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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) (15:01): My question is again to the Minister for Police. Did the minister meet with the APY Executive Board or any community councils when he visited the APY lands in April this year?

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for West Torrens will cease interjecting.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA (Hartley—Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services) (15:02): I thank the—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The minister has the call.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: I thank the member for Elizabeth for the question. SAPOL organised my visit. I was a guest of the commissioner and I met with—

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: The police commissioner.

The SPEAKER: Order! The minister will not respond to interjections.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: And I met with various community leaders on my trip. As I was saying, SAPOL have been undertaking consultation regarding a proposal to change the way that police are deployed to the APY lands. It is a very unique opportunity to do positive work up there. I understand, in fact, that the shadow minister and also the shadow attorney-general in another place were also provided a briefing in relation to matters up there and the proposed model.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Schubert!

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: I am confident that what has been proposed will certainly ensure a more resilient and also a sustainable APY lands workforce. It will implement a centralised pool of trained members to undertake regular deployment into the region and also support a residential workforce. A key benefit of the model will be quantum change in certain approaches.

There will be better cultural competency training well beyond what is currently being offered. It won't reduce staffing levels, but it will ensure that a consistent staffing level is maintained. As I said, SAPOL has certainly consulted with PASA and certainly consulted with the community. As I was saying, if the member for Elizabeth has any evidence of people who would like more information or would like more consultation or would like to meet with me, I certainly am more than happy to take the time to make myself available.

Mr ODENWALDER: Point of order, sir.

The SPEAKER: Order! The minister will resume his seat.

Mr ODENWALDER: I ask you to bring the minister back to the substance of the question. I asked him whether he had met with the APY Executive Board or any community councils.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Schubert is warned for a second time.

Mr ODENWALDER: I don't need another explanation of the model.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The question was in its terms quite specific. I direct the minister to the specific question.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: As I pointed out, I was a guest of the police commissioner, but I would say that I met with various community leaders up there.

If any member in this place has been to a place like Fregon and to a place like Ernabella and taken the time to invest in communities like these, these are complex communities. They require a lot of attention from governments, whether it be from the Department for Correctional Services or from SA Health, from SA Police or from the Department for Education. It is certainly incumbent upon decision-makers to get up to these parts of the state and do what we can to try to assist.

I met with various community leaders while I was up there. I don't have a list in front of me, but I'm happy to discuss more details with the member for Elizabeth. I can't reiterate enough that if there are any—

Ms Stinson: Did you meet with the APY Executive or not—yes, no?

The SPEAKER: The member for Badcoe is warned for a second time.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: —people who would like to talk about the proposed model that's up there in areas like Fregon or Ernabella, I would be more than happy to discuss these issues with the member. That would be much more productive than going through the entire itinerary of the visit, which was a very productive and worthwhile visit. Anyone who would like to discuss matters up there, whether it's in the Department for Correctional Services or South Australia Police, I would be more than happy to sit down with them in a productive—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: —yes—and I would be more than happy to sit down with them and discuss these matters. As I said, SAPOL have been undertaking consultation regarding a proposal to change the way that police are deployed to the APY lands. I am confident that, by the end of the consultation, once the new model is implemented we will see much better outcomes on the APY lands.

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