Question Time

Home Detention

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Leader of the Opposition) (14:29): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Correctional Services a question regarding home detention.

Leave granted.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: It has been widely reported that the government is failing to implement the state's new home detention laws, and in part this is due to the lack of Department for Correctional Services resources. The PSA General Secretary, Mr Nev Kitchin, has publicly stated that the change in home detention laws has not been matched with enough extra staff. Mr Kitchin stated:

We don't believe there are enough staff in active, coalface positions and there will need to be many more.

My questions to the minister are:

1. Does the minister agree with the PSA General Secretary's statement that the Department for Correctional Services does not have enough staff to implement these new home detention laws?

2. Will the minister commit to increasing the number of DCS staff in order to ensure the legislation is able to be implemented properly and safely?

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS (Minister for Police, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Road Safety) (14:30): I thank the honourable member for his question. I have been advised that the Department for Correctional Services has received an additional allocation of funds in order to be able to administer the additional requirements that have been placed upon them as a result of the legislation that passed this house, with bipartisan support, earlier.