Department for Correctional Services, $370,762,000

Membership:

Mr McBride substituted for Mr Tarzia.

Ms Wortley substituted for Ms Savvas.

Mr Brown substituted for Mr Odenwalder.

Minister:

Hon. J.K. Szakacs, Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services.

Departmental Advisers:

Mr D. Brown, Chief Executive, Department for Correctional Services.

Mr C. Sexton, Executive Director, People and Business Services, Department for Correctional Services.

Ms M. Deer, Manager, Executive Services, Department for Correctional Services

The CHAIR: Welcome to Estimates Committee B. The portfolio is the Department for Correctional Services. The minister appearing is the Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services. I advise that the proposed payments remain open for examination. I call on the minister to make a statement, if he so wishes, and to introduce his advisers. I call on the lead speaker for the opposition to make a statement, if he so wishes. I call on members for questions.

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: Thank you, Chair. I welcome members to this session. I also welcome the advisers here with me: David Brown, Chief Executive of DCS; Chris Sexton, Executive Director, People and Business Services; and behind me is Megan Deer, Manager of Executive Services. I thank them for their exceptional work in preparation for today's estimates committee for the benefit of members here.

A pivotal responsibility of government is the protection and safety of its citizens. I have no doubt that those in this place appreciate the role and the critical responsibility that the Department for Correctional Services has in delivering that goal.

My observation of the work being done by DCS in the 11½ weeks that I have been minister—in that period I have spent a very considerable amount of time both in custodial facilities and community corrections facilities, as well as meeting with individual staff—is that the key strategic focus of the agency is the 10by20 strategy, which is having a significant and profoundly positive impact. I am incredibly proud that the 10by20 initiative was commenced by Labor back in 2016. To reduce offending, as we all know, leads to a better community outcome, less crime and fewer victims.

10by20 is focused on improving rehabilitation and reintegration and has already led to significant success. This is seen in South Australia's return to corrective services with a new correctional sanction rate, which was the lowest in the country at 39.3 per cent, well below the national average of 53.1 per cent. South Australia also has the lowest rate, nationally, of return to prison with a new sentence, which is 33.2 per cent, well below the national average of 45.2 per cent.

I know how proud DCS employees are of their work in 10by20. I would also like to take this opportunity to recognise over the last four years, in the face of very significant cuts to budget within DCS, the bipartisan support that the then Marshall government showed to the continuation of 10by20 strategies. I think the member for Hartley was previously in the room, and I thank him and note his interest as a former minister in this area.

I can give my assurance that this government will leverage off 10by20's success when mapping the future direction of our agency because one key element of 10by20, and a critical focus area for our government, is Closing the Gap and improving the opportunities and services available for our Aboriginal communities. Aboriginal over-representation in the justice system is a major social issue and it is one that this government is deeply committed to.

The policies and practices of the past have contributed to the disadvantage and the intergenerational trauma experienced by Aboriginal people today, who are, as a result, more likely to experience family and domestic violence, alcohol and drug abuse, inadequate housing, chronic health conditions, poor school attendance and high levels of unemployment. This cannot continue, and it is demonstrated by this government's whole-of-government approach to Closing the Gap. Several strategic priorities across DCS are focused on Closing the Gap, and the department is dedicated to ongoing action and multi-agency collaboration.

New Closing the Gap targets to be delivered by DCS as part of this new budget include increasing opportunities for meaningful partnerships with Aboriginal community-controlled organisations; developing a correctional treatment unit at Yatala Labour Prison, inclusive of Aboriginal-specific service models; developing a culturally responsive women's safety program for Aboriginal women and children who have been impacted by family and domestic violence, in partnership with Kornar Winmil Yunti; creating new Aboriginal-identified community corrections positions that will acknowledge cultural training and expertise; and increasing alcohol and other drugs reintegration support for regional and remote communities. I am confident these initiatives will lead to better outcomes for Aboriginal people.

We have had two years of COVID, and I want to make a very strong and proud acknowledgement of the extraordinary work that DCS staff, leaders and management have undertaken through that time. The impact as a high-risk setting could have been very different from what it was. To this day, not a single prisoner who has tested positive for COVID-19 has been hospitalised due to that diagnosis. That is a very significant outcome and a testament to the work that all DCS staff have undertaken.

I am also advised that, as at 21 June 2022, 75.6 per cent of prisoners were fully vaccinated and 1,768 eligible prisoners had received a booster dose. This is important to note because many prisoners, in fact the majority of prisoners, find themselves entering a correctional facility not having received even one vaccination. The public health outcomes that DCS have implemented in respect of the uptake of vaccinations of prisoners in correctional facilities have been important and are a very important legacy in respect of the approach they have taken from a public health perspective. I thank all the allied health staff who have been involved in that from SA Health as well.

Workforce planning is a continued focus of the department. In the past 12 months, over 90 new staff have been recruited, including 20 correctional officers who are due to graduate imminently. Three further schools are planned for 2022, and I look forward to congratulating these new staff at their graduation. I am also advised that there will be around 25 new recruits commencing in each of those schools.

The Malinauskas government is absolutely committed to working closely together to ensure our correctional system is well equipped to meet the rehabilitation and safety objectives the South Australian community expects. I am trusting, and in fact incredibly confident, that those objectives will be met and delivered by DCS management, leadership and the staff, who are so diligently committed to this state.

Mr WHETSTONE: Thank you, minister, and welcome to your team. I refer to Budget Paper 4, Volume 1, page 107. The completion of the Adelaide Women's Prison has been delayed by three months. Can you please give me an understanding of the reason for the delay to this project?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: I am advised that the completion date for the Adelaide Women's Prison, which is a project that includes within scope 40 beds, reception and, very importantly, a visitor centre to better equip and establish family-friendly, child-friendly visiting rooms and visiting facilities, has been delayed. An adjusted completion date is financial year 2022-23, and a carryover of capital will be facilitated to ensure that that is delivered.

Mr WHETSTONE: What evaluation process is the government implementing to ensure that all of the goals of this program are met?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: I am advised that pre and post occupancy audits are undertaken. These are extensive but also well established processes within DCS in the commissioning of their capital upgrades, whether new or established upgrades. I have every confidence that that will be done diligently, ensuring that the full scope of delivery is realised.

Mr WHETSTONE: Of course. I refer to the same reference point. The completion of the iSAFE offender management system has been delayed by 18 months. What are the reasons for the significant delay to this project?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: It might be worthwhile if I ask the chief executive, Mr Brown, to give you an update on that one. There has been some reclassification of operating within the life of that project as well.

Mr BROWN: The iSAFE project was a commitment made in 2019 by the government, providing $15 million to replace our existing offender management legacy systems that have been in operation for over 30 years. Following an open procurement process, Fujitsu Australia was selected as the preferred supplier and that contract was executed on 7 December 2021. It is a contract that runs through until 7 December 2036.

The execution of the contract represents a $12.8 million contribution to the SA economy and some opportunities to provide training and development opportunities for staff, including a traineeship committed to an Aboriginal South Australian. The total contract value for the delivery of tranche 1 is $34.6 million, and that combines a planning phase of $8.1 million and then the ongoing operating costs.

Initially, the budget allocated to the project was in the form of investing or capital. The nature of the contract is now better described as software as a service and therefore we sought permission and gained approval to reprofile that expenditure over the course of the planning phase. We expect that we will be implementing the project in accordance with the current schedule, which is early 2024.

In answer to the question more specifically, it was about seeking approval to reprofile capital to operating, given the outcome of the procurement process, rather than a delay in the delivery of the project.

Mr WHETSTONE: Obviously, the evaluation of the project or the process has been from a privately-funded operation to now government support to the program.

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: I will ask the chief executive to respond further.

Mr BROWN: It was always intended that the likely market outcome would be a specialist vendor providing an offender management system. The successful procurement was won by Fujitsu in partnership with a Canadian specialist firm called Syscon. The ongoing operation of the information management system we envisage will continue to be managed by DCS staff and other justice agency partners. It is more about the delivery of the new iSAFE platform that we went to market for.

Mr WHETSTONE: Minister, you are confident that the delay will now be met on time, on budget—the delayed forecast time of implementation of the iSAFE offender management system?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: If your question is whether I am confident about time lines, yes, I am.

Mr WHETSTONE: Another project delay is the completion of the digital upgrade for electronic monitoring that has been delayed by 12 months. Can you give me a better understanding of why there is that 12-month delay to the project?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: I am advised that there have been two considerations in respect of that project: the first is the transition from analog to digital delivery of electronic monitoring, and the second is that this has been a project which has been running parallel with the capital construct at Yatala, so the complexities around prison management and safety management have led to where the projected time line and completion currently is.

But again, if I can maybe add that, in anticipation, I am confident of the delivery of this. This has been a project which has had multiple moving parts, the least of which is operating at a time when there is still a fully operational prison. The delivery of this has been a project which is to be admired from DCS and I think they have done an excellent job, and it will be delivered for the benefit of the community shortly.

Mr WHETSTONE: Yet another delay is the completion of the Yatala Labour Prison's expansion, and that has been delayed by 12 months. Can you please give me a reason and an understanding of why we are seeing another delay of 12 months?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: I am advised that potentially the member's informed view around this is influenced by the underspend in the Agency Statement, and that is a matter of acquittals. The project is being risk managed by the Department for Infrastructure and Transport. All the advice I have received and the projections that DCS are working to is that that project will be delivered as per the initial schedule.

Mr WHETSTONE: I guess I am noticing a trend of delay with programs under your government. Is there a stretched friendship with either the Treasurer or the Premier, with these continued delays?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: I will not seek to provide commentary on what you may or may not note, but if I can just refer to my previous answer which I suggested may have genuinely informed your observations around delay, whereas in fact it is not. It is around capital acquittals. Quite to the contrary, I think the Treasurer and the Premier are doing, and have done, an extraordinary job in delivering a budget within 9½ to 10 weeks within being sworn into government, a budget which is very firmly focused on the future of South Australia.

I am, of course, biased, being the joint neighbour of the member for Lee and the member for Croydon as well. I think they are fantastic local members and I think their communities believe the same, as I am sure yours does about you.

Mr WHETSTONE: I am just wondering what they might be like at milking cows, and that leads me on to my next question.

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: I cannot even hypothesise.

Mr WHETSTONE: Budget Paper 4, Volume 1, page 107 and, speaking of milking cows, the Cadell Training Centre dairy: how many FTEs are expected to be required to deliver the project and what is the time line for the planning and the completion of that project?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: As the member would know, as a former member of the Public Works Committee—I am not sure if he is still currently—

Mr WHETSTONE: Former.

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: We shared some time on that.

Mr WHETSTONE: I have milked a lot of cows at that dairy too, by the way.

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: I would not comment on your milking.

The CHAIR: Even I have done that.

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: That is right. Even I have.

Mr WHETSTONE: Jack of all trades.

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: Jack of all trades. My mum's family were dairy farmers, believe it or not. My mum is probably the most city girl that I have ever met in my life, but she is from a family full of dairy farmers. They all run the farm still, so there you go. I will compare notes on udders one day.

The project will need to go to PWC. That has not gone to PWC yet. The project will imminently—well, shortly, subject to our usual process of cabinet—be going to PWC. I would not want to foreshadow assuming, or subject to, the deliberations of PWC on matters. The authority of PWC in this house is well established.

The Cadell Training Centre dairy upgrade is a very important project. It is one that is funded internally by DCS but well supported, I must say, by the former government. It is a very important project that will support prisoners as they rehabilitate and also support local industry and local jobs, which I know the member is very passionate about.

The projected cost of this project as provided by DIT—at the moment I believe this is the amount of projected costs that will be going to PWC—is $8.7 million. The architects on this project have undertaken concepts and have undertaken the work already. The expression of interest to build from suppliers will be forthcoming. Meanwhile, whilst those procurement processes and EOIs are progressing, DCS are working very closely with TAFE to ensure that prisoner training can be incorporated into the tender to hardwire and bed in the outcomes that we want to see in this project.

I can also provide some information in respect of where the capital will be distributed over the forward estimates for the member: in 2021-22, $2.8 million; in 2022-23, $2.4 million; in 2023-24, $1.5 million; and in 2024-25, $2 million.

Mr WHETSTONE: Please convey the importance of the dairy to the Cadell Training Centre. There is a high level of commitment and I think that it is a worthy initiative in a corrections centre—and it is in the great electorate of Chaffey. Budget Paper 4, Volume 1, page 107: as an expenditure summary, there have been a number of projects introduced under the former government that have not been allocated funding for 2022-23, resulting in a $92.4 million cut. What are the reasons for the significant cuts to a number of these programs?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: I am not sure. Your question referred to $94 million?

Mr WHETSTONE: Total funding cuts resulting in a $92.4 million cut. That is over the forwards 2021-22, 2022-23. There is a $92.4 million cut.

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: Rather than getting in a tit for tat because that is not—

Mr WHETSTONE: I can run through some of the programs if that would help?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: Sure.

Mr WHETSTONE: The total budget cost for the iSAFE offender management system has been cut by over $10.2 million. Can you give me a reason for that?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: Sure. I will take them one by one. Member for Chaffey, as Mr Brown advised before, that is the move of capital to operating, so this has been a reclassification, a reprofiling of costs, so these are now individuals who are working on the project. There has unequivocally been no cut to the budget. It is a reprofiling that is expending the same amount of money, but what we see in the Agency Statements is a movement of that from capital into operating.

Mr WHETSTONE: The net cost of providing services for the rehabilitation and repatriation has also been cut by $3.856 million. Can you give me a reason for those cuts in the forward estimates?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: I am sorry, Chair, is this still on page 107?

Mr WHETSTONE: Same reference point. I beg your pardon. It is Budget Paper 4, Volume 1, page 110.

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: I can advise the member in respect of that question, and I am happy to provide this detail although it is in the Agency Statements, that there is a decrease in commonwealth revenue in the 2022-23 budget from the 2021-22 estimated result, and this is due to the completion of the cross-borders remote areas program agreement in 2021-22. I can further advise that there has been a decrease in grants and subsidies expenditure in the 2022-23 budget, the 2021-22 estimated result, and 2020-21 actual compared with the 2021-22 budget, and that is due to the removal of non-industries related payments to offenders, which is now part of—so it has been moved over into program 2—custodial services.

Mr WHETSTONE: Minister, Budget Paper 4, Volume 1, page 114: can you please explain the 120 daily average prisoner population increase?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: There have been a number of factors over the last period of time. What have actually been very well ventilated in the Attorney-General's estimates, as well as I think when the Courts Administration Authority was before estimates, are the delays in court hearings and the completion of proceedings for various matters before the District Court. That is a mix of civil and criminal, and the criminal list and the 'delays' in that have of course impacted those prisoners who are retained on sentence but also significantly impacts the number of individuals in custodial facilities who are on remand.

There have also been, and continue to be from all governments, various methods, contemplation and strategies put in place to determine whether offending penalties are commensurate with community expectations and commensurate with goals that government has around prevention of offending. Over time that has effected, in a way, an upward trend in individuals subject to a custodial sentence.

Mr WHETSTONE: The cut to the rehabilitation directly and reparation of nearly $4 million will contribute to higher rates of reoffending. What effect of rehabilitation cuts will be projected on prisoner population numbers?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: As I answered earlier and reconfirm now, there has been no cut to rehabilitation services—that is very firm, and advice that I have just received from my advisers. It is a reprofiling across programs in the Agency Statements.

Mr WHETSTONE: Budget Paper 4, Volume 1, page 109, same reference point: the former government introduced funding towards a correctional rehabilitation facility business case. Where in the budget is the business case reflected?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: The strategic business case (SBC) historically undertaken identified a new rehabilitation prison as the best option to increase prison capacity and improve rehabilitation outcomes and apply downward pressure on prisoner growth. The final business case presents a critical opportunity for consideration and review. The budget implications and the budget considerations, more specifically to the member's question, were that $500,000 was received in the 2021 budget for the development of an SBC for a new rehabilitation prison, and in the 2021-22 budget DCS received $1.5 million for the development of the FBC. So those matters for the business cases are contained within the 2021-22 budget.

Mr WHETSTONE: Minister, can you shed more light on the preparedness? We understand that building prisons is a major piece of infrastructure, and the reflection on increased prisoner numbers sadly is something we will deal with in the future. Can you tell me if any considered work has been done on the build of a rehab prison site selection, any of the measures that would be put in place on a study process, particularly with the build of that prison?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: I can refer very specifically to my previous answer, but to give the member more detail, the SBC and the FBC—the strategic business case and the final business case—have and are being undertaken, so in direct response to the member's questions that is a work that is afoot, it is being undertaken and I can give the member the confidence that that is fully funded and is being undertaken.

Mr WHETSTONE: The concern South Australians should have is that we only see two major infrastructure projects from this current government: the north-south corridor and the Women's and Children's Hospital. The shortcomings of corrections beds will be apparent by the 2024-25 year—56 beds. In the 2029-30 year, there is a forecast shortfall of over 800 beds and yet we are not seeing a commitment by this government to implement a major piece of infrastructure for corrections facilities.

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: In respect of the north-south corridor and other observations the member has regarding infrastructure projects, I have no doubt that he has directed those to the relevant ministers.

Mr WHETSTONE: No, I am not looking for any reference to the project.

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: I am happy to go on, member for Chaffey. The observation that there are only two major infrastructure projects delivered in this budget more broadly, seeing that you invited the question, is just false. This is a budget that is delivering very firmly on the election commitments that this government made in opposition. We are doing a novel thing that I think the former government failed to do, and that is getting on with delivering a very firm program of delivery of the commitments that we made to the community of South Australia.

Regarding the specific advice and the specific work that is being undertaken in respect of prison capacity, and the business case regarding a rehabilitation prison, I can only restate my answers. That work is literally being done and any concerns the member for Chaffey would have, I would suggest, would be alleviated by my answer: that is work being undertaken by DCS through $2 million worth of specific funding to deliver business cases.

I think the development of a business case is the sound thing to do. I am not suggesting that the member for Chaffey is advocating that we proceed without a business case, but those business cases are critically important in informing future decision-making of the government, and I look forward to receiving those in due course.

Mr WHETSTONE: Do you have a forecast projection of what a rehabilitation prison could cost South Australian taxpayers?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: I refer to my previous five answers.

Mr WHETSTONE: I refer to Budget Paper 4, Volume 1, page 109. What measures are the government taking to ensure that the 10by20 goal is still going to be achieved?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: Before I give some more specifics, as I referred to in my opening statement, I want to make a note that, notwithstanding significant cuts that were imposed by the former government, there was a continuation and success and a commonsense approach to addressing reoffending by DCS. I note that the former government were party to that.

Repeat offenders are responsible for a large portion of the crime in South Australia. By focusing on reducing reoffending and improving rehabilitation and reintegration outcomes, our community will be safer, there will be fewer victims and there will be less crime. In 2016, seven years ago now, the then Labor government set a target to reduce the rate of reoffending by 10 per cent by 2020. From that time, 10by20 has served as the primary focus for DCS and has demonstrated significant outcomes for offenders and community safety.

Seventy per cent of people in prisons have been in custody before, with most admissions involving multiple offences. Reoffending rates are impacted by factors across the criminal justice and social services systems, including policing response, court models and the availability of supports and services in the community.

The response to reoffending and to reducing recidivism starts in the early years. Whilst it is not a part of my portfolio responsibilities, this government's commitment to early years reform—age three preschool and education reforms, including the rolling out of five technical colleges, including two across regional South Australia—is a very strong whole-of-government commitment, and empowering people to make better decisions and improving their educational and job outcomes are right at the front and centre of that goal.

Several strategic priorities across DCS have been initiated to support 10by20, including targeted programs and increased opportunities to partner with the NGO sector. These strategies have included iSAFE and End2End Case Management; Aboriginal Strategic Framework; Work Ready, Release Ready; The Arches Bail Accommodation Support Program; Home Detention Integrated Support Services Program; and home detention evaluation by the University of New South Wales. In addition, DCS currently delivers a range of rehabilitation and criminogenic programs in line with the 10by20 strategy, including the following recent highlights:

a revised version of the Domestic and Family Violence Intervention Program;

an evaluation of the Our Way My Choice program for Aboriginal men;

a new adaptation of the Violence Prevention Program for Aboriginal men;

delivery of a high-intensity treatment pilot program for the complex case management of offenders on extended supervision orders; and

a pilot of the Stepping Stones program, a gender responsive criminogenic program for female offenders.

To leverage off the success of 10by20, boost strategies include the intensive housing program pilot and the NDIS support program pilot, which I must say has been a resounding success in ensuring that the significant number of prisoners who are eligible for NDIS funding, once they are released from custody, are on the pathway to tapping into significant commonwealth support. There is also a remand to bail pilot and the Closing the Gap budget for 2021-22 for a suite of strategies targeting Aboriginal offenders.

I am very pleased to advise that the most recent RoGS report, released in January 2022, reflected that the 2022 rate of return for corrective services in South Australia decreased from the 2021 RoGS measurement. In line with previous remarks I have made about the challenges that COVID has caused in this space, that is a very considerable achievement. In that report, South Australia's return to corrective services with a new correctional sanction rate was the lowest in the nation.

South Australia's recidivism rate is in line with 10by20 targets. It represents a 15 per cent reduction in recidivism against the baseline. This will be a matter that is in significant elaboration, built upon in the forward estimates. Something I can say in addition to this is that the Premier continues to advocate strongly for 10by20. In fact, he was the corrections minister when the program was formed, when the iteration was first considered. I think it is a very strong statement of intent and a very strong and firm commitment that the Premier of South Australia is so heavily invested in the rehabilitation outcomes and programs that are involved in reducing recidivism in South Australia.

Mr WHETSTONE: On the same reference, minister, can you provide an update on the Violence Prevention Program for Aboriginal men?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: I will ask the chief executive to provide some specifics for the member in respect of that program.

Mr BROWN: Thank you, minister. We have been rolling out the Violence Prevention Program for Aboriginal men, and the Aboriginal men who participate in that program also complete the preparatory program Our Way My Choice, which we have increased delivery of across the agency. We have seen very positive completion rates for Aboriginal men participating in the Violence Prevention Program for Aboriginal men, which is quite an intensive program, running on average for nine months of engagement with the facilitators.

In the financial year that will end at 30 June this year, we have delivered a violence prevention program at Mobilong, a Violence Prevention Program for Aboriginal men at Port Augusta and a Violence Prevention Program for Aboriginal men at Mount Gambier. We continue to see positive engagement in that program and positive results in terms of completion rates. We continue to evaluate the impact of that program, as we do with other programs.

Mr WHETSTONE: Has any funding been extended for the Aboriginal men's family violence program?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: I can confirm that that funding is committed through forward estimates and the program will continue. As the chief executive remarked, it is a very successful program and is a very strong part of the future rollout of programs.

Mr WHETSTONE: I refer to Budget Paper 5, page 18. Minister, can you provide an overview of the COVID-19 restrictions that are still in place in correctional facilities?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: I could. Because it is such a quick moving feast and the Department for Correctional Services have been and continue to engage so closely with SA Health, I will ask the chief executive to provide you with the most recent information on that. In an overview, though, I want to reiterate my appreciation for the work that has been undertaken within our custodial facilities. To have no prisoner find themselves in hospital due to COVID-19 is a very strong outcome.

Not that I suggest we do, but we must not lose sight of the fact that correctional facilities have and continue to be categorised or classed as high-risk settings, no different from hospitals. The task at hand has been significant. The cost implications for the department have been significant, particularly with PPE. Their success has been extraordinary. I will ask the chief executive to give more specifics.

Mr BROWN: I would say that the department's highest priority remains the health of all our staff and the prisoners under our supervision and the safe operation of the correctional system. Despite the challenges presented by COVID-19, I think we have been quite successful in our response. We have progressed a significant amount of work since March 2020 in a range of areas aimed at preventing COVID-19 entering our system in the first place, preparing for the eventuality of it entering our system and responding to any outbreaks.

Key to our response has been a range of measures including strong governance, with the establishment of a trigger assessment panel that looks at any risk, works closely with myself and our incident command centre and works closely with the Communicable Disease Control Branch and the Chief Public Health Officer. We have also developed and deployed quite significantly in the first three months of this calendar year our own contact tracing capability in response to the pandemic. As the minister mentioned earlier, we have invested heavily with the Department for Health to drive vaccination programs for prisoners and for staff working in our facilities.

Mr WHETSTONE: I would assume that incoming prisoners are tested for COVID?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: That is correct, and there is a period of mandatory isolation for all new prisoners, be it those who are post-sentence or those who are on remand. They serve out a seven-day isolation to ensure—

Mr WHETSTONE: Where do they isolate?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: In cell.

Mr WHETSTONE: Minister, can you give me an understanding of the number of prison guards isolating on a weekly basis while awaiting COVID tests or returning a positive?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: I can provide it at this point in time. I can also give you some remarks in regard to the curve as it has been coming through. At present, on the information that I have today, there are 30 who are isolating or unable to attend work due to COVID. That has been higher, particularly as COVID has entered South Australia and as we saw significant numbers across our community in a sustained way in the last six to seven months. As I remarked in an earlier estimates session, we have received health advice that there is likely, on balance, to be an increase in COVID numbers in coming weeks, and I have no reason to not believe that that will see a rise in the 30 I have before me today.

Mr WHETSTONE: I guess that leads me on to, obviously, following the riot at Yatala in April we saw that actions were taken by inmates due to staff shortages.

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: I do not want to pick apart the member's words, but I will not sit here and accept the premise of a question, if it is given in that way that accounts for illegal prisoner behaviour, that it is as a result of any reasonable management action. The behaviour, the actions that we saw by a small number of prisoners at Yatala was unacceptable. It was a criminal tantrum, and those prisoners are being dealt with accordingly.

A number of notices have been served against them, and they will be brought before visiting tribunals, and I expect, as the community expects, that the most significant of available penalties will be applied against them. Prisoners do not stuff and trash a cell. Two cells were damaged in this incident, and they are both now, thankfully, back online, and were back online very quickly. The behaviour of those prisoners was unacceptable and nothing explains their actions.

Mr WHETSTONE: Would it be correct to assume that the lockdown contributed to the tantrum, as you described it?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: I did describe it as a tantrum. It was a criminal tantrum. It was criminal behaviour that is now being pursued. I do not preface or account for any reasonable actions, common actions, that were taken by DCS that would account for that behaviour—not at all.

Mr WHETSTONE: What actions or what preparedness are you putting in place should we see a spike in COVID and should we see further lockdown within Yatala?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: There are a number of schools that are just about to come online, and there has been a very strong and very dedicated effort by Mr Brown as the chief executive to bring those recruits through. There are 31 coming. I will get the specific numbers in respect of those mitigation strategies that the member asked for.

I can confirm that in the last 12 months there has been a school of 14 staff who commenced, further to an additional 24 staff who commenced in September. These are schools, recruiting schools, that take a not insignificant amount of time to train up and become fully operational. In February 2022, a further 23 commenced. Twenty commenced in April 2022. As I reflected and remarked and advised in my opening statement, there are, I think, a further 75 planned to come online this year.

Mr WHETSTONE: Are you expecting a report regarding the specifics of the 'criminal tantrum'—what did you call it?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: Would you share those remarks with me, member for Chaffey?

Mr WHETSTONE: We do.

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: I trust that you are not excusing the behaviour?

Mr WHETSTONE: No.

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: I have reported to you, I think, a considerable amount of information that those prisoners—I think there are three who have been served with notices—have not appeared before a visiting tribunal yet, but they have been served with breach notices and will be appearing before a visiting tribunal.

Mr WHETSTONE: It might be the final question, with omnibus on its way. I refer to Budget Paper 4, Volume 1, page 106, workplace bullying. Since the release of ICAC's assessment against DCS, what measures have been taken to decrease bullying and harassment against staff as well as other issues raised in that report?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: I will ask the chief executive to provide a brief overview for the member's benefit.

Mr BROWN: We worked very closely with ICAC in their evaluation of the agencies and our policies and procedures, and accepted all of the recommendations that came directly from that report—24 recommendations, if I recall correctly. We have a number of strategies in place that have come about as a result of the insight provided from the ICAC evaluation, and we continue to implement those actions.

We have an executive oversight committee that is chaired by an independent correctional administrator with extensive experience in the Australian correctional environment. We also have the Commissioner for Public Sector Employment on that oversight committee, and the equal opportunity commissioner as well, along with myself and the deputy chief executive. We continue to invest in our responses to those actions and provide updates to the ICAC commissioner from time to time.

Mr WHETSTONE: Chair, I will commence the longwinded omnibus questions:

1. For each department and agency reporting to the minister:

(a) Which administrative units were created, abolished or transferred to another department or agency between 22 March 2022 and 20 June 2022 and what was the cost or saving in each case;

(b) Will the minister advise whether it will be subject to the 1.7 per cent efficiency dividend for 2022-23 to which the government has committed and, if so, the budgeted dollar amount to be contributed in each case and how the saving will be achieved; and

(c) What is the number of executive staff to be cut to meet the government's commitment to reduce spending on the employment of executive staff by $41.5 million over four years, and for each position to be cut, its classification, total remuneration cost and the date by which the position will be cut?

2. For each department and agency reporting to the minister, how many executive appointments have been:

(a) Made since 22 March 2022 and what is the annual salary and total employment cost for each position;

(b) Abolished since 22 March 2022 and what was the annual salary and total employment cost for each position; and

(c) What has been the total cost of executive position terminations since 22 March 2022?

3. For each department and agency reporting to the minister:

(a) What savings targets have been set for 2022-23 and each year of the forward estimates; and

(b) What is the estimated FTE impact of these measures?

4. For each department and agency reporting to the minister, what is:

(a) The total number of FTEs in that department or agency;

(b) The number of FTEs by division and/or business unit within the department or agency;

(c) The number of FTEs by classification in each division and/or business unit within the department or agency;

(d) What was the actual FTE count at 20 June 2022 and what is the projected actual FTE count for the end of each year of the forward estimates;

(e) What is the budgeted total employment cost for each year of the forward estimates; and

(f) What is the notional FTE job reduction target that has been agreed to with Treasury for each of the forward estimates?

5. For each department and agency reporting to the minister, could you provide:

(a) How many targeted voluntary separation packages are estimated to be required to meet budget targets over the forward estimates and what is their estimated cost; and

(b) How much is allocated to be spent on targeted voluntary separation packages for financial years included in the forward estimates (by year), and how are these packages to be funded?

6. For each grant program or fund the minister is responsible for, please provide the following information for the 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26 financial years:

(a) Name of the program or fund;

(b) The purpose of the program or fund;

(c) Budgeted payments into the program or fund;

(d) Budgeted expenditure from the program or fund; and

(e) Details, including the value and beneficiary, or any commitments already made to be funded from the program or fund.

7. For the period of 22 March 2022 and 20 June 2022, provide a breakdown of all grants paid by the department/agency that report to the minister, including when the payment was made to the recipient, and when the grant agreement was signed by both parties.

8. For each department and agency reporting to the minister, provide for each individual investing expenditure project administered, the name, total estimated expenditure, actual expenditure incurred to 20 June 2022 and budgeted expenditure for 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26.

9. Can the minister list for each department and agency reporting to her and programs or initiatives that have been funded or budgeted for but not publicly announced or disclosed in the budget papers?

10. For each department and agency reporting to the minister:

(a) What is the total cost of machinery of government changes incurred between 22 March 2022 and 30 June 2022; and

(b) How much is budgeted to be spent on goods and services for 2022-23 and for each year of the forward estimates?

11. For each department or agency reporting to the minister in 2022-23 provide the number of public servants broken down into headcount and FTEs that are (1) tenured and (2) on contract and, for each category, provide a breakdown of the number of (1) executives and (2) non-executives.

12. For each department and agency reporting to the minister:

(a) How many FTEs are budgeted to provide communication and promotion activities in 2022-23 and each year of the forward estimates and what is their estimated employment cost;

(b) What is the total budgeted cost of government-paid advertising, including campaigns, across all mediums in 2022-23;

(c) Will the minister provide a breakdown of expenditure on consultants and contractors with a total estimated cost above $10,000 engaged between 22 March 2022 and 20 June 2022, listing the name of the consultant, contractor or service supplier, the method of appointment, the reason for the engagement and the estimated total cost of the work;

(d) Will the minister provide an estimate of the total cost to be incurred in 2022-23 for consultants and contractors, and for each case in which a consultant or contractor has already been engaged at a total estimated cost above $10,000, the name of the consultant or contractor, the method of appointment, the reason for the engagement and the total estimated cost;

(e) Will the minister advise what share it will receive of the $1.5 billion the government proposes to use over four years of uncommitted capital reserves held in the budget at the time it took office, and the purpose for which this funding will be used in each case; and

(f) How many surplus employees were there at 20 June 2022 and for each surplus employee, what is the title or classification of the position and the total annual employment cost?

The CHAIR: There being no further questions, I declare the examination of the portfolio of the Department for Correctional Services and the estimate of payments for the Department for Correctional Services completed. I would like to thank the department's staff for all the work that you do leading up to estimates but, more importantly, for all the work that you do throughout the year to keep our communities safe, so a sincere thank you.

Sitting suspended from 12:17 to 13:15.