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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1)
2019-04-02 Daily Xml
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Crime Stoppers SA

Ms LUETHEN (King) (15:17): Today, I am going to provide an update on Crime Stoppers because everyone needs to feel safe in our community and crime and safety continue to be raised as a priority while I have been out doorknocking. Crime Stoppers is part of a suite of measures that SAPOL uses to prevent crime in our state.

Members interjecting:

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Member for King, could you take a seat, please. Members, we are partway through the grievance debate. The previous speaker was heard in silence and with respect, and I would hope that continues for the member for King's contribution.

Mr DULUK: Point of order, sir: can I ask for the clock to be restarted for the member for King because I could not hear any of her contribution at the beginning?

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: I have considered that, member for Waite, and I think it is a fair and reasonable suggestion given that the member for Reynell went a little over time. We will restart the clock, and the member for King will be heard in silence. You have the call.

Ms LUETHEN: I will start again. Today, I am going to provide an update on Crime Stoppers because everyone needs to feel safe in our community and crime and safety continue to be raised as a priority when I am out doorknocking. Crime Stoppers is part of a suite of measures that SAPOL uses to prevent crime in our state. Crime Stoppers is a highly successful program in which the community and the media help the police solve crime. It is simple, effective and a secure way for someone to provide information anonymously.

It is concerning that Crime Stoppers has led to over 32,496 solved cases. In February, nearly 180 calls were made to Crime Stoppers SA about drug growing, making and selling activity, reinforcing that the destructive impact of drugs remains a real concern for people in our community. In addition, 43 calls were made about firearms, providing investigators with good leads to follow and resulting in three firearms being located, along with an array of other illegal weapons.

Mr Odenwalder interjecting:

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: The member for Elizabeth is called to order.

Ms LUETHEN: Information from the community in February led to 50 apprehensions, including 23 men and six women charged with a range of serious offences. Other February 2019 results included more than 2,000 calls and nearly 400 online reports received, 906 actions issued for investigation, amphetamine and fantasy (GHB) seized and 7,614 people visiting the Crime Stoppers SA website resulting in 22,400 page views. If anyone in King has any information about criminal activity and unsolved crimes, do not forget that you can call the free hotline on 1800—

Ms Hildyard interjecting:

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Member for King, could you take your seat again, please. I am sorry about this. Member for Reynell, you had the chance to contribute to the grievance debate today. You were heard in silence and with great decorum, I felt, on an important subject. The member for King believes this is an important subject. I ask that you hear her out in silence, and I call you to order. Member for King.

Ms LUETHEN: Recently, I read inaccurate information published online about Crime Stoppers. As with all important state government issues, I encourage people living in King to contact me any time they have a question to receive accurate information about what our government is doing to support the community in SA to be the absolute best it can be.

I take a moment today to say that it is farcical and dishonest that the opposition would claim that there has been a cut to Crime Stoppers' funding. The opposition never paid a cent to Crime Stoppers during their 16 years in government. Crime Stoppers asked the previous government for funding in April 2015, but it was knocked back. There has never been anything in a Labor budget to provide Crime Stoppers with one iota of funding.

We, too, could pull dollar figures from the sky and hope that the media do not question those numbers, but we do not do that because we are a transparent, responsible and ethical government that care deeply about our community members and their safety. The Leader of the Opposition embarrassingly admitted on live radio that there are no cuts to Crime Stoppers and that the Labor Party funding to Crime Stoppers was only an election promise.

The unfortunate fact is that sponsorship for Crime Stoppers has waned, and that is why I am taking a moment today to highlight the important outcomes Crime Stoppers achieve in collaboration with the community and media. Our government will endeavour to work with members across this house to find a sustainable business model for Crime Stoppers. Crime Stoppers' funding requests will be considered in the lead-up to this year's budget.

Our government will continue to take a strategic focus on the future to plan for and deliver on the needs of South Australians in an efficient and sustainable way. Community safety is paramount and everyone needs to feel safe in our community. South Australians deserve to access the best emergency services, police force and criminal justice system. Community safety requires us all to be vigilant, so we must be careful to heed reminders to dial 000 for police, fire and ambulance in an emergency and 131 444 for the Police Assistance Line for non-urgent police assistance.

If you have any information about criminal activity and unsolved crimes, do not forget that you can call the Crime Stoppers' free hotline or go to Crime Stoppers online or download the free report suspicious behaviour app for phones. Do not forget that rewards are available and that you can remain anonymous—it is your choice.

Members interjecting:

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Before I call the next speaker, it is my sad duty to call to order the members for Mawson and Playford and also warn the member for Elizabeth.

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