Police Association president Wade Burns confronted over sexual assault allegations

Police Association president Wade Burns has been confronted as heat rises over his position as head of one of the state’s most powerful unions.

Police Association President Wade Burns says allegations of sexual assault levelled against him “have been addressed” as heat continues to rise over his position as union boss.

As first revealed by The Advertiser, Mr Burns dropped two ranks from chief inspector to senior sergeant in 2017 — the largest demotion in SA Police history.

The reason for which had remained secret under the Police Complaints and Discipline Act, until bombshell claims were aired in parliament by independent MLC Frank Pangallo that Mr Burns had allegedly assaulted a female colleague at a social function.

Neither Mr Burns or the Police Association have responded to multiple requests from The Advertiser for comment on the allegations.

On Monday night, Mr Burns told A Current Affair cameras outside the Police Association building on Carrington St that he believed “those matters (had) been addressed”.

“I am the president of this association and we’re focusing on our business,” Mr Burns said in response to questions over whether he was “fit and proper” to remain head of the powerful union.

Police Association president Wade Burns has been confronted as heat rises over his position as head of one of the state’s most powerful unions. Picture: A Current Affair

It is the first time Mr Burns has addressed the allegations outside of a prerecorded video to Police Association members, in which he said “many of the rumours alleged by my election opponents are simply untrue”.

The allegations came to light during Mr Burns’ Police Association presidential election campaign, which he ultimately won over candidate Darren Cornell by a margin of fewer than 50 votes.

After the claims were aired and following inquiries by The Advertiser, Mr Burns resigned from the boards of Woodcroft College and Basketball SA, while SA sporting hall of famer Jenny Williams’ endorsement was also taken down from his website.

“If he’s not a fit and proper person for the school board or Basketball SA, how can he be a fit and proper person for the Police Association of SA?” Mr Cornell said.

Chief Inspector Darren Cornell was expelled from the Police Association for bringing “discredit to PASA” after he called for Mr Burns to step down from his election campaign. Picture: Supplied

Earlier this month, Mr Cornell and two other Police Association delegates were expelled from the union in what he described as a ‘kangaroo court’ decision.

It is understood Mr Cornell appealed to the Police Federation of Australia to request intervention over his expulsion, but the peak body is unable to act.

Mr Pangallo said the decision to expel the three members “because they spoke out about the conduct of the union” was “utterly outrageous”.

“The fact that they are prepared to get rid of critics who threaten their stronghold should shock their rank and file members … it almost reads like a page ripped out of the CFMEU songbook,” he said.