House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2020-12-01 Daily Xml

Contents

Adelaide Remand Centre

Mr ODENWALDER (Elizabeth) (15:49): My question is again to the Minister for Correctional Services. How many staff were on duty in the kitchen area from which this inmate made his escape?

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: Point of order: I suggest that the question contains argument.

The SPEAKER: I uphold that—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for West Torrens is on two warnings. I call to order the member for Lee.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! I uphold the point of order. The question introduced facts. If the member for Elizabeth seeks leave to do so, he might do that. I will give him a chance to repeat or rephrase the question.

Mr ODENWALDER: Perhaps I will rephrase it. My question is again to the Minister for Correctional Services. Have the staff numbers in the kitchen area from which the inmate escaped been reduced since your government privatised the Adelaide Remand Centre?

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The Minister for Correctional Services is seeking the call. I will give the Minister for Correctional Services the opportunity to address the question.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA (Hartley—Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services) (15:50): Thank you, sir. I'm not sure why those opposite are laughing. This is certainly not a laughing matter. I am treating this matter—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: I'm trying to answer the question, if you stop interjecting. I am treating this very, very seriously. Obviously, if you were to talk about, in a prison setting, who is where, when, why and how many, that could potentially raise some security aspects. What I will say is that the question related certainly to an operational aspect. As I said, there's an investigation underway. That investigation will be comprehensive. DCS and SAPOL will be making sure that that investigation is comprehensive. I more than anyone will certainly want to see the outcome of that investigation and will look at these matters accordingly.