a broader social media strategy, these agencies also have dedicated websites, and users can also be kept informed through both Twitter and Facebook.

The extent to which people turn to social media in times of need was best shown during the Queensland floods. Fans of the Queensland Police Facebook site rose from 8,000 to 180,000 in just one day. Social media provides the latest information on our emergency services and is something we can expect to see more of in the future. I congratulate not only the teams who have developed these projects, but also the many brave people on the front line who will selflessly contribute to their ongoing operation and the safety of our community.

Ms Chapman: What about the Gawler Ranges?

The SPEAKER: Order! The Leader of the Opposition.

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