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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2012-09-04 Daily Xml
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MOUNT GAMBIER PRISON

Mr PEGLER (Mount Gambier) (15:02): My question is to the Minister for Correctional Services. Will the minister update the house on the status of the Mount Gambier Prison expansion?

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE (Wright—Minister for Police, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Road Safety, Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (15:02): Last Thursday, I joined the member for Mount Gambier in Mount Gambier to turn the first sod for the expansion of—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: It is a very important project for Mount Gambier and those regions. I am sorry that the member for Morphett could not join us. He was invited to come down, but there was other business on the table, as I understand it, last week for the Liberals, on Wednesday and Thursday.

This government has overseen major investment in our prison system, including a 36-bed low security accommodation unit at the Port Lincoln Prison, which opened last year, and a 90-bed Port Augusta Prison expansion, due for completion in November this year. In total, this government has increased the state's prison capacity by over 550 prisoners since the 2002 election.

The expansion of Mount Gambier represents a further investment of $23.9 million in our prison system. It will expand the prison's capacity by 108 prisoners, giving the prison a total capacity of 280 prisoners. The expansion will have significant economic benefits for the South-East of our state and Mount Gambier in particular.

A meeting was held in the Grant council boardroom in January in order to inform the community about the development and the opportunities for local subcontractors and businesses. I understand that about 50 locals attended that meeting. It is great that local contractors SMB Civil and Templeton structural steel have been engaged to undertake tree clearing and excavation and manufacturing the steel for the new cell block and the kitchen.

Several local businesses, including Baxter Hire, Nielsen's and Stuckey Electrical, have been contracted to provide support for the first stage. I am told that approximately 25 ongoing additional jobs will be created in the expanded prison once construction is completed.

For the first time in South Australia, the expansion will employ the use of modular cells. Modular accommodation has been used successfully by Corrections in Western Australia since 1999 and, more recently, in New Zealand. The modular cells, however, are only one part of the prison expansion.

The development also includes areas specifically designed to accommodate the increasing number of older prisoners; improved facilities for prisoner programs, which is very important in offender rehabilitation; and a new kitchen. This is another example of this government's commitment to community safety, and I look forward to visiting the expanded prison upon completion of construction next year.

Ms Chapman interjecting:

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: Sorry?

Ms Chapman: How was the meeting with the CFMEU?

The SPEAKER: Order, member for Bragg!

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: CFMEU? I am a member.

The SPEAKER: Order!

Ms Chapman: Why didn't you meet with them?

The SPEAKER: Member for Bragg, order!

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: They didn't ask me to meet with them.

The SPEAKER: The minister will not respond to interjections from the other side. Order!

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