Correctional Services Industrial Dispute

The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS (15:21): My question is to the Minister for Correctional Services. Minister, what involvement have you or your office had in the ongoing dispute between the Public Service Association and the Department for Correctional Services in regard to South Australian prisons? Have you personally met with representatives of the PSA over the issues in our prisons at the moment?

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS (Minister for Police, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Road Safety) (15:21): I thank the honourable member for his question. I am advised from time to time of various industrial disputes that happen within the Department for Correctional Services. Naturally, the Department for Correctional Services, and all the staff that work within it, work in an often dangerous and complex environment with a large degree of risk associated with it. I think that leads to the fact that a very high volume, a very high percentage, of workers within the correctional services system, particularly those working in operational capacities on the front line, are members of the Public Service Association. As the Public Service Association reasonably should, they perform an important task in passionately advocating the interests of their members, particularly regarding matters that pertain to issues around occupational health and safety.

It is unfortunate, but nevertheless a reality, that from time to time disputes arise between representatives of employees at various prison sites around the state and the Department for Correctional Services. When those disputes unfold, it often results in action being taken in various tribunals or commissions, as is provided for under the relevant industrial relations laws of the state.

When disputes occur that have an impact on the operational functions within the correctional services system, it is my expectation that my office should be advised of that. That has occurred on recent occasions. The most recent one that I believe received media attention, or was noteworthy, was at the Mobilong Prison. Naturally, at a basic level, my office keeps abreast of those issues as they arise. Where industrial disputes occur that are operational, that is essentially for the department to resolve in their discussions through normal industrial forums, including official disputation forums within the commission.

When disputes occur between the department and its employees that relate to a particular policy measure or something that the government has made a decision about, that is naturally something that is of greater concern to me and would be the sort of area where I would be paying greater attention.

At a basic level, in answer to the honourable member's question, I have been advised of recent disputes that have occurred that have essentially been around operational issues and have not required ministerial intervention. As such, there have not been any recent meetings between myself and the Public Service Association regarding those disputes.