Mount Gambier Prison

Mr PATTERSON (Morphett) (15:06): My question is to the Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services. Can the minister update the house on the Mount Gambier Prison expansion and the government's investment in our prison system?

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD (Gibson—Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (15:06): I thank the member for Morphett for his appreciation and interest in our prison system. The member for Morphett knows that the government is making one of the largest infrastructure investments in the state's public prison system in our generation. This is an investment that those on this side of the house can be very proud of.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: If they can be a little bit quiet on that side, they can listen to this answer.

The SPEAKER: Yes, I agree. Members on my left, please.

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: The expansion of Mount Gambier Prison, significantly the opening of the Kanawinka unit, comes at a time when the Marshall government is investing $200 million in our public prison system, creating 270 high-security beds at Yatala and 40 beds at the Adelaide Women's Prison. Construction of the 160 beds in the Kanawinka unit at Mount Gambier Prison was completed in August 2018 and will be officially opened next week, consisting of five stand-alone accommodation complexes.

Each complex contains four independent living units for eight prisoners. Services, including program rooms, an officer station, a gym, a satellite medical clinic and a prisoner library, have all been added. The expansion involves a new high-security perimeter fence and replacement of the analog security equipment with a digital system. It was quite disconcerting to find out how many prisons were still working on analog equipment, and to be upgrading those across the board is something that the Marshall Liberal government is very proud of. Metal and woodwork will now take place in the two industry sheds, and it's great to see our prisons increasing their industry programs to make sure that people have the skills to get jobs when they leave prison.

The opening of the Kanawinka unit of Mount Gambier Prison is a reflection on the former government's priorities when it comes to accommodating our prisoners. They recognised the cost-saving measures of privately operated prisons and chose to invest in Mount Gambier Prison. I must say that I was a little curious that the opposition, despite bankrolling hundreds of beds in the private prison of Mount Gambier over the years, would suddenly do an about-face and protest this government's decision to transition the Adelaide Remand Centre to a private provider.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Point of order.

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: If you've ever wanted to see an ideological backflip—

The SPEAKER: There is a point of order from the member for West Torrens. Could the minister be seated for one moment.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Members on my left!

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: It's clearly debate.

The SPEAKER: I will listen to the answer. Minister, please do stick to the substance of the question about Mount Gambier Prison.

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: Certainly. Talking about the private prison in Mount Gambier, I make the point that it was quite unrealistic when the former government protested against our transition of the Adelaide Remand Centre to a private provider. It was very interlinked—

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Point of order: how is that not debate, sir?

The SPEAKER: I do have the point of order. I am listening to the answer in its entirety. I will ensure that the minister keeps to the substance of the question. Minister.

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. I do want to make the point that the opposition, the former government, as they protest this, really are showing that they are Olympic contenders in the hypocrisy gymnastics. While those on this side of the house welcome—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: —the desperately needed investment in our prisons, we are committed to investing in our public prison system with our better prisons program.

We want the public prison system to be the best it can be, which is why we have committed $200 million to commission 310 new high-security beds at the Northfield precinct, 270 at Yatala and 40 at the Adelaide Women's Prison. When I came into this role, the previous government had us on track to have more prisoners than prison beds by 2020. Their only option was to put up a full, no-vacancy sign. That was their solution, but we are delivering the prison beds we need.

It's the largest single investment in the public prison system in a generation. If that isn't a demonstration of our commitment to the public prison system, I don't know what is. This government is delivering more prison capacity, more prison investment, more prison jobs and more prison infrastructure and technology.

Time expired.