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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-09-29 Daily Xml
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DRINK SAFE PRECINCT TRIAL

The Hon. R.L. BROKENSHIRE (14:37): I have a supplementary question, based on the specifics of the minister's answer with respect to police numbers in the CBD. Given that the minister said they have record police numbers in the CBD, can the minister explain why information I have in my office shows that, over the last three years, the establishment numbers of SAPOL officers have been at least 20 to 25 down on what the establishment numbers should be each year of those three years?

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) (14:38): I thank the honourable member for his important question. Obviously I am not the Minister for Police, but the advice I have received is that we have 4,400 full-time equivalent police officers in South Australia, which is 700 more than when Labor took office in 2002 when there were only 3,701. This government has provided 700 more police than you and your former government, so you should be ashamed of yourself—absolutely ashamed of yourself. He was part of the government—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: Absolutely ashamed of himself. He was part of a government that had no commitment—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: —very little commitment.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! The Hon. Mr Brokenshire should take his punishment in silence.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: I do not know how he can stand up straight in this place. The government plans to recruit an additional 313 police over the next 3½ years to meet a target of 1,000 more police since taking office. I have been advised that the government's commitment to boosting police resources has resulted in hundreds of extra front-line police being delivered, clearly debunking the nonsense argument that is being presented by the Hon. Robert Brokenshire. The latest report from the Productivity Commission shows that SA continues to have the highest number of police per capita in any state.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: I will just repeat that because he is having trouble taking his medicine and he is squealing like a stuck pig. So, I will just make sure he hears this. I want to make sure that he hears this.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: Just to repeat: I have been advised that the latest report from the Productivity Commission shows that South Australia continues to have the highest number of police per capita in any state. South Australia has 312, I am advised—312 operational police staff for every 100,000 persons. The next closest is Queensland with 293. So, that is 312 compared with 293. Western Australia has 281. Victoria and New South Wales—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: —fall far behind, with just 236 and 234 respectively.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! I might have to get the minister to repeat it again.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: I have some other advice, Mr President. Given the question, it is most important that I also indicate that, since 2002, new police stations have been opened: Roxby Downs, Golden Grove, Aldinga, Gawler, Mount Barker, Victor Harbor, Berri—the list goes on and on. It is too long. We would be here until midnight, so I will spare you that. There is a further $115 million worth of new building works currently under construction, I have been advised.

In terms of the police budget, I have been advised that the funding for SAPOL operations has been boosted to $693 million in 2010-11. Just to emphasise: it is a massive increase of 88 per cent—88 per cent more than the last Liberal budget. So, here we have a government that is prepared to increase the police budget by 88 per cent of the former Liberal government that you were part of. So, we outnumber you, we out-budget you, we out-police you, we out-commit you.

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