Adelaide Remand Centre

Mr ODENWALDER (Elizabeth) (14:39): My question is to the Minister for Correctional Services. Have the private operators of the maximum security Adelaide Remand Centre cut the costs of running the facility by cutting staff numbers? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

Mr ODENWALDER: In September last year, the former Minister for Correctional Services—

Mr Malinauskas: The architect.

Mr ODENWALDER: —the architect—told the house in response to a question, 'It is estimated that the outsourcing of the management and operations of the Adelaide Remand Centre will achieve savings of $8 million per annum.'

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA (Hartley—Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services) (14:40): I thank the member for the question. As the member would well be aware, in March 2019, a seven-year contract was awarded to Serco Australia Pty Ltd for the provision of services for the management and also the operation of the ARC. I am informed that operational commencement took place on 14 August 2019. Within the first four months of operations, Serco oversaw the construction and completion of a major cell upgrade at the ARC to bring 160 cells up to safe cell compliant standards. I will leave it there.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!