Legislative Council Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3) 51 3 Parliament of South Australia Legislative Council published Question Time Mobilong Correctional Facility MOBILONG CORRECTIONAL FACILITY The Hon. R.D. LAWSON Legislative Council MOBILONG CORRECTIONAL FACILITY The Hon. R.D. LAWSON (15:23): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Correctional Services a question about the Mobilong Correctional Facility. Leave granted. The Hon. R.D. LAWSON Legislative Council The Hon. R.D. LAWSON: The government has made much over recent months of its proposal to establish a 760-bed correctional facility at Mobilong—indeed, latest statements from the government and the minister are that the proposal has gone to tenderers, who have been asked to provide a design option for up to 940 beds. In the Governor's speech today, the proposed facility is described as a 760-cell prison (no doubt 760 cells sounds a lot tougher than 760 beds). If the government's and the Governor's statements are both accurate, this new prison will have 760 beds and 760 cells, so each cell will have one inmate and there will be no double cells. It is well-known that in certain cases double cells are good correctional practice, especially in relation to Aboriginal offenders—such was the finding of the royal commission into Aboriginal deaths in custody. If the Governor's description of this prison is correct—namely, it is a 760-cell facility—the government would appear to have abandoned sound correctional practice as well as abandoning Deputy Premier Foley's rack 'em, stack 'em, and pack 'em proposal. My question to the minister is: was the Governor correct today, in repeating the speech written by the government, that this will be a 760-cell facility? The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO Legislative Council Minister for Correctional Services Minister for Road Safety Minister for Gambling Minister Assisting the Minister for Multicultural Affairs The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Road Safety, Minister for Gambling, Minister Assisting the Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (15:24): The information I have before me is that the new facility will include a 760-cell men's prison with the option to expand, and a 150-cell women's prison with the option to expand. In earlier public statements, as well as in estimates, we also talked about taking up the option, if required, of a 20 per cent double-up. The honourable member is correct in that sometimes it is important that we have cells capable of taking two prisoners; sometimes it is important to have a buddy system for those who feel vulnerable or who cannot be left on their own. So, clearly, that is one of the options that is available to the government at the new infrastructure that will be built at Mobilong.