Police Protection Vests

Mr ODENWALDER (Elizabeth) (15:11): That's just opened up a whole new lot of questions, sir. My question is indeed to the Minister for Police. Minister, can you confirm that stab-proof and ballistic vests will continue to be rolled out to front-line operational police, regardless of the $38 million cuts to the SAPOL budget?

The SPEAKER: Could you please repeat the question.

Mr ODENWALDER: Yes. Can you confirm that stab-proof and ballistic vests will continue to be rolled out to operational police, regardless of the $38 million worth of cuts to the budget?

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD (Gibson—Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (15:12): I thank the member for the question. We have made our election commitments very, very clear, and we are rolling out the trial of the stab-proof vests, as we have outlined previously—and I have done that a number of times in this chamber. I do note, though, that the shadow minister doesn't point out—he does always skip this little point whenever he brings up any efficiency dividends that have been placed on South Australia Police—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: Thank you, Mr Speaker. I thank you for your protection. The shadow minister does always avoid pointing out the fact that, under the previous government, there were $80 million worth of efficiencies imposed upon SAPOL. They never want to talk about that.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: I'm listening. Members on my right, be quiet!

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: The shadow minister avoids that like the plague.

Mr ODENWALDER: Point of order: this is debate.

The SPEAKER: Minister, there is a point of order from the member for Elizabeth for debate. I will allow some preamble, but then I expect the minister to get to the point pretty quickly. I ask members on my right to please be quiet so I can hear the minister's answer.

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: I am getting to the point of the question—

The SPEAKER: Thank you.

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: —which was about efficiency dividends and the cuts that the Labor government imposed on South Australia Police, totalling nearly $80 million.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! I am listening.

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: That is what they inflicted upon South Australia. What we are doing is getting on with fixing their mess. I think the Attorney outlined that very, very well in some of her answers earlier today. We will get on with that job. They created the mess; we will fix it.

Ms Stinson: Doesn't know the answer, doesn't know his brief.

The SPEAKER: The member for Badcoe is warned. The member for Elizabeth has the call and then the member for King.