Mr TARZIA (Hartley) (12:46): I rise to speak in favour of the motion and commend the member for Stuart for initiating it. I have an enormous amount of respect for the police not only on the front line but also in the important other roles they play—in Neighbourhood Watch, for example, in keeping our community areas safe and informed. As we have heard, National Police Remembrance Day on 29 September will see the day on which South Australia Police stop to honour its officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty. This is one of the most significant days on the policing calendar.
Mr TARZIA (Hartley) (12:46): I rise to speak in favour of the motion and commend the member for Stuart for initiating it. I have an enormous amount of respect for the police not only on the front line but also in the important other roles they play—in Neighbourhood Watch, for example, in keeping our community areas safe and informed. As we have heard, National Police Remembrance Day on 29 September will see the day on which South Australia Police stop to honour its officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty. This is one of the most significant days on the policing calendar.
It is a time for members of the service and the community to remember, honour and express their gratitude to the dedicated men and women who have died whilst serving. Obviously, this service is held at the Fort Largs Police Academy each year. Police officers, staff and members of the public are called by the police to pay tribute to this cause, something I can see many of the members are doing at the moment by wearing the appropriate ribbon. National Police Remembrance Day was first commemorated in 1989, and it is held each year on 29 September, or the nearest working day, in memory of police officers killed in the performance of their duty.
As we heard this morning, a total of 61 local police officers have lost their lives in the performance of their duty since 1838, when South Australia Police was formed. The day is remembered on 29 September, as it marks the feast, as the member for Little Para pointed out, of the archangel St Michael, who was, amongst other things, the patron of police men and women. On behalf of my constituents and also those across the state, I thank all the police who serve not only in our local areas but across the state and nation. I also thank the families behind the badge for their support, love and care of their family members who have been officers, especially the ones who have died while serving. It is extremely important that we continue to acknowledge and protect the people who serve and protect our community. I commend the motion to the house.
