Question Time

Prison Administration

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Leader of the Opposition) (14:21): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Correctional Services a question about prisons.

Leave granted.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: In November 2013, Mr John Steve Costi took his own life at the Adelaide Remand Centre. Correctional officer Aaron Lee, who was working at the Adelaide Remand Centre and still works at the centre, told the coronial inquest that prisoners are checked every two hours, but that only last Wednesday, 5 April, was he informed that it is also the protocol that staff conduct random checks and that this protocol was not being followed. My question to the minister is: how long has the protocol of random checks been in place at the Adelaide Remand Centre?

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS (Minister for Police, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Road Safety) (14:21): Obviously, any death in custody of the state is of great concern to the Department for Correctional Services and myself. We have been working hard as a department for a sustained period to try to minimise the risk and likelihood of those people who are in the state's custody being able to take their own life. Of course, a number of efforts have been made in both policy protocol and infrastructure, again over a sustained period of time, to achieve that objective and it remains an ongoing cause.

Whenever a death in custody takes place, as the honourable member referenced in his question, an automatic coronial inquiry ensues. That is an important part of the process, because it informs any changes that may need to be made in order to be able to minimise the likelihood of a death in custody occurring generally.

Regarding the question from the Hon. Mr Ridgway, I am more than happy to take on notice the specifics that he asked regarding the policy of random checks. Although I have a vague understanding, I am reluctant to provide a statement on the record. I prefer to double-check it for the sake of clarity and accuracy and ensure that he gets that as soon as possible. I will take it on notice and if I get the information before the end of the day, I will provide it to you verbally.