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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1)
2019-03-19 Daily Xml
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Police And Correctional Services

Mr BASHAM (Finniss) (14:26): My question is to the Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services. Can the minister inform the house of some of the Marshall Liberal government's achievements in police and Correctional Services over the last 12 months?

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD (Gibson—Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (14:26): I thank the member for the question—and what a perfect person to ask this question. The member for Finniss is a champion of his electorate, a hardworking local member and, like everyone on this side of the house, a very high achiever. I only have four minutes to answer this question, Mr Speaker. I have a lot to get through, so please bear with me. Since coming into government, I can't believe what a wonderful time it's been and how much we have been able to achieve. After 16 long years of dark Labor rule—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: —the people of South Australia voted for change. After 16 years of let-downs and disappointments, they voted for more jobs, lower costs and better services. I have been immensely proud—

Mr Hughes interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Giles is warned.

Mr Malinauskas interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The leader will cease interjecting.

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: —to serve South Australia as a cabinet minister, but more so I have been proud to have delivered for the people of South Australia on projects, reforms and initiatives that have delivered more jobs, lower costs and better services. The past year saw the Marshall government deliver on their election commitments. We delivered the extended opening hours, of course, at Norwood, Glenelg and Henley Beach police stations, improving services in that area. In the area of counterterrorism, we came to the election with a seven-step plan, and we are delivering on that as well. SAPOL has undertaken a vulnerability assessment of public places and events.

Mr Malinauskas interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Leader!

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: The Terrorism (Police Powers) (Use of Force) Amendment Bill, which was introduced into the House of Assembly by the Attorney-General on 21 June 2018, was well received. SAPOL are in the final stages of their new rapid response capability model, which will enhance South Australia Police's ability to safely resolve and respond to domestic crime and terrorist-related incidents. The trial of light-armoured vests for front-line police is progressing well, with locations identified as to where the vests will be trialled and finalising acquisition planning. SAPOL are also in the final stages of developing a hoon hotline app, which I look forward to reporting back on to this house very, very shortly.

A review of all aspects of police work is underway by the Hon. Justice Kevin Duggan and is aimed to reduce red tape. What we hear from the workers on the front line and a recent survey is that more than 71 per cent of employees said there was too much red tape within SAPOL—too much red tape. Seventy-one per cent had that response, so we are going about the work of reducing that red tape for people on the front line.

In the area of road safety, the Marshall Liberal government has delivered on its commitment to conduct an audit of safety cameras to ensure that they are operating for safety purposes and not there to raise revenue. We have also delivered a new website, giving South Australia motorists details—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: —of the locations of the state's speed and red-light cameras.

Mr Picton interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Kaurna is called to order.

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: There are better services, and I know the member for Kaurna appreciates them—he's on that website all the time; it is fantastic. In Corrections, at the 2018 budget I announced a major shake-up of the prison system. Better prisons—we needed better prisons—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: —because of how the Leader of the Opposition left them. They were a disgrace. We were on track by 2020 to have more prisoners than prison beds—no plan in place. We had to fix that mess, and we are going about it and we are doing the job. And we are—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. D.G. Pisoni interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Minister for Industry, do not provoke the opposition.

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: —working very hard at reducing reoffending: a bipartisan approach, the 10by20, reducing reoffending by 10 per cent by 2020.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Kaurna!

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: As part of our Better Prisons project—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Kaurna is warned.

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: I hear the Leader of the Opposition yelling about the 10by20 project. That is a bipartisan project. We both agree that this is what we need to strive for, but what he wanted to do, without having beds to put people who needed to go in prisons in—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The minister has the call.

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: His theory clearly was just to rack, stack 'em and pack 'em. He wanted to go back to that, and it is a shame. We need to have the blend, and he knows better than anyone. We need the blend.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: We need the blend of rehabilitation as well as delivering for the people of South Australia. I apologise; I ran out of my four minutes. I will be back with more very shortly.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Members on my left will be quiet.

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