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Legislative Council - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2016-07-06 Daily Xml
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Commissioner of Police

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (14:36): I seek leave to make an explanation before directing a question to the Minister for Police on the subject of the police commissioner.

The Hon. J.M.A. Lensink: Waste of time.

The PRESIDENT: Order! The Hon. Mr Lucas is on his feet, and he has the floor.

Leave granted.

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: The Commissioner for Public Sector Employment's guideline on gifts and benefits issued in March 2014 says in part:

It is therefore unacceptable for a public sector employee…for a family member or associate of a public sector employee, to accept a gift or benefit, from a third party as acceptance has the potential to result in an actual, potential or perceived conflict of interest between the role and duties of a public sector employee and their pecuniary and other personal interest.

That guideline from the commissioner also defines gifts in the following terms:

Gifts include 'free' items or hospitality exceeding common courtesy that are offered to an employee in association with their work. They may be enduring or consumable. They range in value from nominal to significant and may be given for different reasons.

It then lists what might be included as gifts and amongst that includes manufacturers' samples and clothing as gifts.

The SAPOL gift register reveals a range of gifts that have been provided to the commissioner, and assistant commissioners as well. They range, for example, from the nominal $27 gift provided to a senior police officer for a book on Austin, Texas, through to, in May 2016 free accommodation to the value of $1,000 provided to commissioner Stevens to attend The Queen's 90th birthday celebrations in the United Kingdom. However, that reference in May 2016 in the gift register makes no mention of the borrowing or use of an expensive dress from a local business in exchange for promotion of that business on social media. My questions to the minister are:

1. Why is there no inclusion in the SAPOL gift register for May 2016 of any reference to the borrowing and use of this particular dress?

2. If other senior police officers or their partners borrow and use expensive items of clothing from a business, are they required to declare that to the Commissioner of Police or declare that in the SAPOL gift register?

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS (Minister for Police, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Road Safety) (14:39): I thank the Hon. Mr Lucas for his question. He asked a similar question yesterday regarding the use of a dress that has been suggested to have taken place. I took that question on notice and that is now going through the process for information to be gained from SAPOL, and more specifically the commissioner's office, so I would have thought the question that he has asked today may be addressed through that process that commenced yesterday.

But I have to say, in light of the fact that this is now the second time that the Hon. Mr Lucas has asked questions of this nature, I am starting to wonder exactly what he is implying. I think all of us—well, I would have hoped all of us—hold our police commissioner in high regard. I certainly hold our police commissioner in high regard. I think he is doing a good job in an incredibly important office. One of the important principles that I think exists around policing generally is respecting the integrity of that office.

Clearly, members in this place, as is their right, are able to ask questions of what are appropriate actions, and people who are in high public office should indeed be held to account, but I would simply hope that by persisting with a line of questioning before more information is revealed that the honourable member is not attempting to call into question the integrity of anybody. I am not suggesting that he is doing that, but I would think he is starting to get awfully close, and I would very much hope that there is no intention on behalf of the Hon. Mr Lucas to do anything that would be calling into question the integrity, I think, of a fine public servant here in the state of South Australia.

I have committed to take the question on notice yesterday. I will endeavour to make sure that if information comes back that is appropriate to be shared that it is done so, but I would just note that if this line of questioning were to persist in such a way that would be seeking to undermine the public confidence in an important office, that that would be something I would be incredibly concerned about.

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