Weatherill Labor Government votes down police inquiry

23Mar

The Weatherill Labor Government has today voted down a State Liberal motion to establish a Parliamentary Committee to inquire into how the Government’s highly contentious plans to slash the police budget are leading to the civilianization of positions previously undertaken by sworn officers.

“The fact that the Weatherill Labor Government voted to not have an inquiry shows just how much they have to hide about cuts to the police budget,” said Shadow Minister for Police Dan van Holst Pellekaan.

Mr van Holst Pellekaan proposed that a Joint Select Committee be established to inquire into:

The impact upon service delivery of the Government’s budget savings targets for SAPOL;

The intended and potential outcomes of SAPOLs organisational reform proposals;

The civilianisation of Police positions previously undertaken by sworn Police officers;

The potential impact upon service delivery of closing police stations and the reduction of opening hours at others;

The spending of $5.1M to demolish and rebuild a new Henley Beach Police Station which will operate 9am to 5pm weekdays rather than the recently extended hours of 8am to 11pm seven days per week;

Progress in achieving the Government’s election commitment to recruit an additional 313 police officers by 30 June 2018;

The resources available to SAPOL to meet the Government’s target of an additional 313 police; and,

The use of SAPOL resources to hold prisoners and remandees on behalf of Department of Correctional Services.

“I’m concerned that community safety will be undermined by the Weatherill Government’s budget cuts,” said Mr van Holst Pellekaan.

“By not supporting the establishment of this Committee, the Weatherill Labor Government has shown that it has something to hide.

“SAPOL officers and the South Australian community deserve to know the impact of the Weatherill Labor Government’s police budget cuts.”