Question Time

PRISONS

Mr HAMILTON-SMITH (Waite—Leader of the Opposition) (14:02): Did the Premier, as leader of the government, approve the government's new rack 'em, pack 'em and stack 'em policy for prisons? Will young offenders be required under this new state Labor policy to share bunks and cells with paedophiles and hardened criminals?

The Hon. M.D. RANN (Ramsay—Premier, Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Social Inclusion, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Sustainability and Climate Change) (14:02): Can I just say that we are rapidly judging you on some of the most bizarre things that have been said in this parliament. What did yesterday's figures reveal? What yesterday's figures revealed is that people are being sentenced to longer in gaol. Violent criminals are being sentenced to longer in gaol than they were when you were in cabinet, because you were soft on crime and soft on the causes of crime.

We do not back away from the fact that we have toughened up the criminal law, and I am pleased that common sense has prevailed in the upper house and we have now seen, I am told, passage of legislation on bikies that the police in this state wanted, because we are working with the police whereas you, in government, worked against the police. The fact is that there are more people locked up, more criminals in gaol, more violent criminals in gaol—

The Hon. K.O. Foley: Five hundred more.

The Hon. M.D. RANN: Five hundred more in gaol than when you were in power, because you were soft on crime and soft on the causes of crime.