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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 9 Hansard (4 September) . . Page.. 2905 ..

MR OSBORNE (continuing):

Also, we have come to realise that, in paying out money to New South Wales to house our prisoners, we are denying ourselves the economic advantages that flow from a correctional facility which could employ a significant number of people and provide opportunities for local businesses to supply the facility with goods and services. With the present economic climate, it would obviously be a plus if the benefits stayed in the Territory.

These considerations led us to five conclusions which we recently communicated to the Attorney-General. Our conclusions, which are unanimous, are: The Territory should build its own correctional facility to house its prisoners and remandees; the Territory should do so as soon as possible; the facility should house both men and women; the facility should accommodate as many security classifications as possible; and consideration should be given to the correctional facility being a regional one, with the ACT contracting its services to the New South Wales Department of Corrective Services and perhaps taking some money back from New South Wales.

We would like to make a further observation. We are aware that at present the Attorney-General's Department administers adult corrective services while the juvenile corrective services are administered by the Department of Education and Training and the Children's, Youth and Family Services Bureau. The committee suggests that the Government join the administration of juvenile and adult corrective services in the ACT. This would bring the administration of Quamby, the Remand Centre, the Periodic Detention Centre and community corrections together. We think this would avoid duplication in administration and it would standardise procedures and protocols - for example, health and induction.

In closing, as chair of the committee, I would like to thank all the people we met during this informal inquiry. Everyone was open and frank. All our inspections and meetings were stimulating and very worth while, especially in my case. My perception of gaols was well and truly from the 1980s. We have learnt a great deal about the administration and management of correctional facilities and the rehabilitation of prisoners. We hope this statement facilitates action to get a suitable correctional facility in the ACT as soon as possible. I believe that there is a great opportunity for bipartisan support and I hope that the Minister takes that into consideration and looks favourably on our conclusions.

MR HIRD, by leave: Mr Speaker, as a member of the Standing Committee on Legal Affairs, indeed the deputy chair, I support the vast majority of the statement presented by the chair of the committee, Mr Osborne. The only part that I take issue with is his reference to an article in the Canberra Times of yesterday. I will deal with that later. It has become increasingly obvious in recent times that this Territory needs its own correctional facility to house its prisoners and remandees. That facility should be built sooner rather than later, as indicated by the chair.

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