Published September 2024
With the Gepps Cross Barracks finally opening today, the Opposition is calling on Labor to reveal the final cost of its policy-on-the-run project.
It has previously been revealed that the cost to move SAPOL from the Thebarton Barracks has ballooned to $162.5 million – an extra $72.5 million on top of the original $90 million price tag that Treasurer Stephen Mullighan promised.
Shadow Minister for Community Safety, Police and Correctional Services, Jack Batty, said the relocation of the police horses from the Thebarton Barracks has been a debacle from the beginning.
“This has been a lesson in incompetence to try to move some horses,” said Mr Batty.
“When Labor broke their election promise by putting a bulldozer through the State Heritage Listed Thebarton Barracks, it was clear that they did not have a plan to relocate the highly specialised SAPOL units that were based there.
“The Government then embarked on a bizarre ‘announce, defend, capitulate’ strategy – with a Plan A in the precious park lands, a Plan B at the PFAS riddled airport site and now finally a Plan C out at Gepps Cross at an eye watering cost.
“This giant cost blow out for the Barracks could have funded more than 1,000 new, desperately needed police cadets.
“It is hard to believe that India can land a rover on the moon for $75 million but Peter Malinauskas can’t build some horse stables for less than about $200 million.”
Serious concerns have also been raised about what the relocation means for SAPOL’s work force.
“We know there are many officers from the Mounted Operations Unit who aren’t happy about moving to Gepps Cross which is a logistical nightmare for the horses,” Mr Batty said.
“It could be that Peter Malinauskas’ decision to send SAPOL to Gepps Cross could see result in even more police officers reconsidering their future in the force, which is a disaster.
“Given the crime crisis in South Australia right now, we cannot afford to lose a single officer.”
Media Contact: Gretel Mead 0449 500 844
