Port Augusta Prison

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD (15:15): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking questions of the Minister for Correctional Services regarding the new Port Augusta Prison.

Leave granted.

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD: I was quite surprised to learn that a new section of the Port Augusta Prison had barriers constructed at a width where prisoners could potentially actually slip through and allow unauthorised access into a secure staff area. The Blue Bush Unit, as it's known at the prison, was set to receive its first high-security prisoners from Yatala Labour Prison just last month, but staff had raised safety concerns with the design flaw prior to this proceeding and prisoners being moved. According to the Public Service Association, workers requested that prison management acknowledge the hazard. However, correspondence sent to all staff stated the Department for Correctional Services, and I quote, 'didn't agree that the issue identified poses an imminent risk of serious harm to staff by the meaning of the WHS legislation'.

The department ultimately agreed to rectify the barriers, despite their initial disagreement, after the PSA launched a case in the South Australian Employment Tribunal. The PSA general secretary stated, and I quote directly:

Prisons are dangerous environments at the best of times. That's why it's so critical that the department is doing everything possible to reduce any potential risks and provide the safety environment and the safest systems possible.

So my questions to the minister with respect to the situation are:

1. Is the minister aware that her department originally dismissed these concerns and, if so, did she agree with that original decision by the department to dismiss them?

2. Was the Minister for Correctional Services informed of the safety concerns prior to the matter being lodged in the South Australian Employment Tribunal?

The Hon. E.S. BOURKE (Minister for Emergency Services and Correctional Services, Minister for Autism, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (15:17): As I have said previously, the safety of our workers is paramount. The Malinauskas government has made substantial investments, particularly in this prison. I believe $29.9 million has been invested into upgrading the Blue Bush and the Green Bush units at Port Augusta from the 2023-24 budget.

The Blue Bush and the Green Bush accommodation blocks were built in 1969. No major works, I understand, have been completed since then, with the exception of the Green Bush ground floor refurbishments in 2018. These upgrades contribute to increased prisoner safety, and we appreciate that we have been able to proceed with these upgrades. Prisoners are engaged in construction, providing opportunities for prisoners to achieve a Certificate II in Construction Pathways, enhancing prisoner rehabilitation. Blue Bush is completed, and the Green Bush is due to be completed in November.

In regard to the process, my understanding is a matter was raised in March with the department and steps were taken at a rapid rate before the prison was opened. A direction was given on 23 March in terms of the process that was taken in regard to those reaction times. More meetings were undertaken on 24 March. I believe that on 25 March there were further discussions with the work health and safety reps and safety work inspectors. On 27 March, my understanding is that the matter was heard by SAET, and on 28 March the Blue Bush was able to open because those issues had been addressed.

We continue to work towards making sure that this can be a safe environment for people to be working in because we want to make sure that when we are investing—as I said, this is a prison that hadn't been invested in since 1969, and we have been able to make an investment that is quite substantial. We also take on the feedback, and I appreciate the union's advocacy in this space to make sure that those steps could be taken and followed to put safer measures in place. We appreciate that we were able to put the $29.9 million from the last budget into ensuring this upgrade could be completed.