Legislative Council - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2017-05-17 Daily Xml

Contents

Police Stations

The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS (14:45): Supplementary question: given the minister seems to be confused about the question I asked him, will he actually inform the council about the level of campaigns to inform communities following the decision that was made to decrease the hours, in particular, of police stations? That was the question.

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS (Minister for Police, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Road Safety) (14:45): I will tell you what campaigns I'm aware of. I'm aware of the scare campaigns that those opposite are out there running around pulling out around the place that somehow we are undermining communities—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: Point of order, Mr President: yesterday, you chastised me for pointing—

The PRESIDENT: Yes, order, you can take your seat! Will the minister please refrain from pointing and just answer the question.

The Hon. J.S.L. Dawkins: It might help to listen to the question that you get, rather than invent your own.

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS: Mr President, I'm aware of the campaigns that those opposite are running around spruiking that somehow this government is closing police stations rather than pointing out the fact that this government is providing police with a record level of resources and giving the police commissioner the authority to be able to allocate those resources in a way that keeps the community safe.

I have to say that it's rather extraordinary that this mob opposite, if they were elected, are going to unwind an important principle and are going to walk in here and start telling the police commissioner where to station police officers. Are they going to start saying how many walk up and down Rundle Mall? How many are out in the burbs? How many in the regions? Which crimes to investigate? Which ones not to investigate? It's an extraordinary proposition and it is one that I'm looking forward to advocating and bringing to the public's attention in the lead-up to the state election, because I think South Australians would be extremely concerned at the proposition that those opposite will start telling police how to police.