Yatala Labour Prison

The Hon. K.L. VINCENT (16:49): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the minister representing the Minister for Correctional Services a question on the subject of Yatala Labour Prison.

Leave granted.

The Hon. K.L. VINCENT: Members will be aware that an article in The Advertiser today revealed that a prominent psychiatrist, Dr Craig Raeside, has sent an email to lawyers stating that he is no longer willing to assess prisoners at Yatala Labour Prison; indeed, he sees it as 'a fruitless exercise'.

Morry Bailes, President of the SA Law Society, would seem to agree, from the article, that overcrowding and prisoners being moved from facility to facility largely contributes to this problem. My questions are:

1. Does the minister agree that there are problems with Yatala?

2. Does the minister agree that a lack of access to psychiatric assessment and support could possibly entrammel prisoner's rehabilitation and support willingness to reoffend, and end up resulting in costly intervention?

3. Has the minister corresponded with Dr Raeside on this issue?

4. Given that the speech we just heard from His Excellency the Governor specifically mentioned mental health as a priority, is this issue a priority for the government?

5. What is the minister doing to improve this situation at Yatala Labour Prison?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills, Minister for Science and Information Economy, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Business Services and Consumers) (16:51): I thank the honourable member for her most important questions. I will refer those to the appropriate minister in another place and bring back a response.