PRISONER NUMBERS

The Hon. S.G. WADE (15:56): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Correctional Services questions about the prison population.

Leave granted.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: On 31 July 2007, almost 12 months ago to the day, I put on notice a question to the Minister for Correctional Services regarding the prisoner number forecast for the next five years. It is now 12 months since I asked that question, yet the government has not been able to provide a response, suggesting that the work has not been done. The government would have the information readily to hand if it was planning effectively. The government's failure to plan effectively is shown by the fact that prisoner numbers were significantly understated in 2007-08. They were forecast to increase by 64 when, in fact, they increased by 169. In an estimates committee of the other place the minister stated that 'work is being done' on these projections. My questions are:

1. When the minister advised the estimates committee that 'work is being done', was she suggesting that the government started a half a billion dollar prison expansion without forward projections of prisoner numbers?

2. If there are forward projections, why has there still been no answer to my question on notice after almost 12 months?

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Road Safety, Minister for Gambling, Minister Assisting the Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (15:58): I thank the honourable member for his question. I believe that on quite a few occasions in this place I have answered questions in relation to this government's commitment to prisoner numbers in the state, in particular the most important one: the building of a new prison complex at Mobilong. We also have put out numerous press releases outlining the strategy that we have—in particular, about the last one involving $35 million over four years.

I have also outlined where we believe the new beds are going to come from in this next financial year, in particular, saying that we will be frugal in relation to numbers at the Yatala Labour Prison, but always recognising that we have to ensure that we have enough bed numbers for our female prisoners, that we are building, from memory, 12 extra beds at Port Augusta for Aboriginal prisoners, and that we will be expanding two other regional prisons for this financial year. We also put on record the amount of funding that was made available in the last financial year. Again, we have clearly outlined the numbers and the option to expand the new prison. So, what it is that the honourable member does not understand, I am not quite sure.