Adelaide Women's Prison

Ms BEDFORD (Florey) (15:13): Supplementary: can the minister let me know if there is a review underway or even scheduled to examine ways to bring our Women's Prison facilities for mothers and babies up to the standards of prisons in other jurisdictions in the country?

The Hon. C.J. PICTON (Kaurna—Minister for Police, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Road Safety, Minister Assisting the Minister for Health, Minister Assisting the Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse) (15:14): Further to my previous answer, no, I don't believe that there's a review underway as the member suggested. But there is obviously an investment of $1.5 million that the government is making to upgrade the health centre at the Women's Prison, which we think will lead to a significant improvement for care of women, whether they are mothers or not, across the Women's Prison. As I mentioned, it is a very small number we are talking about in terms of births that happen at the prison. I am happy to discuss further with the member her experiences from her long association with the prison and in terms of her care and significant—

An honourable member: From the outside.

The Hon. C.J. PICTON: From the outside—but I think it is a serious point to make. The member for Florey, as well as a number of other members (the member for Torrens and others), has had a significant interest in the Women's Prison and making sure that we improve the facilities there for some time. I commend the member for Florey for her work in that area and I am happy to continue to discuss this issue with her further.