Freedom of Information reveals almost 70 security incidents at sensitive SA buildings

Dozens of security scares have been recorded at some of the state’s most sensitive buildings including trespassing, threatening incidents and discovery of hidden weapons.

Dozens of security scares have been recorded at some of the state’s most sensitive buildings including trespassing, threatening incidents and discovery of hidden weapons, secret records have shown.

Documents released under Freedom of Information laws reveal almost 70 incidents at major locations such as Government House, State Parliament and the city’s public sector epicentre.

Security logs, which have never been made public, also reveal “critical infrastructure and high-risk” location incidents at police headquarters, departmental buildings and the state’s main tribunal.

The logs, written by State Government Protective Security guards showed the Governor’s North Tce home had the most incidents at 20 over the past two financial years.

The next worst was at police headquarters with 11, followed by nine alerts at the South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

Government House on North Terrace.

There were also nine incidents at the State Administration Centre, in Victoria Square where public servants, advisers and politicians work, including Premier Steven Marshall.

Incidents were also recorded at the Education Department (nine), the Public Trustee (three) and the office of the Chief Psychiatrist (two).

Since 2006, Protective Security Officers have protected Government infrastructure and other high-risk assets and are managed by SA police.

The documents showed most of the 20 Government House incidents involved trespassing or public disorder offences such as urination.

Senior Government sources downplayed the “opportunistic” breaches undertaken mainly by drunken people.

They told The Advertiser none had left SA Governor Hieu Van Le, 65, facing any serious threat.

Parliament House on North Terrace.

According to the security logs, a man managed to evade security and wander two floors of the Education Department in January. Duress alarms were also triggered several times at the SACAAT, which reviews government decisions, housing disputes and Guardianship Board matters.

A man was cautioned after a hidden “credit card” knife was discovered as he visited Parliament House in November 2016. A female SA Police “staff member” was warned after a male friend walked with her into a bike storage area while another man claimed he wanted to “commit mass murder” after entering its Angas St headquarters.

Acting Labor police spokesman Katrine Hildyard called the incidents “concerning” and said they highlighted the need for “adequate funding to keep our community safe”.

“Where possible, information about these incidents should be publicly available, subject to advice from relevant authorities,” she said.

SA Governor Hieu Van Le. Picture: James Elsby

A police spokesman said the number of offences are published in its annual report and incidents were of a “relatively minor nature”.

“This offending consists of … arrests or reports of persons apprehended in or around government buildings for offences such urinating in a public place, trespassing ... (and) disorderly behaviour,” he said. Neither a Government, nor the Governor’s spokesman, commented.