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Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2008-10-28 Daily Xml
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PORT AUGUSTA PRISON

The Hon. S.G. WADE (14:43): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Correctional Services a question about the Port Augusta indigenous unit.

Leave granted.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: On 16 October, in answer to a question from the Hon. Caroline Schaefer, the minister undertook to consult her department in order to establish what consultation had occurred in relation to the design of the Port Augusta indigenous unit. The next day the minister sent out the acting chief executive to speak on the media. ABC Radio reported that the Department for Correctional Services was claiming that 'a new section in the Port Augusta Prison for traditional Aboriginal men is setting a new standard'. Mr Weir was quoted as saying:

With this new dormitory style accommodation we will be able to maintain appropriate security and at the same time provide an appropriate environment for managing traditional Aboriginal males.

The opposition has been advised that the new unit to be installed at Port Augusta is basically the same as two transportable units already installed in the Adelaide Women's Prison. My questions are:

1. Will the minister advise the outcomes of her discussion with the department as to the consultation that has occurred with Aboriginal prisoners and stakeholders in relation to the new unit at Port Augusta?

2. On what basis does the government consider that accommodation already in operation for European women prisoners will set a new standard for traditional Aboriginal men?

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Road Safety, Minister for Gambling, Minister Assisting the Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (14:44): Clearly, members opposite are clutching at straws. What I said in my response on the last occasion on which we sat was that we would follow the protocols recommended in the Aboriginal deaths in custody report. Also, we have a very strong Aboriginal unit within the department.

The proposed traditional Aboriginal unit at Port Augusta Prison has been designed to provide culturally appropriate accommodation for traditional Aboriginal men. We expect, as I have said on a number of occasions on the floor of this chamber, that it will be available by the end of this year. During the development of the design, consultations took place with the department's Aboriginal Services Unit, traditional Aboriginal male prisoners (God forbid that we asked the people who actually may be in there!) at the Port Augusta prison, some of whom are likely to occupy the premises, senior Aboriginal staff—

The Hon. S.G. Wade interjecting:

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO: —clearly the honourable member is not interested in listening to what I have to say—from the Port Augusta prison management team—

The Hon. S.G. Wade interjecting:

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO: —he is very excited today—staff from the department's Asset Services Branch, and the department's Director, Finance and Asset Services. Consultation was conducted in a culturally appropriate manner. The prisoners involved in the consultation indicated that the most important things they wanted to see included being able to see the Flinders Ranges—a large verandah facing the Flinders Ranges—and outdoor areas. These preferences have been incorporated into the final design.

The final unit design consists of 12 beds with four bedrooms and two beds in each and one dormitory room with four beds. I am certain that I have placed on record before that the Department for Correctional Services' Aboriginal unit is staffed largely by Aboriginal people and provides high level support and advice to the department on the welfare of Aboriginal prisoners and offenders. The unit supports 12 Aboriginal liaison officers who work with Aboriginal prisoners in prison and community corrections, and 56 staff in the department. In addition, the department conducts meetings with Aboriginal prisoners every six weeks at different prisons to talk with Aboriginal prisoners about any concerns they have with the prison system. The meetings are chaired by the Chief Executive of the department or his delegate when he is not available.

The forum was established in 1995 to provide the means for Aboriginal prisoners, members of staff, service providers and other Aboriginal stakeholders to contribute to the development of policies and procedures to address the circumstances of Aboriginal people in the department's custody. It has a specific task to consider and provide advice to the department on the implementation of the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody, as I previously stated in my first response a few weeks ago.

For the information of members opposite, recommendation 173 of the royal commission referred to doubling up as follows:

The initiatives directed to providing a more humane environment through introducing shared accommodation facilities for community living and other means should be supported and pursued in accordance with experience and subject to security requirements.

It is also the experience of the department and its Aboriginal staff that many Aboriginal prisoners have told them they prefer, for one reason or another, to double up with a family or close kin, if that is possible. That view is shared by other Australian jurisdictions. The department does its best to facilitate that practice.

I have expanded on the response I gave to the honourable member the last time he asked the question and, if he were to sit back and reflect on what I said, he would know that the department is following the wishes of those who are actually in prison. Having consulted with those people themselves on their preferences, as well as following the protocols of the recommendations of the Aboriginal deaths in custody inquiry and consulting the department and its own unit, I fail to see what else the honourable member can think of.

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