Prison Industries

The Hon. T.T. NGO (15:13): My question is to the Minister for Correctional Services. Can the minister advise as to the benefits of a recent partnership established between Hegs Australia—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! The Hon. Mr Ngo has the floor.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: The Leader of the Government—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! You are all behaving quite immaturely at the moment. The Hon. Mr Ngo has a question, and he wants to ask it. Hon. Mr Ngo.

The Hon. T.T. NGO: I will start the question again: can the minister advise as to the benefits of a recent partnership established between Hegs Australia and the Department for Correctional Services?

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS (Minister for Police, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Road Safety) (15:14): I thank the honourable member for the important question, because it goes to some of the issues that were raised earlier by the Hon. Ms Vincent. It gives me great pleasure to have the opportunity to highlight one of many success stories that is contributing to the growth of a local South Australian company through the use of Prison Industries.

A pillar of the rehabilitative journey is that of the structured day, which involves the development of new life skills through exposure to education and vocational training, which may lead to employment opportunities upon release, which is proven to reduce reoffending. Prison Industries plays a significant role in this process, engaging prisoners in commercial activities with public and private sector companies and organisations, while also striving to replicate an environment where work and life balance is mirrored to reflect what is expected in the wider community.

Prisons in South Australia are engaged in Prison Industries on a daily basis across all prison sites in a number of different activities, ranging from bakeries, agriculture, woodwork, textiles and metalwork. During the last financial year 2014-15, approximately 1,000 prisoners in South Australia participated in industry-related activities. One of the great successes in Prison Industries is found in Murray Bridge at Mobilong Prison, which I was able to visit recently and see first-hand.

Earlier this year, the prison commenced a partnership with Hegs Australia to assemble and package Heg pegs. Hegs Australia pegs are a proud and growing South Australian company that appeared on Channel 10's entrepreneurial showcase Shark Tank, and was successful in gaining backing from a corporate investor. Hegs Australia pegs are designed with dual hooks, which maximises hanging space. They have a grip for ease of use and a grip lock system that assists in holding washing taut on clotheslines.

What I like about the South Australian company is that Hegs are committed to helping their local community. Hegs have built strong communications with their commitment to support community by teaming up with partners such as Orana disability services in South Australia. Mobilong Prison is now also benefiting from their continued commitment to social investment. The partnership with Mobilong Prison is aimed at providing employment for prisoners, including those prisoners who, either through age or other reasons, cannot physically undertake strenuous duties that may have traditionally formed part of Prison Industries.

Without going into further detail—and I have extensive detail for those members who are interested regarding Hegs' relationship with Corrections—what this example speaks to is the profound impact that work can have on people's lives. Hopefully everyone accepts in this place that work provides dignity, no matter what work that is, and we want to ensure that people, when they are in custody, get the skills and the knowledge required and also get the dignity that work can provide in giving them the hope and the opportunity that they can gain employment once they are released from incarceration, which will maximise their likelihood of being able to make a positive contribution to society.

I applaud the company that I mentioned, Hegs Pegs, for engaging with Corrections. I would very much hope, if there are other South Australian companies who want to be able to provide the dignity of work to those people who are looking for a second chance post custody, that they get in touch with the Department for Correctional Services. All opportunities and ideas will be considered, and I also want to assure the house that Prison Industries and providing prisoners the opportunity to have the dignity of work is something I want to see taken up with gusto for as long as I have the privilege of being in this role.