PRISONS

The Hon. S.G. WADE (14:45): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Correctional Services a question about the new prison project.

Leave granted.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: Last year the government announced plans to increase the main men's prison capacity by at least 87 per cent by mid century. The State Strategic Plan indicates that the government aspires to increase the state's population by only 30 per cent over that period. My question to the minister is: when our society is crying out for less crime, what hope can the community place in the law and order policy of the government, which predicts that the prison population will grow three times faster than the general population in the years ahead and now is worried that it may need more space to accommodate more offenders?

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Road Safety, Minister Assisting the Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (14:46): I thank the honourable member for his question and, indeed, for pointing out to the chamber what a very strong law and order policy this government has and has enacted. In the past year we have had unprecedented growth in prisoner numbers, and I am starting to wonder whether it might be a waste of time having the honourable member briefed in terms of the new prison PPP project, given that he also attended, I understand, a conference on a PPP recently. Any responsible government—

The Hon. S.G. Wade interjecting:

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO: Well, when law and order policies work it means you end up putting more people in gaol, with all due respect. I would have thought that would be incredibly obvious to anyone. In terms of the prison scoping, this government is doing what every other government has done in Australia in the past 10 years in relation to new prison infrastructure, and that is thinking ahead. Indeed, it is a 30 year concession. In 20 years I suspect that I will not be here, but perhaps the Hon. Stephen Wade will be here, depending on his age and whether or not he has a fruitful career—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO: —like the Hon. Rob Lucas. It is contemporary best practice to plan and build our new prisons with the ability to expand and have the capacity in the future; and, indeed, this is what this government has done. It is simply putting out that there is scope. It certainly does not tie us into actually using that future expansion.

The Hon. S.G. Wade interjecting:

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO: If the member goes to the website he will see the original capacity, and that is what we are expecting at the time. We are being a responsible government and a prudent government, and I am sure those opposite will congratulate us for doing that.