South Australian police association scrutinised as sexual assault allegation enshrouds president

A shocking allegation is plaguing the presidency of a powerful police union.

With a legion of 4600 members paying $5 million in union fees every year, the police association of South Australia sets out to protect and represent the interest of its members.

But the association has become shrouded in controversy, after independent upper house MP Frank Pangallo raised concerns about the union's president under parliamentary privilege.

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Pangallo said current association president Wade Burns had suffered the "biggest demotion in South Australian police history" after an alleged sexual assault involving a female police colleague during a night out in 2017.

Burns was demoted from chief inspector to senior sergeant after the allegation emerged.

The matter was never referred for prosecution, due to the alleged victims' wishes, and the allegation has never been publicly proven, however a misconduct investigation was undertaken.

Burns has described the allegation as a 'workplace incident' which was "recycled in a desperate last ditch attempt to manipulate voter sentiment".

When Pangallo aired the allegation on the floor of SA parliament, voting in the by-election for the association presidency had already opened.

Burns went on to beat his closest rival Darren Cornell by a margin of 49 votes.

"I had members approach me who had rung the AEC, the Australian Electoral Commission, to try and change their vote because they weren't aware of the allegations," Cornell said.

Burns has since stepped down from positions he held on school and sports boards.

His salary package is thought to be in the region of 350k per year, including a brand new car.

"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 South Australia?" Cornell asked.

After the election, Inspector Cornell was expelled from the union for discrediting the association and its members.

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There's no avenue for Cornell to appeal his ban, so he can't run against Burns in next year's election.

"I've not breached any code of conduct, I've not breached any criminal law, I've not breached any regulations," Cornell said.

"I can only come to the conclusion this is about protecting the current president from the election in March 25."

Another police officer was also expelled, along with delegate Kerry Rouse, for co-signing a letter of complaint about Burns to Pangallo and the SA police commissioner.

It's understood Burns abstained from the votes on expulsion.

The bombshell assertion has opened a Pandora's Box within the association Burns now leads, including untested allegations of a toxic workplace under previous president Mark Carroll.

A Current Affair understands three former employees lodged unfair dismissal applications with Fair Work Commission, but all withdrew the claims saying they felt intimidated by the immense legal battle they faced.

Carroll strenuously denies the toxic workplace allegation through his lawyer.

"I know of at least 50 plus members that have withdrawn their membership as a result of either grievances with the police association or lack of transparency on the money that is being spent," Cornell claimed.

The union operates at arms' length from the force, the police commissioner and the police minister and is controlled by officers seconded from the force.

That means SA's police commissioner and umbrella organisation The Police Federation of Australia is powerless to act.

As a result, Burns is left to decide the standard of integrity and transparency in his role as SA Police Association President.