INDIGENOUS OFFENDERS

The Hon. S.G. WADE (14:33): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Correctional Services a question relating to indigenous offenders.

Leave granted.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: Yesterday the minister asserted that indigenous prisoners are placed in doubled-up, or dormitory-style accommodation because 'they prefer it that way'. I refer to an article in volume 10 of the Flinders Journal of Law Reform, dated April 2008, entitled 'The Case for Single Cells and Alternative Ways of Viewing', by Elizabeth Grant and Paul Memmott. The paper outlines doctoral research by Dr Grant which involved a survey of South Australian Aboriginal prisoners and which found:

77 per cent of the subject group recorded a preference for single occupancy accommodation, along with environmental design initiatives that integrate the needs of the social group into the prison environment.

In the article Grant and Memmott suggest:

A best practice option may be to establish Aboriginal living units within the prison which contain a number of individual cells and communal living areas.

My question is: considering that the research was undertaken in her own prison system, was the minister aware of the research when she made her statement yesterday and, if so, on what basis does the minister assert that indigenous prisoners prefer doubling up and dormitory-style accommodation, and that doubling up is safer for indigenous offenders?

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Road Safety, Minister for Gambling, Minister Assisting the Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (14:35): I have spoken on a number of occasions now this week about prison numbers, and one of the comments I made is that the department will install an Aboriginal unit with 12 beds at Port Augusta, still within the secure perimeter. The other comment I have made—and, indeed, it was made by the Hon. Robert Lawson, I believe—is that in some cases Aboriginal prisoners actually prefer the 'buddy up' system.

What I mentioned also was the Port Lincoln dormitory and, certainly, when I visited there the advice to me was that one prisoner that day who had been in prison for some time had had a loss in his family and he was being supported by his peers. I am fairly certain they are the words I used.

The Hon. S.G. Wade: You've got no idea. You just make it up as you go along.

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO: I am not making anything up. That happens to be a fact.

The Hon. S.G. Wade: Well, tell us why you think Aboriginal people prefer—

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO: The advice to me was that Aboriginal prisoners, whilst they are under some duress or stress, prefer a buddy system, and they also prefer, during a time of crisis in their family, to be supported by other prisoners. As I said, I have visited that particular dormitory and, certainly, it is very humane.