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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2023-08-31 Daily Xml
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Operation Paragon

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (14:48): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before directing questions to the Attorney-General about Operation Paragon.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: In a radio interview of 27 July, the President of the Law Society outlined concerns that Operation Paragon may be unfairly imposed on certain groups of people. My questions for the Attorney are:

1. Does the government acknowledge concerns of potentially disproportionately criminalising or disadvantaging Aboriginal, young or homeless people, and what measures are in place to prevent this?

2. Is the Attorney aware of whether policing is consistent with the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody?

3. The expanded designated public precinct is in operation until October. What are the plans to review its effectiveness, and what opportunities are there for input from the community?

4. How does the government intend addressing concerns raised by local communities about problems potentially being transferred from one part of Adelaide to another?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (14:49): I thank the honourable member for her question. Of course, police operations are a matter for the police, so I won't comment on an operation that the police have decided to undertake, but I do note the member had a number of other questions that referred to the declared public precinct in the CBD. My understanding is, since that declared public precinct was made and took effect from mid-July this year, there has been nothing that has resulted in any imprisonment for anyone breaching any part of that declared public precinct, but I note the honourable member's questions and concerns.

There is an establishment of multi-agency response, that is not a criminal justice response, to complement any work that is being undertaken by the police. On 7 August this year, for example, a new Safer Place to Gather site was established at Edwards Park by the Department of Human Services. The police officers can refer people from anywhere, but also the declared public precincts, to this site where they can access health services, drug and alcohol support, housing and Centrelink and homeless assistance. Drug and Alcohol Services SA (DASSA) has begun providing outreach services at the Safer Place to Gather site earlier this month.

In addition, a short-term dedicated pod comprising 10 beds within the inpatient withdrawal service at Glenside has also been established by DASSA to offer culturally appropriate alcohol and other drug treatment options. I am informed that, from the statistics that have been provided to me, between 7 August and 16 August this year the Safer Place to Gather site was used by approximately 30 people.

As I said, I am informed that there has been no imprisonment as a result of any breach of the declared public precinct, and we are committed to making sure there is a multi-agency response to some of these issues.

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