1 00:00:00,480 --> 00:00:02,400 Speaker 1: Well, you will have heard on five Double A News 2 00:00:02,440 --> 00:00:06,480 Speaker 1: this morning. South Australia is facing a critical shortage of police. 3 00:00:06,600 --> 00:00:10,000 Speaker 1: We put through a few through the system. In the 4 00:00:10,080 --> 00:00:14,360 Speaker 1: last year, two hundred and sixty two graduates came through 5 00:00:14,400 --> 00:00:18,360 Speaker 1: the ranks cadets, but two hundred and thirty nine officers 6 00:00:18,560 --> 00:00:22,960 Speaker 1: left the force, which leads us with twenty three more police. 7 00:00:23,040 --> 00:00:26,360 Speaker 1: Minister Dan Kregan on the line to talk about this. 8 00:00:26,400 --> 00:00:29,680 Speaker 1: We need more recruits, more domestic recruits, more international. Wherever 9 00:00:29,720 --> 00:00:31,960 Speaker 1: we get them from, I'm sure they'll be very welcome. Minister. 10 00:00:32,000 --> 00:00:34,640 Speaker 2: Good morning, Good morning, Matthew. Good to be with you. 11 00:00:34,800 --> 00:00:38,120 Speaker 1: It's a disappointing number, isn't it. Twenty three Pretty disappointing, 12 00:00:38,320 --> 00:00:40,720 Speaker 1: you'd have to say, going through all this effort to 13 00:00:40,720 --> 00:00:43,400 Speaker 1: put new recruits through. Great to have them, but as 14 00:00:43,440 --> 00:00:44,159 Speaker 1: many leave. 15 00:00:45,360 --> 00:00:48,960 Speaker 2: We're definitely facing tough employment conditions because our employment market 16 00:00:49,040 --> 00:00:52,120 Speaker 2: is so bognt in South Australia. There of course other 17 00:00:52,159 --> 00:00:56,680 Speaker 2: emergency services agencies, Australian Defense Force, private employers. They're all 18 00:00:56,680 --> 00:00:59,720 Speaker 2: looking to the same excellent people to join them, and 19 00:00:59,760 --> 00:01:02,280 Speaker 2: we want South Australia Police to be of course, the 20 00:01:02,360 --> 00:01:06,360 Speaker 2: destination that the employees are looking to as well as 21 00:01:06,440 --> 00:01:10,280 Speaker 2: unicated two hundred and sixty two graduates through the Police Academy. 22 00:01:10,520 --> 00:01:14,920 Speaker 2: There's a local graduates and two hundred they nine separations. 23 00:01:15,400 --> 00:01:19,200 Speaker 2: We have a shortfall in terms of the establishment number 24 00:01:19,200 --> 00:01:22,000 Speaker 2: for South Australia Police. That is the difference between sworn 25 00:01:22,040 --> 00:01:24,800 Speaker 2: officers that South Australia Police is funded for and the 26 00:01:24,880 --> 00:01:27,520 Speaker 2: number that we presently have. We're determined as a government 27 00:01:27,560 --> 00:01:30,720 Speaker 2: to close that gap. And there are two recruitment streams underway. 28 00:01:31,120 --> 00:01:34,600 Speaker 2: Obviously we're one up to two hundred international officers to 29 00:01:34,680 --> 00:01:38,560 Speaker 2: join us. That's the first time we've been recruiting overseas 30 00:01:38,560 --> 00:01:43,200 Speaker 2: since twenty twelve. At this class of fifteen from England, Scotland, 31 00:01:43,400 --> 00:01:46,760 Speaker 2: one from New Zealand, couple from interstate and you'll see 32 00:01:46,800 --> 00:01:50,440 Speaker 2: these international classes a roll out at the academy, a 33 00:01:50,480 --> 00:01:52,760 Speaker 2: program rolling out of the Academy through the course of 34 00:01:52,800 --> 00:01:54,960 Speaker 2: the year. We want up to two hundred. Of course, 35 00:01:55,000 --> 00:01:58,160 Speaker 2: we've also got our domestic recruitment underway as well and 36 00:01:58,200 --> 00:02:03,160 Speaker 2: another graduation we effectively double the number of recruits that 37 00:02:03,200 --> 00:02:05,840 Speaker 2: are coming into the academy and we want to hold 38 00:02:05,840 --> 00:02:10,120 Speaker 2: onto experience retained officers as well. But there's just such 39 00:02:10,160 --> 00:02:13,359 Speaker 2: an a bland employment market out there that we're competing 40 00:02:13,400 --> 00:02:16,040 Speaker 2: for these same excellent people. Do want to reassure your 41 00:02:16,080 --> 00:02:19,680 Speaker 2: listeners though we have one of the lowest attrition rates 42 00:02:19,720 --> 00:02:22,079 Speaker 2: of any police force in the country. We acknowledge their 43 00:02:22,200 --> 00:02:25,160 Speaker 2: challenges and we're not being distracted in any way from 44 00:02:25,160 --> 00:02:29,360 Speaker 2: those challenges. But the attrition rates around about five percent, 45 00:02:29,960 --> 00:02:32,960 Speaker 2: and that compares very, very favorably to all other states. 46 00:02:33,480 --> 00:02:36,640 Speaker 2: Often we're around about second after the Act and they 47 00:02:36,680 --> 00:02:38,959 Speaker 2: have a very different policing model there, obviously with the 48 00:02:38,960 --> 00:02:41,680 Speaker 2: Australian Federal Police assisting with policing in the Act. 49 00:02:41,960 --> 00:02:45,040 Speaker 1: All right, look, all very well and good, doesn't solve 50 00:02:45,080 --> 00:02:48,520 Speaker 1: the problem you having great attrition rates whatever, you're still 51 00:02:48,520 --> 00:02:52,519 Speaker 1: only twenty recruits up and that's not a good situation 52 00:02:52,600 --> 00:02:55,280 Speaker 1: given we're what two hundred down in terms of numbers 53 00:02:55,280 --> 00:02:57,799 Speaker 1: of where we should be in that gap you're talking about, 54 00:02:58,000 --> 00:03:01,840 Speaker 1: so all police forces around in the country competing for 55 00:03:01,919 --> 00:03:04,680 Speaker 1: people from the same sources from overseas, from the UK. 56 00:03:05,000 --> 00:03:07,480 Speaker 1: I reckon if I was a British copper on the 57 00:03:07,520 --> 00:03:09,520 Speaker 1: beat looking for somewhere warm to go, I'd probably go 58 00:03:09,560 --> 00:03:10,200 Speaker 1: to Queensland. 59 00:03:11,320 --> 00:03:13,440 Speaker 2: Well, I think our environment in South Australia is particularly 60 00:03:13,480 --> 00:03:18,160 Speaker 2: attractive and we've had excellent success in attracting and retaining 61 00:03:18,600 --> 00:03:21,560 Speaker 2: UK recruits and other recruits from overseas over the years. 62 00:03:21,560 --> 00:03:24,239 Speaker 2: They've made an excellent contribution. They fit in very well 63 00:03:24,280 --> 00:03:27,240 Speaker 2: in South Australia. But we've been very upfront we want 64 00:03:27,520 --> 00:03:30,280 Speaker 2: up to two hundred international recruits. We're putting twelve million 65 00:03:30,280 --> 00:03:34,000 Speaker 2: dollars into that program. We're investing over eighty million dollars 66 00:03:34,040 --> 00:03:36,640 Speaker 2: to ensure that we're cruiting a large number of PSOs 67 00:03:36,680 --> 00:03:40,200 Speaker 2: by security officers to support our police officers, and we've 68 00:03:40,240 --> 00:03:44,840 Speaker 2: got substantial domestic recruitment campaigns underway at the same time 69 00:03:44,880 --> 00:03:48,960 Speaker 2: as an enterprise bargaining a process underway to ensure we've 70 00:03:48,960 --> 00:03:52,360 Speaker 2: got the best possible conditions to retain those officers that 71 00:03:52,480 --> 00:03:56,160 Speaker 2: we have. But you're right, conditions are challenging for a 72 00:03:56,240 --> 00:03:59,000 Speaker 2: number of police forces right around the world. And we 73 00:03:59,080 --> 00:04:02,200 Speaker 2: have for the first time in my lifetime, full employment 74 00:04:02,240 --> 00:04:05,240 Speaker 2: in South Australia. That is something to be celebrated, but 75 00:04:05,280 --> 00:04:09,360 Speaker 2: it does mean that everybody is facing labor shortages and challenges. 76 00:04:09,640 --> 00:04:11,839 Speaker 2: And because we want the very best people to join 77 00:04:11,880 --> 00:04:15,440 Speaker 2: the South Australia Police, they have been obviously some challenges 78 00:04:15,480 --> 00:04:18,320 Speaker 2: in recruitment, but that is why the government is investing 79 00:04:18,680 --> 00:04:20,960 Speaker 2: are strongly to make sure there's funds on the table. 80 00:04:21,040 --> 00:04:23,240 Speaker 1: Obviously, well, this type of recruitment, when you've got this 81 00:04:23,320 --> 00:04:26,559 Speaker 1: type of competition then forces around the country, around the world, 82 00:04:26,760 --> 00:04:29,039 Speaker 1: what do you do to be different? You've either got 83 00:04:29,839 --> 00:04:32,799 Speaker 1: up the pay as one thing to be really competitive 84 00:04:32,839 --> 00:04:34,919 Speaker 1: in that area and probably go a bit beyond, or 85 00:04:35,360 --> 00:04:38,560 Speaker 1: offer a heap of benefits like better Super the old 86 00:04:38,600 --> 00:04:40,720 Speaker 1: super scheme that we used to have In essay, I mean, 87 00:04:40,800 --> 00:04:43,800 Speaker 1: is that part of the for public servants? Is that 88 00:04:43,839 --> 00:04:45,680 Speaker 1: part of the answer here to get people into the 89 00:04:45,720 --> 00:04:48,960 Speaker 1: force because that sort of thing would appeal and bring people. 90 00:04:48,680 --> 00:04:53,400 Speaker 2: In absolutely, and as part of the enterprise bargaining process, 91 00:04:53,560 --> 00:04:57,560 Speaker 2: obviously a whole range of issues are examined from well, 92 00:04:57,600 --> 00:05:03,520 Speaker 2: really the entire remuneration package available to officers. That is 93 00:05:03,520 --> 00:05:06,760 Speaker 2: something that recruits think about when they're looking to join 94 00:05:06,760 --> 00:05:10,120 Speaker 2: a police force. But equally they're thinking about the environment, 95 00:05:10,200 --> 00:05:13,080 Speaker 2: the type of communities that they're working with, towns right 96 00:05:13,120 --> 00:05:16,600 Speaker 2: throughout South Australia and not just Adelaide, and it's been 97 00:05:16,600 --> 00:05:21,039 Speaker 2: a very attractive environment for overseas and domestic recruits for 98 00:05:21,120 --> 00:05:23,960 Speaker 2: a long time. I think it's important to remember that 99 00:05:24,000 --> 00:05:28,239 Speaker 2: we're getting of two hundred applications to South Australia Police 100 00:05:28,360 --> 00:05:31,120 Speaker 2: a month, over two thousand a year. This is a 101 00:05:31,200 --> 00:05:34,400 Speaker 2: very attractive career and it has a lot of opportunities 102 00:05:34,440 --> 00:05:36,960 Speaker 2: and can be very very satisfying. But as I say, 103 00:05:37,279 --> 00:05:39,880 Speaker 2: with full employment in South Australia for the first time 104 00:05:39,920 --> 00:05:43,279 Speaker 2: in my lifetime, at least we are definitely competing for 105 00:05:43,320 --> 00:05:44,440 Speaker 2: some excellent candidates. 106 00:05:44,760 --> 00:05:48,520 Speaker 1: Is the problem. They're not getting recruits in but retaining 107 00:05:48,640 --> 00:05:51,360 Speaker 1: the officers. You already have what needs to happen in 108 00:05:51,360 --> 00:05:54,159 Speaker 1: that space, because that's preaps. That's the bigger problem. 109 00:05:55,560 --> 00:05:57,760 Speaker 2: I think it's a question of both making sure that 110 00:05:57,839 --> 00:06:01,560 Speaker 2: we have a very strong recruitment upline. In this case, 111 00:06:01,720 --> 00:06:05,120 Speaker 2: obviously there are two streams there, one coming from overseas, 112 00:06:05,560 --> 00:06:09,159 Speaker 2: one locally, and just with the local recruitment, we were 113 00:06:09,200 --> 00:06:11,800 Speaker 2: able to ensure that we were recruiting more than we 114 00:06:11,800 --> 00:06:15,720 Speaker 2: were losing. At the financial year end market there two 115 00:06:15,800 --> 00:06:17,960 Speaker 2: sixty two over two thirty nine. We've now got the 116 00:06:17,960 --> 00:06:21,839 Speaker 2: international recruits coming in over the top the first class. Now, 117 00:06:22,080 --> 00:06:25,479 Speaker 2: of course we've spoken about today, but it's a whole package. Really, 118 00:06:26,080 --> 00:06:28,279 Speaker 2: we've got to make sure you're looking after the existing 119 00:06:28,360 --> 00:06:30,800 Speaker 2: police officers that you've got, putting in the very best 120 00:06:30,839 --> 00:06:33,080 Speaker 2: conditions from them, and then making sure you've got the 121 00:06:33,240 --> 00:06:36,359 Speaker 2: very best applicants joining South Australia Police. I mean, this 122 00:06:36,440 --> 00:06:40,480 Speaker 2: is the third oldest police force in the world, it 123 00:06:40,520 --> 00:06:44,440 Speaker 2: has an excellent reputation. We're in a strong position to recruit, 124 00:06:44,680 --> 00:06:46,720 Speaker 2: but we want to make sure we're putting real resources 125 00:06:46,720 --> 00:06:50,279 Speaker 2: behind that. Twelve million dollars and over eighty million dollars 126 00:06:50,320 --> 00:06:51,440 Speaker 2: in the PSO program. 127 00:06:51,680 --> 00:06:55,440 Speaker 1: Is the issue. The policing model, the LSA model, the 128 00:06:55,520 --> 00:06:57,960 Speaker 1: changes put in a couple of years back, three or 129 00:06:57,960 --> 00:07:01,640 Speaker 1: four years ago. Now we're I'm not happy with that model. 130 00:07:01,680 --> 00:07:02,720 Speaker 1: I hear that repeatedly. 131 00:07:02,960 --> 00:07:06,040 Speaker 2: And the elite thing, well, I think it's important to 132 00:07:06,240 --> 00:07:10,800 Speaker 2: recognize that no minister directs operational policing in South Australia. 133 00:07:11,080 --> 00:07:13,280 Speaker 2: We've obviously had that distinction in place for a long 134 00:07:13,280 --> 00:07:15,679 Speaker 2: long time, or since the foundation of our police force. 135 00:07:16,040 --> 00:07:19,560 Speaker 2: So statisticians around policing models are for a South Australia 136 00:07:19,600 --> 00:07:21,720 Speaker 2: Police and always have been and will continue to be. 137 00:07:21,840 --> 00:07:24,200 Speaker 2: So we take a good deal of interest, of course 138 00:07:24,440 --> 00:07:27,240 Speaker 2: in those programs. But it's the responsibility of government to 139 00:07:27,280 --> 00:07:31,080 Speaker 2: make sure that we're resourcing our police force adequately. We're 140 00:07:31,080 --> 00:07:35,040 Speaker 2: determined to do that. We really welcome the international officers 141 00:07:35,080 --> 00:07:35,360 Speaker 2: that have. 142 00:07:35,360 --> 00:07:38,640 Speaker 1: Joined us, right, But that doesn't answer the question though, 143 00:07:38,720 --> 00:07:40,440 Speaker 1: is that model a problem And I'm not asking you 144 00:07:40,480 --> 00:07:42,280 Speaker 1: to direct that, I'm asking you if it's a problem. 145 00:07:43,200 --> 00:07:46,240 Speaker 2: Well, of course we consider it all the feedback that 146 00:07:46,280 --> 00:07:48,880 Speaker 2: it's received by government. We also take advice from South 147 00:07:48,880 --> 00:07:53,040 Speaker 2: Australia Police. As I say, no Minister gets engaged in 148 00:07:53,200 --> 00:07:56,760 Speaker 2: designing the operational models for South Australia Police, that'd be 149 00:07:56,800 --> 00:07:59,440 Speaker 2: a very slippery slope, not one that I would want 150 00:07:59,480 --> 00:08:02,160 Speaker 2: to go down. But we're determined to make sure that 151 00:08:02,280 --> 00:08:06,120 Speaker 2: resources are available to South Australia polace and as a government, 152 00:08:06,280 --> 00:08:07,040 Speaker 2: that's what we're doing. 153 00:08:07,160 --> 00:08:09,040 Speaker 1: Yeah, but it seems a bit I'm not asking you 154 00:08:09,120 --> 00:08:11,040 Speaker 1: to direct it or get involved in it, but you 155 00:08:11,080 --> 00:08:14,160 Speaker 1: would surely be concerned doing interviews like this talking about 156 00:08:14,160 --> 00:08:18,040 Speaker 1: recruiting and how wonderful our attrition rate is. When people 157 00:08:18,080 --> 00:08:21,160 Speaker 1: aren't staying in the job, indicates there's a problem somewhere 158 00:08:21,160 --> 00:08:23,320 Speaker 1: in the system. And I'm sure you've had that issue. 159 00:08:23,600 --> 00:08:26,200 Speaker 1: You've discussed that with the Police Commissioner. You surely would 160 00:08:26,200 --> 00:08:28,880 Speaker 1: have because this would concern him as much as you 161 00:08:28,920 --> 00:08:30,360 Speaker 1: and write through the ranks of the force. 162 00:08:31,280 --> 00:08:34,280 Speaker 2: I certainly appreciate the question, Matthew, won't be drawn on it. 163 00:08:34,559 --> 00:08:37,160 Speaker 2: I must say we take all feedback where are safe 164 00:08:37,200 --> 00:08:39,480 Speaker 2: to government very very seriously. But we also take the 165 00:08:39,520 --> 00:08:43,559 Speaker 2: best possible advice from officers of South Australia POLACE about 166 00:08:43,559 --> 00:08:47,080 Speaker 2: the appropriate models for policing. And what we're determined to 167 00:08:47,080 --> 00:08:50,559 Speaker 2: do is to say close the establishment gap and support 168 00:08:50,559 --> 00:08:53,720 Speaker 2: our South Australia POLACE where the appropriate resources twelve million 169 00:08:53,760 --> 00:08:57,400 Speaker 2: dollars for these recruitment programs and other eighty million dollars 170 00:08:57,440 --> 00:08:59,960 Speaker 2: for PSOs. Will stay very very interested in the matter. 171 00:09:00,000 --> 00:09:02,040 Speaker 2: Speak you raise with me, but I won't be drawn 172 00:09:02,080 --> 00:09:02,600 Speaker 2: on them today. 173 00:09:02,640 --> 00:09:04,840 Speaker 1: All right, Dan Creigan, police minister, appreciate your time. 174 00:09:05,679 --> 00:09:07,400 Speaker 2: Good on you, Matthew, you really appreciate it. Good to 175 00:09:07,440 --> 00:09:07,800 Speaker 2: be with you. 176 00:09:08,200 --> 00:09:11,120 Speaker 1: I spoke with him earlier this morning. Jack Batty is 177 00:09:11,160 --> 00:09:14,040 Speaker 1: called in. He's a shadow Minister for Police. Mister Batty, 178 00:09:14,040 --> 00:09:16,760 Speaker 1: good morning, Good morning, Matthew. At what point would you 179 00:09:16,800 --> 00:09:18,719 Speaker 1: like to make well, Look, we. 180 00:09:18,720 --> 00:09:22,640 Speaker 3: Of course welcome the fifteen new bobbies starting. They're training 181 00:09:22,679 --> 00:09:25,440 Speaker 3: in South Australia this week. But the truth is it's 182 00:09:25,480 --> 00:09:28,679 Speaker 3: hardly going to scratch the surface of what's a really 183 00:09:29,040 --> 00:09:34,040 Speaker 3: escalating problem with police recruitment and retention in South Australia. 184 00:09:34,040 --> 00:09:36,320 Speaker 3: We've got a short fall of nearly two hundred officers 185 00:09:36,960 --> 00:09:40,239 Speaker 3: based on twenty eighteen numbers. If you adjust snapped the population, 186 00:09:40,920 --> 00:09:43,480 Speaker 3: it's probably closer to a short for about five hundred. 187 00:09:44,400 --> 00:09:48,000 Speaker 3: International recruitment keeps being held up by this government as 188 00:09:48,000 --> 00:09:52,440 Speaker 3: a bit of a silver bullet for this crisis, but 189 00:09:52,760 --> 00:09:56,280 Speaker 3: the early signs are it's just turning into another labor failure. 190 00:09:55,960 --> 00:09:56,600 Speaker 2: On law and order. 191 00:09:56,840 --> 00:09:59,520 Speaker 1: It's look, you can recruit as much as you want 192 00:09:59,520 --> 00:10:02,000 Speaker 1: if they're lea that's where the problem surely is. So 193 00:10:02,440 --> 00:10:05,160 Speaker 1: what is the issue? Is it the local service area model? 194 00:10:06,240 --> 00:10:06,440 Speaker 2: Yeah? 195 00:10:06,440 --> 00:10:08,839 Speaker 3: Look, I think you're right to identify we've got dual 196 00:10:08,920 --> 00:10:11,760 Speaker 3: problems here. We've got a recruitment problem, but we've also 197 00:10:11,920 --> 00:10:15,199 Speaker 3: got a retention problem. There was a survey that came 198 00:10:15,240 --> 00:10:18,280 Speaker 3: out only a couple of weeks ago that showed one 199 00:10:18,360 --> 00:10:22,440 Speaker 3: in three South Australian police officers planning to leave the 200 00:10:22,480 --> 00:10:25,439 Speaker 3: force in the next three years. And I think you're 201 00:10:25,520 --> 00:10:31,240 Speaker 3: right to ask questions, well why, and you identify one 202 00:10:31,480 --> 00:10:36,400 Speaker 3: commonly raised concern, which is the district policing model that 203 00:10:36,720 --> 00:10:40,040 Speaker 3: seems to be requiring police to do a whole lot 204 00:10:40,080 --> 00:10:42,760 Speaker 3: more with a whole lot less. It seems to have 205 00:10:42,840 --> 00:10:48,480 Speaker 3: resulted in a reduction of active policing. But the truth 206 00:10:48,520 --> 00:10:51,920 Speaker 3: of the matter is, whatever the model is, it's got 207 00:10:51,960 --> 00:10:55,240 Speaker 3: to be resourced properly, and it's not happening at the 208 00:10:55,240 --> 00:10:58,480 Speaker 3: moment by this government. And the fifteen new police starting 209 00:10:58,520 --> 00:11:00,400 Speaker 3: today won't solve that album 210 00:11:00,559 --> 00:11:02,400 Speaker 1: No indeed, all right, I appreciate your time, Thank you, 211 00:11:03,360 --> 00:11:05,640 Speaker 1: Thanks Betty Jack, Betty shout out Police Minister.