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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2012-11-29 Daily Xml
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SOUTH AUSTRALIA POLICE

Mr ODENWALDER (Little Para) (14:36): My question is to the Attorney-General. Can the Attorney update the house about the government's achievements over the past year to help our police keep our communities safe?

The Hon. J.R. RAU (Enfield—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Planning, Minister for Business Services and Consumers) (14:36): Yes; I thank the honourable member for his question. The government is committed to providing South Australia Police with the powers they need to keep our communities safe. We have been very busy in this all throughout this year. I would like to summarise a few of the things that have been achieved during the course of this year.

The Summary Offences (Weapons) Amendment Act 2012 has provided our police with the power to conduct metal detector searches on anyone in, or attempting to enter, or leave, licensed premises. This is an important new power for police to conduct searches without first having to meet the test of suspecting that the person is carrying a weapon. I understand that SAPOL will take delivery of their new metal detectors soon and will be ready to start using this important new power before Christmas. Also, police will now have the power to conduct searches of any person who is not in an area that may soon be the subject of an incident or serious violence. This is an important tool for SAPOL to prevent serious violence.

The government has also given SAPOL the ability to conduct random tests for gunshot residue on criminals who are classed as serious firearm offenders under the Statutes Amendment (Serious Firearm Offenders) Act 2012. This is also an important tool to reduce firearm crime in South Australia. Related to firearm crime is the new offence the government has created in the Criminal Law Consolidation Act to make it clear to the thugs and criminals in our community that the government will not tolerate any firearm-related violence, particularly that directed at police officers.

The new offence, in relation to police officers, makes it clear that if you discharge a firearm at a police officer, regardless of whether you injure that officer, you will be guilty of an offence and may be imprisoned for up to 10 years. Most importantly, it is worth noting that the opposition has changed its mind about the identification evidence legislation, and the government will today introduce a bill to provide police with this important efficiency measure and take advantage of this welcome backflip by the opposition. This is a can-do government getting on with the job. The opposition, throughout this year, has been dragged kicking and screaming into supporting SAPOL. I hope next year they offer more support.

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