PRISONER HOME DETENTION

Mrs REDMOND (Heysen—Leader of the Opposition) (15:11): The Minister for Correctional Services gets so excited every time we ask a question that I cannot let the day pass without asking him a question. So my question is to the Minister for Correctional Services. Are Department for Correctional Services prisoners being placed on home detention before the end of their nonparole period? The opposition has been informed that during the last parliamentary term the Rann Labor government overturned the longstanding practice that prisoners should not be placed on home detention until after the end of their nonparole period.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Minister for Industry and Trade, Minister for Small Business, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Gambling) (15:12): When it comes to parole, there are two very different ways that we handle it. There is the revolving door practice of the opposition—

Mrs REDMOND: Madam Speaker, I have a point of order—relevance of the answer. The question was quite specific. It was about whether prisoners are being placed on home detention before their nonparole period has expired.

The SPEAKER: I understand your point of order, leader, but the minister has only spoken about two sentences. I will wait and see. Minister.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Thank you, Madam Speaker. There is a fundamental difference in the way we approach parole compared with that of the opposition.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: The opposition does not believe at any stage—

Mr WILLIAMS: I have a point of order, Madam Speaker. The minister is debating an answer, which is contrary to standing order 98, and whatever the opposition thinks or does is not relevant to the question.

The SPEAKER: Sit down, Deputy Leader of the Opposition. You are waffling, too. You are debating the question, which is your point of order. Question time is finished so I am sure the minister will be very succinct in his answer.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Thank you, Madam Speaker. I will get a detailed response.