Man shoved and dragged by SA Police officer was treated for skull fracture, Greens MP says

South Australia's parliament has been told a man taken into custody was treated for a skull fracture and a broken rib following his arrest near Port Augusta earlier this month.

WARNING: This story contains footage of an incident that readers may find distressing.

Speaking under parliamentary privilege, Greens MP Tammy Franks this week told the upper house that, after the man was released from custody, he also had to undertake an almost hour-long walk home.

Video shared on social media last week showed the 42-year-old man speaking to police at a house at Davenport before he was pushed into a wall with force, causing him to collapse to the ground.

A second video shows the man being dragged along a concrete path by a police officer before he is held down and arrested.

Police previously confirmed the man had been charged with assaulting and hindering police, but that, after a review of body-worn vision, the "full circumstances of this incident" were being assessed.

Ms Franks told parliament the incident had "sparked outrage, and quite rightly so".

"What was truly unacceptable was the vision that many … people saw in the Davenport community just over a week ago, of the assault of an Aboriginal man," she said.

Ms Franks said the man was later taken to a police station, where he was charged.

"He was not able to be returned to the hospital, he was not returned to medical care, he was in fact made to walk back to the Davenport community — a walk of almost an hour from that police station," she said.

In a statement to the ABC, SA Police said Ms Franks's allegations that the man had suffered a broken rib and fractured skull and was not provided with sufficient medical treatment were "not supported by evidence".

"There is no supporting X-ray material to support the man suffered a broken rib and there is medical evidence to refute the allegation the man suffered a fractured skull," the statement said.

"There is documented evidence that shows the man was conveyed to Port Augusta hospital on two occasions following his arrest for medical treatment and assessment. This included a CT scan.

"On both occasions he was cleared by doctors as fit for custody and returned to the Port Augusta police station."

The man was bailed to appear in the Port Augusta Magistrates Court on February 6.

"If that footage does exist from the body cam operations, I certainly look forward to SAPOL releasing it," Ms Franks told parliament.

Ms Franks said she had raised her concerns about the incident — which is the subject of a formal complaint — with Attorney-General and Aboriginal Affairs Minister Kyam Maher, who said he had spoken to the police commissioner about the matter.

"I have been assured that this will be thoroughly investigated under the Police Complaints and Discipline Act process," Mr Maher said last week.

Under the act, the media is generally not able to report information that is in connection to a complaint.

"However, the commissioner has determined to authorise both the disclosure and publication of the above information in relation to this complaint as it is in the public interest to do so," police said last week.

Police Minister Dan Cregan has expressed confidence in SA Police's processes for investigating complaints.

"South Australians should be reassured that there is a thorough investigation into police complaints," Mr Cregan said last week.

"I understand the police commissioner has also made clear that he may choose to release additional information in relation to this matter once the investigation is complete."

In it statement, SA Police said it "understands and acknowledges the video footage will have a significant impact on Aboriginal Peoples and Communities".

"SAPOL confirms our commitment to reconciliation and to our continued development of a culturally responsive organisation," the statement said.