CORRECTIONAL SERVICES OFFICERS

The Hon. S.G. WADE (14:35): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Correctional Services a question about the occupational health and safety of correctional services officers.

Leave granted.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: I note the ministerial statement tabled today indicating that the government is going to persist in its rack, pack and stack policy. The legal fund for correctional services officers recently released its 2007-08 annual report. The Correctional Officers Legal Fund exists to provide representation for subscribing correctional services officers.

Interestingly, the cover of the annual report features a series of cogs: one labelled 'rack 'em', one labelled 'pack 'em' and one labelled 'stack 'em'. This is really funny; wait until you read this, Paul. The foreword by the Executive Officer states:

So Kevin Foley thinks Corrections is run by storemen and packers—rack 'em, pack 'em and stack 'em—an easy thing to say from an ivory tower. While he is busy burdening the system with double bunk 'racks', consideration should be given to those who have to manage those prisoners, their overcrowding, their health, mental illness and rage with little or no extra resources. He doesn't have to cut prisoners down in the middle of the night, nor run the risk of going home battered, bruised or worse. He doesn't run the gauntlet of suspension or transfer (under a draconian PSM Act) pending investigation into unfounded, malicious or minor allegations.

Later, the annual report indicates that WorkCover claims lodged by members through the funds have increased by approximately 28 per cent this financial year. The opposition understands that, following the Port Augusta riot incident, the government agreed to a demand by the PSA that no further bed spaces be created by placing mattresses on the floor, because to do so would raise occupational health and safety issues for its members. The PSA considers that it is not safe for corrections officers to access prisoners in overcrowded cells. My questions are:

1. Given that the government has agreed that no further bed spaces will be created by placing mattresses on the floor, because to do so raises occupational health and safety issues, can the minister assure the council that any bed mattresses on the floor before this agreement with the PSA in cells that were originally designed for one person will be removed?

2. What is the department doing to deal with the recent blow-out in WorkCover claims amongst Correctional Services Officers?

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Road Safety, Minister for Gambling, Minister Assisting the Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (14:38): It is a shame that honourable members think this is incredibly amusing. The portfolio of corrections is—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO: As I said, it is a shame that honourable members opposite think this is something they should amuse themselves with. All bed space management in our prisons is with the agreement of the PSA. In relation to mattresses on the floor, I understand that there was an agreement to put some mattresses at Mobilong before the major incident, and that has continued. I understand that the figure may be around 11, but I would have to check that, as it is from my recollection.

What those opposite do not understand is that we had a major incident and lost 92 beds but, having lost those 92 beds, we still have capacity across the prison system in our state. If my memory serves me correctly, even today we have over 50 beds for males and over 10 for females. We are using the watch-house sparingly now, and I think we are down to 11 beds. Of course, we are not having to use any other police cells in any shape or form. I understand that by agreement there were some mattresses on the floor at Mobilong. That is in agreement with the PSA and, because it is an operational decision and because the safety of our correctional services officers is important to us, clearly when any decision is made we do it with their agreement. We have a bed management committee, which I understand meets on a regular basis, and it is by agreement that any extra capacity is added to our prison system.

The honourable member mentioned WorkCover claims. Clearly we call it a challenging area of public administration because—and I hope it does not shock members opposite to hear—many people in our prisons actually do not want to be there. They have many co-morbidity issues when in our prisons, but as a department we always attempt to ensure that our prisoners are looked after in a safe, secure and humane way. We always put the needs of our correctional services officers above those of our prisoners, and that is exactly what happened (we still have an investigation occurring) with the incident at Port Augusta. Prison officers were required to supervise prisoners in the infirmary, and I understand that at the time a session on the oval was cancelled. We would always put the needs of our correctional services officers above those of our prisoners. If members opposite think this is funny and that prisoners do not belong in gaol and they would rather see them roaming the streets, that is for them to decide.