Page 773 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 31 March 2021
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4. Preliminary work on this recommendation has been underway for some time. In particular, in June 2020 consideration of this recommendation was included in the terms of reference of the independent review of Protection of Rights Services reforms to the Human Rights Commission and Public Trustee and Guardian.
Remand centres—closure
(Question No 99)
Mrs Kikkert asked the Minister for Corrections, upon notice, on 12 February 2021:
(1) Why were the Belconnen and Symonston remand centres closed.
(2) Was there ever any consideration to keep them open once the Alexander Maconochie Centre (AMC) began reaching its design capacity.
(3) Were either the Belconnen or Symonston remand centres ever reopened to accommodate detainees after the AMC was opened and if they have since been closed again, why were they closed.
Mr Gentleman: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:
1. The Belconnen Remand Centre (BRC) and Symonston Correctional Centre (SCC) were no longer fit for purpose with both Centres only having a small operational capacity.
2. On 27 November 2009, the BRC was handed over to the ACT Property Group, Territory and Municipal Services. No consideration was given to keeping it open.
3. Between July 2015 and February 2016, the SCC was used as a full-time correctional centre for a small cohort of detainees while construction of new accommodation units for men was underway at the Alexander Maconochie Centre (AMC). In August 2016, the AU and Special Care Centre accommodation units opened at the AMC, further increasing its operational capacity.
While the SCC is still declared as an ACT Correctional Centre, it would require extensive works to bring it to an acceptable security and safety standard as a full-time correctional facility. As such, the SCC remains closed for this purpose at this time.
Alexander Maconochie Centre—costs
(Question No 100)
Mrs Kikkert asked the Minister for Corrections, upon notice, on 12 February 2021:
(1) What is the average cost of bringing a defendant into the Alexander Maconochie Centre.
(2) What was the average cost of bringing a defendant into the former (a) Belconnen remand centre and (b) Symonston remand centre.
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