Page 176 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 10 February 2010
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communications that were inappropriate; nevertheless it highlighted the possibility of that being done—the government is reviewing the whitelisting arrangements for internet access at the prison. That process is close to completion. Once that is done I would expect internet access to be resumed for prisoners at the AMC.
MR SPEAKER: Mr Doszpot, a supplementary question?
MR DOSZPOT: Attorney, can you advise whether there are currently any other investigations being conducted into inappropriate or unauthorised use of technology by prisoners and provide the Assembly with the details of these investigations?
MR CORBELL: Not to my knowledge.
MR SPEAKER: A supplementary, Mr Hanson?
MR HANSON: Yes, Mr Speaker. Will you take the question from Mr Doszpot about the investigations on notice?
MR CORBELL: I have answered the question.
MR HANSON: What access to email and internet do the prisoners at the Alexander Maconochie Centre currently have?
MR CORBELL: I would have to check the exact status as of today, but I did attend the prison last week to visit the facility. It was one of a number of visits I have undertaken in the past month. At that meeting I was extensively briefed on the issues around security and, in particular, issues around the internet arrangements. As of the time of that meeting, which was approximately a week ago, access had not been restored. I cannot tell members today, now, whether access has been restored but I can certainly take the question on notice and provide that information to members.
I think it is very important to stress that it is absolutely appropriate that prisoners have access to normal sources of information that do not compromise the security arrangements at the facility. In a human rights compliant environment, if it is appropriate for prisoners—
Opposition members interjecting—
MR CORBELL: Mr Speaker, they are not committed to a human rights regime for this facility. They are just not committed to it.
If it is appropriate for prisoners to get newspapers then surely it is appropriate for prisoners to be able to read newspapers online. If it is appropriate for prisoners to listen to the radio, surely it should be appropriate for them to view radio websites online. If it is appropriate for prisoners to get access to books from a library, surely it is appropriate for prisoners to get access to that information online. This is about a contemporary human rights response to these matters.
What on earth do the Liberal Party have a problem with in terms of accessing this sort of information, unless, of course, they sense, in the base political way that they do,
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