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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2021-06-10 Daily Xml
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APY Lands Policing Model

Mr ODENWALDER (Elizabeth) (14:56): My question is for the Minister for Police. During the minister's visit to the APY lands in April, what exactly did community leaders and the APY Executive say about the proposed new APY policing model?

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA (Hartley—Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services) (14:56): I thank the member for the question. The member is correct: recently, I did take the time to visit the APY lands, and I would encourage members of this place to do so whenever they can. As the member may be aware, there is obviously an APY staffing model that has gone out for consultation.

It is a very diverse, unique part of the state. We as a state government are working very hard to make sure that we continue to provide SAPOL with the resources that they need to patrol that part of the state very professionally. I was there. I attended with several police officers. It was a very worthwhile visit. Obviously, the member would be aware that the staffing proposal has gone out to PASA, who have provided some feedback. I believe that SAPOL are continuing to work with them and I am quite confident that they will work out a much better staffing proposal that will continue to service the APY lands in a much better manner.

While we were up there, we visited a whole range of different stations and it was a real privilege to be able to get out there on the beat, talk to some of the officers who are definitely involved in what I would say are some of the most unique situations, very complicated, complex cases that they deal with. We know from recent examples that it's a continual thing that governments work very hard on to make sure that we reduce the level of Aboriginal incarceration. There are a number of programs that we put in as a government to continue to drive that over-representation of Aboriginal people in incarceration, to drive that rate down, but also to support—

Mr ODENWALDER: Point of order.

The SPEAKER: The minister will resume his seat for a moment. The member for Elizabeth.

Mr ODENWALDER: My point of order is in regard to relevance. The question was about what exactly community leaders and the APY Executive said about the APY proposal, not about what other police officers said about it.

The SPEAKER: I take that as a point of order pursuant to standing order 98.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, the member Light!

The Hon. A. Piccolo interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Light will cease interjecting. It is incumbent on the Speaker on receiving a point of order to rule immediately on the point of order. I am endeavouring to do that. That's made the more challenging when interjections continue across the chamber. The minister is in the course of answering the question. I am listening carefully to the minister's answer. The minister will be responsive to the question. I don't uphold the point of order for the time being. The minister has the call.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: This is a very serious issue, and the member for Elizabeth talks about community leaders. I ask: has he given any examples of any community leaders? No, he has not. There are many community leaders on the APY lands.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Elizabeth!

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: There are many community leaders on the APY lands. Community constables, the people who get out and about and talk to people on a daily basis, these are certainly leaders. SAPOL officers out there patrolling some of the most complex of cases are leaders in the community. These are people who, quite frankly, other agencies look up to and work with on a day-to-day basis.

Can I say that SAPOL have conducted consultation with relevant stakeholders on the new proposed staffing model up on the APY lands. It's a very serious issue. I am not sure why there are pot shots being taken by the opposition on this issue.

The SPEAKER: The minister will not respond to interjections.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: All I can say is I could not be more proud of the community leaders that we have in South Australia Police for what they do on the APY lands. I would encourage the member for Elizabeth, if he hasn't been up there, to actually take the time and get up there and have a look at the great work that they are doing up there, some of the most complex areas of policing that have been undertaken.

We are continuing to invest with SAPOL. As I said, there is a new proposed staffing model up there that I'm confident that PASA will be happy with and that other community leaders up there will be happy with. As I said, there are a range of community constables who do fantastic work up there, and the SAPOL officers up there continue to do an exceptional job. If there are any concerns of any community leader, although they weren't provided, I would be happy to take them—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Badcoe is warned.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: —on board and discuss them with the member.

Time expired.

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