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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-05-17 Daily Xml
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PRISON ACCOMMODATION

Mrs GERAGHTY (Torrens) (14:55): My question is to the Minister for Correctional Services. Can the minister outline tentative plans for new prison accommodation and the benefits of using modulars?

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Industry and Trade, Minister for Small Business, Minister for Correctional Services) (14:55): As a matter of fact, I can, and I thank the honourable member for her important question. On Friday 6 May the government announced that the Department for Correctional Services is trialling a prisoner accommodation initiative. The initiative is to house prisoners in purpose-built and designed shipping containers. It is logical, common sense and planning for the future. When this government—

Mr Pengilly interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: When this government cancelled the new prison project, it did so in order to maintain the state's AAA credit rating. This was, of course, achieved. During the last state election campaign, the opposition shadow spokesperson for corrections put out a policy statement saying that a future Liberal government would build a new prison. The then deputy leader came out and said—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Mr Pengilly interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, I warn the member for Finniss!

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: The then deputy leader came out and said, of course, that would not be happening and after the election the former shadow spokesperson was sacked on Facebook. But this government did not—

Mr Williams interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, I warn the member for MacKillop!

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: —stop considering alternative prison accommodation. In mid-2010 I travelled to New Zealand to inspect the use of modulars by the conservative government of New Zealand. The accommodation was so impressive that I progressed a trial here in South Australia. We went to market and undertook a detailed research on secure, flexible, cost-effective temporary and long-term prisoner accommodation and, as a result, these modulars represent the best fit for corrections.

What we also discovered is that shipping containers are used in a whole range of accommodation around the globe. They are used as hotels for tourists, they are used to accommodate students in Canberra, and, of course, they are used to accommodate miners and our defence force personnel. I strongly believe that, if shipping containers are good enough for our miners and good enough for our soldiers and our students, they are good enough for our—

Mr PENGILLY: I have a point of order, Madam Speaker.

The SPEAKER: Order! There is a point of order. Member for Finniss.

Mr PENGILLY: Standing order 98, ma'am. The minister is clearly debating the issue and, at the end of the day, they have had them at the women's prison for a number of years. Who does he think—

The SPEAKER: Order! There is no point of order. The minister can answer the question any way he chooses. If you listen, you would find it quite relevant.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Madam Speaker, I believe, as I said earlier, that, if it is good enough for miners, it is good enough for prisoners. To put it in perspective, one prison cell in the new prisons project would have cost half a million dollars; under this example, compare it to $80,000 to $100,000 for one cell. Yes, I know it is controversial; and, yes, it is different, and I know there will be people who complain about it and I understand it is Spartan accommodation, but we make no apologies for that. The insulated, steel-lined containers featuring high security windows and doors are just like those used at Mobilong and Yatala.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, the member for Finniss!

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Construction time is only a fraction of what it would be for a traditional build that can take over a year. Cell blocks can be connected to existing building structures if need be, and they can be transported to remote locations in quick time with minimal costs to optimise establishment time and costs. We can increase prison capacity very quickly, very cheaply and very safely. They are cheaper than a traditional build, but most—

Mr Marshall interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Member for Norwood, you are warned.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: These are cheaper than a traditional build, but most importantly they are highly secure, comfortable and humane, and there is no reason whatsoever why any government would not at the very least trial such an initiative—other than, of course, the Liberal opposition, who immediately, before they even saw the trial, opposed it; before they even saw the concept, before they even visited the construction, opposed immediately—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Point of order.

Mr WILLIAMS: The minister is clearly debating.

The SPEAKER: No, I don't uphold that point of order because I am listening very carefully to what the minister says in view of the standing orders, and so far he has not strayed. He is answering it as he chooses. He is not debating. He is commenting on something that's happened.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: It is in the Liberal Party's DNA to oppose everything. All they do is say no.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! One point of order at a time.

Mr WILLIAMS: That is clearly debate.

The SPEAKER: Order! Sit down. Minister, I think you need to get back to the point. That was very close then.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: I apologise for being insensitive to who they are. I know people expect and deserve strong policy and I am proud to be part of a government that is prepared to do what it takes to make sure that South Australians are kept safe and are accommodated humanely and safely in our prison system.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! I don't know what it is about the Minister for Correctional Services that creates such activity on my left; you certainly get them on their toes, Minister for Correctional Services.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! There are about four people on warnings. Member for Finniss, you are on a warning. You will go out if you are not careful. Leader of the Opposition.

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