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Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Second Session (51-2)
2008-06-18 Daily Xml
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PRISONS

The Hon. S.G. WADE (14:26): I seek leave to make an explanation before asking the Minister for Correctional Services a question about the 2008-09 budget.

Leave granted.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: According to the Productivity Commission, South Australia's prisons are currently 22 per cent overcrowded, with the Australian average being only 4 per cent. Western Australia has the second highest overcrowding at only 7 per cent. In the 2008-09 budget, the government announced that it will commit $35 million to providing an additional 209 bed spaces for South Australian prisons over the next four years, which represents a quarter of the additional prison numbers expected at current growth rates—that is, before the state deals with the impact of changes such as the bikie bill and the Mullighan inquiry.

The budget indicates that three-quarters of the operating funds of this initiative are to be spent in the second two financial years, suggesting that many of these bed spaces will not be available for at least two years. My questions are:

1. Will the minister advise how many of the 209 bed spaces will be available within the current budget year?

2. Will she guarantee that the current record prison overcrowding level will not increase over the next financial year?

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Road Safety, Minister Assisting the Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (14:28): I thank the honourable member for his question, although I feel as though I have answered it before. However, I am happy to reiterate my answer.

The Hon. S.G. Wade interjecting:

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO: I assure you that I do not need to read any briefing. We announced—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO: I think so. Prior to the budget, as we have already heard from the honourable member (and I am pleased that he has placed it again on the record), we made $35 million available over four years for any increased expansion prior to the prisons coming online. Again, I am sure that he joins everybody in the chamber in congratulating this government on having a strategy and on making the funding available.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO: As I said, I am sure that everybody joins—

The Hon. S.G. Wade interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! The Hon. Mr Wade will come to order and listen to the answer to his question.

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO: Thank you, Mr President; I can start again.

The Hon. G.E. Gago interjecting:

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO: The Hon. Gail Gago did not hear what I said. Those opposite really should congratulate this government on building a new prison complex, which is very significant infrastructure for the state and, more importantly, for having a strategy and funding available until those prisons come online. That money is available over four years. At this stage, I do not have a bed-by-bed number, but I can say to the honourable member (and I have placed this on record before) that in August we will have some new beds available at Port Augusta for the indigenous community.

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO: I believe there are 12 there. We will also be making beds available at Mobilong, as well as Cadell, in this financial year. So, the beds will come online.

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO: I think there are about 60. So, the beds will come online as they are needed. As I said, we actually have a strategy in place.

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