Published October 2024
The report of the Premier’s Taskforce into police recruitment and retention issues has now been kept secret for over a year with Labor’s Police Minister Dan Cregan today in Parliament refusing to commit to its release and seemingly dismissing its recommendations as “mere papers… mere reflections”.
The Premier’s Taskforce, which was established in July 2022 and touted as a Labor election commitment being delivered, promised to make important recommendations on police resourcing and numbers.
While the Police Commissioner confirmed in Parliament earlier in the year that the draft report was “essentially finalised in October 2023”, Labor has still not released the critical report to the public.
Shadow Minister for Community Safety, Police and Correctional Services, Jack Batty, said Labor must immediately release the report of the Premier’s Taskforce in full so that we can get on with the job of properly recruiting, retaining and resourcing our police officers.
“While the Premier keeps secrets, crime keeps soaring,” Mr Batty said.
“This report has presumably been sitting on the Premier’s desk for over a year now while a crimewave sweeps our state – with South Australians waking up nearly daily to news of violent home invasions, random assaults in the CBD and Molotov cocktails flying around our suburbs.
“SAPOL is under-resourced – with a shortfall of nearly 200 police officers.
“We heard yet another cry for help from the Police Commissioner yesterday when he said that SAPOL is struggling to keep up with increasing calls for service.
“It is shocking to discover that a report which could have potential solutions, to better protect the community and boost police resources and presence, is being left to gather dust.
“There is no point in a Premier’s Taskforce that never reports. Why hasn’t this crucial report been made public for South Australians to see?
“Is Labor’s Police Minister Dan Cregan perhaps embarrassed that this Taskforce lays bare the shocking shortfalls in his resourcing of our police? He should hide his embarrassment and release the report so we can get on with fixing this growing problem.”
Media Contact: Gretel Mead 0449 500 844
