Page 227 - Week 01 - Thursday, 18 February 1993
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Bleach is available in the prison. You can get bleach in any event because it is a cleaning solution. Prisoners can get bleach to clean their cells if they foul the walls, if blood is spilt or if people thump the wall. For the sorts of things that happen in a prison, bleach is available. Bleach is included in the kit because it is important for intravenous drug users, who mostly commit offences when they are out - not in the remand centre but when they return to the community. Many of these people will continue with their intravenous drug habit. We would wish otherwise, but the reality is that they will continue to use drugs. Providing them with bleach kits is a helpful method of educating - - -
Mr Cornwell: So the needles still could be there, Mr Connolly?
MR CONNOLLY: If the needles are in the remand centre, it is a serious breach of order. They are searched for. If we have any reason to believe that prisoner A has a needle, prisoner A may be bodily searched or his or her cell may be stripped down. The presence of a needle in a prison context, a remand centre context, is a serious breach of discipline and is treated that way. The fact that the bleach is in the AIDS kit, as well as a lot of literature in relation to safely dealing with the HIV virus, is, in the Government's view, a sensible precaution in order to allow the persons, when they leave the remand centre context, if they pursue their illegal intravenous drug habit, at least to do it safely.
Condoms, on the other hand, present no risk to good order and we have set a trend in Australia by introducing them. I did make a firm commitment to the relevant union, which was concerned that the release of condoms may lead to a release of needles, that needles would not be introduced into the remand centre, very much for the reasons Mr Cornwell recited.
MR CORNWELL: I ask a supplementary question, Madam Speaker. I am interested in Mr Connolly's remarks because the article went on to say:
The condoms were part of a kit to prevent the spread of AIDS -
I accept the argument on condoms -
and also contained water-based lubricant, educational materials and bleach for cleaning needles.
What steps has the Government taken to safeguard workers and detainees from needle-stick injury? Secondly, what liabilities does the Government accept if such injuries occur in the centre?
MR CONNOLLY: There are extensive education programs for both remandees and remand centre staff. One of the reasons we were able to achieve a significant breakthrough in Australian prisons and get the agreement of the custodial officers, through their union, to the introduction of condoms was the fact that we had gone patiently about an AIDS education course. They are well aware of the risks of HIV and needles generally, as are workers throughout the ACT service, as a result of occupational health and safety.
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