Page 1010 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 31 March 1993
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
State system. They seem to fill a particular niche in a general prison system where the bulk of detainees remain as part of a State system. I note that small jurisdictions, Tasmania and the Northern Territory, which have recently announced programs to upgrade their custodial facilities, have not gone down the private sector route. Small jurisdictions, even though one has a conservative government, and one had a Labor government but now has a Liberal government and has not changed policy, seem to be locking themselves into a government run system. That may well be an acknowledgment that, while there is a useful balance for a private sector prison in a general system, if you put all your eggs in the one basket of a private sector prison you may have some major difficulties in public policy. So I think that is an issue that would need to be thought out very carefully. The Junee facility has only just opened, and it is one that I anticipate having a look at some time this year.
Mr Berry: From inside?
MR CONNOLLY: Not from inside; no crimes with the Government, as we were referring to this morning. It is a facility within our region. It is a facility where we could well anticipate that some ACT prisoners could serve out some of their terms. While we have to accept that ACT prisoners could find themselves throughout the New South Wales system, depending on their conduct within prison and their security classifications, there is an attempt to keep them close to the region. Junee could well be a facility where ACT prisoners could spend some time. It may be worth while other members of the Assembly having a look at that. We may see whether we can organise such an event.
Mr Deputy Speaker, again I thank members for their contribution to the debate. It is significant that we have been able to conduct a debate on corrective services in the ACT in a very balanced manner. There is no doubt that the system that was inherited by this Government - indeed, it was inherited by the Alliance when they were in government - was run down. There is no quick and simple solution, but I am confident that the report Paying the Price pointed the way, and the Government's response does show that we are heading in the right direction. I am confident that I will be bringing into this Assembly some significant pieces of progress as the years advance.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
PUBLICATIONS CONTROL (AMENDMENT) BILL 1993
[COGNATE BILL:
FILM CLASSIFICATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1993]
Debate resumed from 25 March 1993, on motion by Mr Connolly:
That this Bill be agreed to in principle.
MR DEPUTY SPEAKER: Is it the wish of the Assembly to debate this order of the day concurrently with the Film Classification (Amendment) Bill 1993? There being no objection, that course will be followed. I remind members that, in debating order of the day No. 2, they may also address their remarks to order of the day No. 3.
Debate (on motion by Mr Humphries) adjourned.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .