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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2024-04-30 Daily Xml
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Premier's Taskforce

Mr TELFER (Flinders) (14:40): My question is to the Minister for Police. Has the Premier's Taskforce into policing completed its review and, if so, when will its findings and recommendations be made public? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

Mr TELFER: The task force was established in July 2022, nearly two years ago.

The Hon. D.R. CREGAN (Kavel—Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services, Special Minister of State) (14:40): I thank the member for Flinders for his question. It was a commitment, of course, of this government to examine the pressures that exist in the South Australian police force on coming to government. That process has been underway. I have read many of the contributions to that process. I have also sought a briefing and received a briefing from the police commissioner. Can I say this: every effort is going to be made by this government to ensure that the issues that you know and I know and this house knows exist in the South Australian police force are addressed.

The two key contributions financially that this government is making are these: first, a little over $12 million, as I indicated earlier to the house, is being invested to recruit sworn police officers. As I have said, we are in markets overseas, we are pressing the South Australian community as well to join the South Australian police force, and we are also making a very substantial investment—over $81 million—to ensure that there are more protective services officers who are assisting us. Can I say—

Mr Telfer interjecting:

The Hon. D.R. CREGAN: Yes. And can I say this: the task force is the first time that there has been a deep dive into the issues that are confronting the South Australian police force in a very long time. There were no efforts made, no reasonable efforts made in that respect—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. D.R. CREGAN: —order! Matters considered—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. D.R. CREGAN: Member for Flinders, if you come to order I will continue my contribution.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. D.R. CREGAN: Well, if he doesn't want to listen—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. D.R. CREGAN: We can walk and chew gum at the same time. Matters considered by the task force, of course, included population and Census data, metropolitan and regional expansion, crime rates, socio-economic status of offenders, current police demand and recruitment policies, which I have touched on in the house. The safety of the community and ensuring the dedicated members of South Australia Police have the tools to do their important work is, of course, a key priority of this government and will continue to be so.

The task force provided a welcome vehicle, as I understand and as I have been briefed, for constructive dialogue between relevant stakeholders. SAPOL provided the final submission to the Premier's Taskforce on 30 May 2023. As I say, I have been briefed. We have taken in and read all of the materials that relate to the task force. It is an important contribution to government and it has informed my thinking.

The SPEAKER: Member for Flinders, I think that second question you put down as a supplementary might not have been a supplementary, but I will give you the benefit of the doubt and give you another question.

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