Page 257 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 10 February 2010

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The public health risks that such an attitude represents cannot be underestimated and we would expect that both public and prisoner health outcomes be considered in any review that is conducted.

A thorough, effective, transparent and prompt review of the corrections system should address all outcomes that we expect from the corrections system. Corrections holds a unique place in the state’s relationship with the individual and society. The ACT Greens contend that the corrections system must go beyond punishment.

Society should demand a correctional system that takes active steps to rehabilitate those subjected to its limitations. It is always tempting for a government to choose to forget those it incarcerates. But this not only unnecessarily punitive, it undermines the law-and-order outcomes that the judicial, police and correctional systems seek to achieve.

Whilst the government has chosen to implement some principles, there are functional problems implementing this in a range of areas, particularly through-care, after-care health and access to social services. We want an independent, open and comprehensive review to assist in determining the best way forward. It is to this end that I will be proposing an amendment to this motion.

Before I conclude, I need to address particularly the problematic areas of the government’s response to the committee report on the delay in the commencement of operations at the AMC. The government have repeatedly attempted to undermine the decision of the committee by continual referral to an independent expert, whose report we have not seen, nor do we have any information about how this expert came to the conclusion.

The Canberra Liberals and the ACT Greens obviously have differing concerns on the current operations and construction of the AMC. This comes from our disagreements on priorities and is understandable. What we can agree on, however, is the need for an independent review which hears from all stakeholders and will provide a fair and transparent basis for all parties in this place to develop corrections policy going into the future.

Mr Speaker, I move the amendment circulated in my name.

MR SPEAKER: I am sorry, Ms Bresnan; you cannot move that until we resolve Mr Corbell’s amendment.

Question put:

That Mr Corbell’s amendment be agreed to.

The Assembly voted—

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