Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-10-14 Daily Xml

Contents

CORRECTIONAL SERVICES

In reply to the Hon. A. BRESSINGTON (2 June 2009).

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for State/Local Government Relations, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister Assisting the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Energy): The Minister for Correctional Services is advised:

1. No corrections staff have the authority to disclose the visiting arrangements of a Parliamentarian except:

to other staff or management who may be involved in the arrangements; or

to staff of the Minister's Office who, under normal protocol, should be aware of any Parliamentarian visiting a prison or a particular prisoner.

2. This occurrence has been investigated by the General Manager of the Port Lincoln Prison.

Unfortunately his investigations failed to reveal the identity of the person who might have leaked the information.

Notwithstanding, all staff have been warned that if the offender is identified, he/she will be prosecuted. Depending on the type of information provided, penalties may apply under the Public Sector Management Act 1995, which encompasses the Department's Code of Conduct or the confidentiality clause of the Correctional Services Act 1982.

Under the Public Sector Management Act 1995 and Departmental Code of Conduct, penalties include reprimanding the employee; ordering that the leave entitlement of the employee be reduced by a specified amount; suspending the employee from duty for a specified period with or without remuneration; ordering that the salary of the employee be reduced by a specified amount for a determined period; transferring the employee to some other position at a lower remuneration level; referring the matter to the Governor; or terminating the employee's employment in the Public Service.