Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-09-14 Daily Xml

Contents

Question Time

SECURITY CAMERA FOOTAGE

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Leader of the Opposition) (14:23): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the minister representing the Minister for Police a question about security camera footage.

Leave granted.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: It was revealed last week that the security camera footage taken in the city on the night the then deputy premier Kevin Foley claims he was a victim of a vicious, unprovoked bashing last November has been wiped.

These are very serious charges, and Mr Foley has made a lengthy statement to parliament about the incident. Mr Foley told the parliament that his character had been attacked. Mr Foley went on to publicly deny the defence's claims that Mr Foley confronted, accosted and attempted to force himself on two young women before the alleged bashing.

The now erased tapes may have cast light on the police minister's movements on the night in question. The police prosecutors are now saying that the tape was erased because of the length of time between the alleged incident and the arrest of the suspect. My questions for the Minister for Police are:

1. Does the minister believe that it is imperative that security tapes not be erased or overwritten until after an arrest and an acquittal or a conviction in court?

2. Has the police minister ever discussed or communicated with the police commissioner, or any other members of the South Australian police force, the question of security footage taken on that night?

3. Should these Adelaide city tapes have been held in secure storage until after the court case had been concluded?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Public Sector Management, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister for Gambling) (14:26): I thank the honourable member for his questions. I will refer them to the Minister for Police in another place and bring back a reply.