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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2012-06-26 Daily Xml
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Ministerial Statement

COMMISSIONER OF POLICE

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier, Minister for State Development) (16:27): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Would members please take their seats or be quiet.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: I am pleased to confirm that earlier today I announced the appointment of Mr Gary Burns to the position of South Australian Commissioner of Police for a term of three years. Deputy Commissioner Burns, a 43-year police service veteran, will begin his tenure on 21 July when the current commissioner, Mal Hyde, retires. Gary Burns was selected from a quality field of local and international candidates and is an outstanding choice to lead South Australia Police. He inherits a police force in good shape, with more police on the beat in South Australia than ever before, a crime rate that has fallen by 37 per cent since 2001-02 and a road toll that has reduced by 33 per cent from 154 fatalities in 2002 to 103 in 2011.

Gary Burns commenced with SAPOL in 1969, when he joined as a 16 year old just out of Enfield High School. After a three-year cadet course and three years' service as a patrol officer in the city and suburbs, he transferred to Kadina in 1975 and Moonta in 1977. He returned to Adelaide and joined the newly-formed STAR Group, with which he would remain for the next 12 years. In 1991 he won promotion to inspector after he emerged as dux of his commissioned officers course.

After a promotion to chief inspector in 1996, he rose rapidly up the ranks, even skipping two along the way. He was appointed as assistant commissioner in 2000 and deputy commissioner in 2007. He has extensive experience in various aspects of policing and has commanded several major operations, including the 1996 Yatala prison riots, the Whyalla Airlines search, and the police response to the Woomera Detention Centre breakout and Baxter Detention Centre protest.

As you would expect for such a position, we had an exceptional field of candidates. The fact that four of the five candidates were senior SAPOL officers shows the depth of talent and experience SAPOL has access to. With any of the candidates capable of filling the role, SAPOL is well placed to meet future challenges with an outstanding leadership group. Deputy Commissioner Burns brings a range of attributes to his job; and his knowledge of our state, his deep experience in policing and his very strong intellect all led the police minister and cabinet to endorse him as South Australia's next Commissioner of Police.

I would like to take a few moments of the house's time to record the appreciation I believe all members of parliament would show for the service to South Australia provided by Mal Hyde AO. His performance as police commissioner has been outstanding and has been instrumental in maintaining stability and integrity within the South Australian police force.

Throughout his period as commissioner, Mr Hyde has managed to uphold an enviable reputation for leading a professional and ethical police service and enjoys the longstanding support and confidence of the community. I am delighted with the shape in which Commissioner Hyde is leaving SAPOL. He has served this state with distinction and his retirement will be a loss for the South Australia Police.

I might just add here that the reason we had such a wonderful field to choose from must in part be to the credit of Commissioner Hyde. We congratulate Deputy Commissioner Burns on his appointment and look forward to his leadership and continued focus on helping South Australian police serve South Australian families and communities.

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