House of Assembly - Fifty-Third Parliament, First Session (53-1)
2014-05-06 Daily Xml

Contents

Correctional Services

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN (Stuart) (16:46): Can the Minister for Correctional Services explain what plans the government has to increase the bed capacity in our prisons?

The Hon. A. PICCOLO (Light—Minister for Disabilities, Minister for Police, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Road Safety) (16:46): I would like to thank the honourable member for the question. The first thing we need to remember with correctional services is that our primary obligation is to ensure that any court decision to put somebody into custody is actually undertaken. We need to make sure that the community is kept safe—that is our primary objective.

It is well known that we are at capacity and, on some days, over capacity. The strategy will be twofold: to build some increased capacity in the existing facilities and also, as the budget allows, to build new facilities.

Mr Goldsworthy: Put in containers.

The SPEAKER: The member for Kavel was a serious agitator in the previous parliament and I call him to order for his interruption of the minister's answer, and I know the Attorney-General agrees with me. The member for Stuart.