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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2024-06-18 Daily Xml
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Police Integrity

The Hon. F. PANGALLO (15:00): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Attorney-General, representing the Minister for Police in the other place, a question about police integrity.

Leave granted.

The Hon. F. PANGALLO: Last Friday, The Advertiser published the story about a candidate for the President of the Police Association of South Australia, the current deputy, Mr Wade Burns, who was demoted from the rank of chief inspector to senior sergeant in 2017. No explanation was given either by SAPOL or Mr Burns for such a major reversion of rank, nor for that matter have I ever heard of any person in a powerful position requesting a significant demotion.

In one of his election posts to PASA members Mr Burns says, 'We all know that one of the greatest demands on the leaders of today is transparency. I have always believed in openness, and I will certainly apply it to the presidency.' In the interests of the openness and transparency Mr Burns demands, and for PASA's membership currently deciding who will get their vote, I will summarise the worst-kept secret in SAPOL, and most likely by the former Weatherill Labor government, which should have been made aware of it—I was while working at Today Tonight.

In 2017, in a positive initiative driven by the police commissioner, Grant Stevens, Mr Burns, then a chief inspector, was appointed to head Project Equitas, a program designed to combat sexual discrimination, sexual harassment and predatory behaviour in SA Police, following the disturbing findings of a review by the equal opportunity commissioner. His team included serving male and female police officers and civilian female staff.

Following the completion of the project, multiple complaints were lodged with SAPOL's internal affairs against Mr Burns for egregious behaviour at a social function in a public place for invited Project Equitas and SAPOL members. The accusations levelled against him included predatory behaviour and the alleged sexual assault of a then civilian female SAPOL employee, witnessed by several people in attendance. It is my understanding that there was a list of agreed facts during the investigation and the demotion to senior sergeant came after Mr Burns pleaded guilty to the agreed facts.

Some time later, Mr Burns appealed his demotion where the police commissioner's objections on integrity grounds were overruled and he was ordered to promote Mr Burns to the rank of inspector. Mr Burns recently sought a further promotion back to chief inspector. However, this was again rejected on integrity grounds, a decision I understand supported by Commissioner Stevens. My questions to the minister are:

1. Can he seek a detailed urgent response for the parliament on why Mr Burns was not criminally charged for his conduct or, for that matter, not referred to the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption?

2. Why was Mr Burns not sacked for his egregious conduct, which was open to SAPOL under its code of conduct and the Public Sector (Honesty and Accountability) Act, covering public officers?

3. Who at SAPOL issued the penalty demoting Mr Burns?

4. Will the minister request the Commissioner of Police to authorise the release of the full report into the investigation and adverse findings made against Mr Burns?

5. Considering the adverse findings against Mr Burns, does the police minister and the Premier have full confidence that Mr Burns is a fit and proper person to lead the union and represent the interests of all serving police officers, especially female police officers?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (15:04): I thank the honourable member for his questions. I will pass them on and, if it is possible and appropriate to do so, bring back a reply, noting that it may well not be.

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