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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 10 Hansard (Tuesday, 24 August 2004) . . Page.. 4048 ..

biodiversity. The achievement of the sustainability objectives will be assisted by the application of the Green Building Council’s green star rating tool. The development aims to achieve a minimum four-star rating on the six-star rating tool.

The operating philosophy and model of the Alexander Maconochie Centre are founded on the ACT Human Rights Act. The prison’s operating philosophy will be the major factor influencing the design at the centre. The centre will be a secure and safe place that will have a positive effect on the lives of prisoners held there and on staff who work there. Its management and operations will give substance to the dictum of Sir Alexander Paterson that offenders are sent to prison as punishment, not for punishment.

Programs and activities for prisoners will be based on individual assessment of each prisoner as the foundation of individual case plans. A multidisciplinary and indeed multi-agency approach to program delivery and case management will be adopted. This aspect of the operating philosophy for the ACT prison will contribute to achieving whole-of-government objectives for crime prevention and community safety and to the principles of restorative justice.

Boredom and inactivity in the correctional setting encourage drug use, undermine rehabilitation objectives and threaten security and safety. The new prison will provide vocational training and employment opportunities to aid rehabilitation and reduce prison costs. Initially, work will primarily be in domestic industries, such as grounds, facilities, maintenance, cooking and cleaning. Space within the prison has been identified to permit the possible development of limited horticultural activity, facilities maintenance, waste management and recycling and to provide other work opportunities for prisoners. Visits will be available seven days a week, with specific periods being set aside for family visits and for professional visits, with visit areas designated specifically to be non-threatening and child friendly. Both formal and informal recreation programs will also be available in the centre.

Poor health, including a high incidence of mental health and substance abuse problems, is prevalent amongst prisoners. Prisoners, particularly women prisoners, exhibit backgrounds of physical, mental and sexual abuse. The provision of health services in the new facility will be based on the principle of equivalence, that is, prisoners should be able to access health services comparable to those accessible by the rest of the community. The goals of health services in the correctional setting include minimising self-harm, reducing dependency on drugs, addressing mental health issues and promoting a healthy lifestyle. A medical centre will be provided in the prison, equipped for assessment, treatment, consultation and clinical support to meet the primary health needs of prisoners.

Mental illness may be linked to substance abuse. ACT Corrections and ACT Health services staff will collectively provide an effective joint health/corrections response to both these issues within the ACT correctional centre. This will include the provision of both acute and long-term mental health care services and their integration with community-based services.

Illicit drugs pose one of the most serious problems in prisons. The ACT prison will have in place policies and procedures to deal specifically with drugs in prison. Drug and alcohol policies and practices will be an integral part of prison management, addressing

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