Mount Gambier Prison

The Hon. J.S. LEE (14:54): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Minister for Correctional Services about Mount Gambier Prison.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.S. LEE: In an article in The Advertiser dated 10 April 2025, it was reported that raw sewage has flooded parts of Mount Gambier Prison after a blanket was reportedly stuffed down a drain. In an anonymous post shared to a Facebook group, an individual claims:

All the carpets have to be pulled up, all the library books, etc. have to be thrown out, all the tables in education have to be thrown out as all are contaminated.

My questions to the minister are:

1. What was the overall damage reported at the Mount Gambier Prison and how many Correctional Services officers were involved in the clean-up and restoration of the prison following the flooding?

2. Was an external contractor used for the clean-up and what was the cost to help with the clean-up of the prison and to restore the contaminated furniture and items?

3. What actions will the minister take to ensure health and safety issues such as this will not occur in the future for Mount Gambier Prison or any other prisons across our state?

The Hon. E.S. BOURKE (Minister for Emergency Services and Correctional Services, Minister for Autism, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (14:55): I thank the member for her question. I am advised that this is a privately run prison in South Australia. It is one of our two privately run prisons, the other being the ARC (Adelaide Remand Centre). I am aware of the situation that you have highlighted. It is an unfortunate incident and if there is any further information than what you have provided already, I am happy to look into that.