Parliamentary Committees

PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE: NORTHFIELD CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADE

Mrs VLAHOS (Taylor) (11:49): I move:

That the 407^th report of the committee, entitled Northfield Correctional Facilities Infrastructure Upgrade, be noted.

In the government's 2010-11 budget the Department for Correctional Services was allocated $43.45 million to upgrade the prison infrastructure facilities at the Northfield Correctional Facilitates, comprising the Yatala Labour Prison, Adelaide Women's Prison and the Adelaide Pre-Release Centre.

The upgrade of the infrastructure, facilities and security systems at the Northfield sites is critical in ensuring that these sites continue to provide appropriate secure accommodation for the immediate future. The upgrade will provide additional flexibility for the management of the prisoners with high dependency needs and supervision relating to mental and physical impairments.

The Northfield upgrade project is designed to improve infrastructure, security and facilities at the Northfield sites for ongoing operations for the immediate future; provide high dependency accommodation that will provide flexibility within the prison system and appropriate accommodation for the management of people with mental and physical disabilities; upgrade of the existing facilities to include health centre, kitchen facilities at the Yatala Labour Prison and the Adelaide Women's Prison to provide facilities to meet the current codes of standards and reduce risks associated with these services; improve the control of visitors, staff and vehicles accessing these prisons; upgrade existing electronic and physical security systems to increase safety and security of the prisons; reduce the ability of contraband to enter the prison, which is an important feature the minister has been dealing with in recent years; and reduce potential self-harm by prisoners.

Works were planned to commence in September 2011, with the project completion in 2013. Indeed, the Public Works Committee will be touring the Northfield site shortly. Given the above, and pursuant to section 12C of the Parliamentary Committees Act 1991, the Public Works Committee reports to parliament that it recommends the proposed public works.

Mr PENGILLY (Finniss) (11:52): The opposition supports this project, clearly. It is good that we are going to visit the facility in the very new future. The whole issue of incarceration and prisons and everything is of great interest to me. We are very happy to support the project.

Motion carried.