Correctional Services Recidivism Target

Ms STINSON (Badcoe) (15:04): My question is to the Minister for Correctional Services. Can the minister inform the house about the Department for Correctional Services' new recidivism target?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS (Cheltenham—Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services) (15:05): I certainly can, and I thank member for her question and note her strong interest in this matter. In informing the house today of this government's new recidivism target, I note the strong foundations set by the 10by20 target. The 10by20 target was launched by the then correctional services minister, who just happens to now be the Premier, someone I commend personally for his strong commitment to reducing offending in South Australia and his longstanding commitment to rehabilitation and therapy not only to reduce offending but to make our communities safer.

When this was launched in 2016, the 10by20 strategy was addressing then high rates of reoffending. At that stage, the reoffending rate in South Australia was 46.1 per cent. That was used as a baseline measure, which led to a target of 10 per cent reduction. That 10 per cent reduction would, if met, mean a reduction in a reoffending rate of 41.4 per cent. Of course, setting a target is one thing but delivering on it is another, and the strategy and methodology behind doing so are to be commended.

It is the work of not only the former Minister for Correctional Services but also the Department for Correctional Services themselves. I note that, notwithstanding the cuts made to the Department for Correctional Services by the former government, there has been excellent work undertaken throughout the dark ages and the dark period of the former government to continue to—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The minister has the call.

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: —implement these services. No amount—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: No amount of privatisation of our prisons could stop the commitment that this state had towards reducing reoffending. To strategically—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The Treasurer is called to order.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The minister has the call.

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: I am enjoying the member for Hartley's interjections, sir.

The SPEAKER: That may be, but you won't respond to them.

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: No, certainly not, sir. Not only was this target ambitious but it was one that we were firmly committed to delivering. I can very proudly inform the house today that not only was this target of reducing reoffending by 10 per cent met but we exceeded the target by 50 per cent. South Australia now has—and it is something we should all be very proud of—the lowest rate of reoffending in the nation.

This success is a reflection of the programs that achieve this at scale, evidence-based programs that were firmly dedicated towards reducing offending and equipping prisoners—those who found themselves in custody—with the skills necessary to do basic things: find a job, integrate into the community and fundamentally return and give back to the community that they had offended against.

It is with great pride that I can inform this house that that target alone was not enough. Just last week, the government announced a new target to reduce offending by 20 per cent by 2026. We simply won't rest on being the best in the nation. We will maintain being the best in the nation because if we reduce offending we get better communities and more people giving back to it.