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Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Second Session (51-2)
2008-04-01 Daily Xml
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POLICE, COOBER PEDY

The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS (16:02): I have a supplementary question arising from that answer. The minister indicated that it is a matter of getting police to actually go to Coober Pedy; that being the case, would the minister push for a 24-hour police station?

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Police, Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning) (16:02): As I said, the question of a 24-hour police station is a matter I know the Police Commissioner has considered from time to time. In relation to the service, Port Augusta is the central area. It may be hundreds of kilometres away but surely it is preferable, where you have a switchboard staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week that calls can go through. If there are emergencies, it is possible for the Port Augusta station to contact the local office and I am sure that if there were particular emergencies they would do so; however, not if the matters were relatively minor—and it is a matter for the staff at Port Augusta to judge that.

I think the system does work; however, I am sure the Police Commissioner will continue to keep the situation at Coober Pedy under review—as well as other places in the state, because it is not unique. Coober Pedy has a population of about 3,500 and there are a number of other places in the state—for example, Roxby Downs—that would have a much smaller police complement now but that, as they grow, will go to a larger station. The allocation of resources is a matter for the Police Commissioner, who does it in accordance with need, and I know he will continue to keep the situation at Coober Pedy under review.

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