YATALA LABOUR PRISON

In reply to the Hon. T.J. STEPHENS (22 June 2011).

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Public Sector Management, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister for Gambling): The Minister for Correctional Services has advised:

1. The Department for Correctional Services is committed to operating rosters in our prisons that are effective, safe and efficient.

The new roster at Yatala Labour Prison, to which the Honourable Member has referred, will require greater rotation of staff through two distinct work areas.

2. & 3. Contrary to the Honourable Member's second and third questions, the new practices are not due to budget constraints. The Government and the Department identified the need to rotate staff for a variety of reasons including to reduce the possibility of familiarity developing between prisoners and custodial staff.

The new rostering practices also ensure better utilisation of available staff and a healthier roster with no eight-day runs of work. All Correctional Officers are recruited and trained to work in all areas of the prison and undertake a full range of tasks.

Whilst the objective is to implement such practices across all institutions, pilot projects have been undertaken at Yatala Labour Prison and Port Lincoln Prison.

The Department commenced consultation with the Public Service Association in January 2010.

All staff are being offered relevant induction to new work areas based on existing induction/training packages.

The new rosters will not cost the State more money and it is not known what the foundations for the figure quoted in the Member's question are. The opposite is the case. The new rosters will enhance efficiencies in that it provides far more flexible deployment of staff across different work areas within the prison.

4. In response to the Honourable Member's fourth question, the new rostering practices also seek to provide continuous improvement and development for custodial staff thereby strengthening the skills of employees to better contribute to the safe management of prisoners.