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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 13 Hansard (20 November) . . Page.. 3864 ..

MS DUNDAS (continuing):

Like other members in this Assembly, I believe that ministers should honour their undertakings. It is a little ambiguous whether the minister for corrections was referring to a future written document when he spoke during estimates of a protocol to govern the allocation of prisoners between the Belconnen and Symonston remand centres. Therefore, it is not entirely clear whether the government had a promise to keep. But regardless of whether the comments made in estimates indicated that the minister was preparing to write a document, I think it would be desirable to have such a document, and I hope that the government is indeed working with such a document and that it is ready to be tabled.

I support the motion moved by Mr Smyth because there clearly is community concern about the potential for escapes from a low security temporary facility.

MR QUINLAN (Treasurer, Minister for Economic Development, Business and Tourism, Minister for Sport, Racing and Gaming and Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Corrections) (5.44): Mr Speaker, I herewith table draft protocol arrangements between ACT Community Care and ACT Corrective Services, provision of health service, Symonston Temporary Remand Centre. I think it covers, in the main, the areas that people will be concerned about. It remains a draft because we are going through the early stages of the use of the Symonston temporary remand centre. I present the following paper:

Symonston Temporary Remand Centre-Information and protocols covering the transfer of detainees for placement at Symonston Temporary Remand Centre and their transfer back to the Belconnen Remand Centre-Copy of draft agreement between ACT Community Care and ACT Corrective Services, dated 13 November 2002.

Mr Ryan, the Director of ACT Corrective Services, has indicated that in a larger facility it could take anything up to six months to get to the point where you shake out all of the problems and then put your protocol in place. So I trust that this document covers the requirements and satisfies members that there is a protocol in place.

I want to refer to a couple of things. Part (2) of the motion that is before the Assembly states:

that the Minister for Corrections undertook, during Estimates Committee hearings on 26 July 2002, to issue a protocol ...

Not correct. I notice that Mr Smyth chose his words carefully in his speech but I seek your guidance, Mr Speaker, as to whether the moving of a motion that contains words that are not correct would be a misleading of the Assembly.

MR SPEAKER: It is a motion that is before the Assembly, Mr Quinlan, and it is open to you to discredit the words, if that is your wish.

MR QUINLAN: I have been back through the Hansard of that day. At no point did I undertake-I think Ms Dundas pointed this out-to issue that. But I am happy to do so.

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