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Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Second Session (51-2)
2008-06-05 Daily Xml
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The Hon. S.G. WADE (14:24): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before I ask the Minister for Correctional Services a question relating to prison overcrowding.

Leave granted.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: According to the Productivity Commission, South Australia has Australia's most overcrowded prisons, at 22 per cent above design capacity. Western Australia is the next most overcrowded system, with 7 per cent overcrowding. The government has already announced that this afternoon's budget will provide for 209 extra spaces. The department's annual report shows that, as at July 2007, South Australia's prisons were holding 1,771 prisoners. The minister's press release of May 2008 shows that by April 2008 the number of prisoners had grown to 1,934. The growth from July 2007 to April 2008 is an annualised rate of 212 prisoners. However, the budget commitment is only 209 extra spaces over four years.

Over four years, the government's announcement will cope with the growth rate of only one year. My question is: given that the additional beds will be full within one year of the four-year program, what strategies will the government use to reduce the impact of overcrowding on access to programs, staff workload and security of our prisons?

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Road Safety, Minister Assisting the Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (14:25): I thank the honourable member for his question. As announced several weeks ago, this government does have a strategy. Some $35 million has been provided over the next four years, prior to the new prisons coming online, to ensure that we can meet the increased bed space capacity.

On 7 May the government announced $35 million to provide a further 209 new spaces. This is in addition to the 275 spaces by the end of 2008-09. All bed space options that are identified are discussed with the staff and with the PSA, because we recognise that the services we provide cannot be delivered without their cooperation and assistance. Clearly, we have identified areas where extra bed space capacity can be accommodated. As I said, I am very certain that we would be frugal with a prison such as Yatala, as it is being shut down.

We recognise that we must always provide extra capacity for our women, and we have already done so with transportable capacity and, if need be, we will continue to do so. Most of this will be achieved by doubling up in places where this can still happen. We have also identified Port Augusta prison, where we will build some capacity for traditional Aboriginal men, as well as at Port Lincoln.

I do not have the list here of which bed will go where, but it will be closely managed and will take place in consultation and cooperation with the PSA. Ultimately, what is important is that we have the necessary funding available, which this government has announced as part of its budget.

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