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House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-03-26 Daily Xml
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PRISONS

Mr BIGNELL (Mawson) (14:34): My question is to the Minister for Correctional Services. Can the minister highlight the achievements of the Rann government since 2002 in the area of spending on prisons?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Road Safety, Minister for Gambling, Minister for Youth, Minister for Volunteers, Minister Assisting the Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (14:35): I have only 35 minutes, so I will try to keep it short. I thank the member for Mawson for his question and also acknowledge his interest in prisons. I would like to take a moment to outline spending on prison infrastructure over the last 20 years, just to give the house a bit of an update.

The opposition has consistently alleged over the past 12 months that our prisons are overcrowded. Our prison system is not overcrowded. It is well run and well-managed. We do double up, and we will continue to do so. I will remind the opposition that the policy of doubling up has been around since 1993. Let us look at infrastructure spending on prisons over the last 20 years. Between 1982 and 1993, the Adelaide Pre-Release Centre—a Labor government; Mobilong Prison—a Labor government; Port Augusta and Yatala prisons were redeveloped and expanded—a Labor government.

The last Liberal government commissioned the Mount Gambier Prison in 1995—I will admit that. But work was undertaken when?—1992. The Rann government, having taken office in 2002, had to clean up the mess that was left behind by the Liberal government. The only money that the opposition spent when it was in office was on doubling up into the system, which it conveniently now seems to oppose or ridicule. This is why I find the opposition spokesperson for correctional services to be so hypocritical. Under his party's watch, prisons were neglected. Gone are the good old days when the Liberals purported to be tough on crime and criticised Labor for not spending enough on sending people to gaol. These days, we are more likely to find an opposition that advocates the rights of individual prisoners.

Mr Wade, the opposition spokesperson, has effectively become an advocate for prisoners' rights. Late last year, the shadow minister issued a media release that can only be described as a call to arms. In his statement, the opposition alleged that 15 prisoners had been forced to sleep on mattresses in holding cells. He went on to say:

The government remains in denial over its 'rack, stack and pack' approach to prison management which can only escalate risks of increased riots, escapes and assaults.

SA's prison population is soaring at a rate more than twice the national average. Overcrowding is at an all-time high, making prisons the Rann government biggest growth industry.

The shadow minister's call to arms was heard far and wide and, in no time, four prisoners at Mount Gambier heard their leader's call and staged a sit-in. Thankfully, the sit-in was resolved peacefully. The opposition may think that marshalling prisoners is a politically astute idea, although I doubt that the public would agree. In reality, Mr Wade's comments and actions were reckless and irresponsible. Is it a growth industry? Are we having more prisoners? Yes, we are. Why? Because we take community safety seriously. Prisoner numbers are up, because we are locking up bad guys. The only group that complains about locking up criminals is the opposition.

The opposition has said time and time again that our prison system is overcrowded. What does it mean by 'overcrowded'? Is it opposed to doubling up? Is there a new policy coming in? If the opposition is opposed to doubling up, it needs to tell us here and now. If the Liberals are opposed to doubling up, they have two options: either they increase the scope of the new project at Mobilong, increasing the cost of the project by hundreds of millions of dollars, or they release prisoners into the community. It is the only choice they have. They can choose a revolving door policy or a blow-out at Mobilong. It is up to the Leader of the Opposition.

We have record numbers of police on the beat, tougher laws and longer sentences, and that equals more prisoners. We match that investment in our prisons. Members will be aware that our new super prison is to be commissioned at Mobilong in 2013-14. In the meantime, the government has allocated $65 million to be spent on installing more prison beds. We have a plan and we are putting it into action.

Where does the opposition actually stand on the construction of the new prison? We have not heard anything. They have criticised the location; they have criticised the timing of the opening of the new prison, consultation with the local council, but they have never actually said whether or not they support the project.

The opposition sheds tears for prisoners doubling up but cares nothing for patients at the Royal Adelaide Hospital who are four to a room—in fact, some people are six to a room—but the opposition wants every prisoner in South Australia to have their own room.

Ms CHAPMAN: A point of order, Mr Speaker: I will show some leniency to the minister because he is only new, and we accept that, but he has gone on and on. This is clearly debate.

The SPEAKER: No; I do not think it is debate. I think the minister is providing important information to the chamber.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Thank you, Mr Speaker. As I said, the opposition is happy to see patients at the Royal Adelaide Hospital stay four to a room—

Ms CHAPMAN: A point of order, Mr Speaker: what has the Royal Adelaide Hospital got to do with the history of prisons in this state?

The SPEAKER: No doubt the minister will enlighten all of us.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Mr Speaker, I will—four to a room in the Royal Adelaide Hospital that you want to keep, but they want our prisoners to be on their own in a single room, with their own toilet and shower, but not for our patients. We treat our prisoners humanely in South Australia but we should not give prisoners better treatment than patients.

We will not apologise for our tough law and order policies. We will not apologise for our doubling up policy nor will we apologise for our investment in prisons. We will not apologise for keeping serious criminals behind bars. I suspect over the coming weeks there will be a reshuffle in the Liberal Party and I wonder how the bleeding heart Liberals will go.

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