Page 1652 - Week 05 - Tuesday, 4 May 2010
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
Mr Hanson: The imputation of motive, Mr Speaker. It is an imputation. It is standing order 55, isn’t it?
MR SPEAKER: Mr Hanson, there is no point of order. If you wish to make a personal explanation under standing order 46, you are free to do so at the end of Ms Bresnan’s speech. Ms Bresnan.
MS BRESNAN: Thank you, Mr Speaker. As I was saying, it is my understanding that it is not normally common practice for constituents to be advised of possible censure motions before members of the Assembly are. Typically, we find out in the media about censure motions from the Liberal Party, although Mr Hanson, I think, did give us about a 10-minute heads up yesterday before he told the media about the censure motion currently before us.
This motion does, however, highlight a number of issues of concern within the AMC. Whilst we recognise the unique and important security requirements of a prison facility, the operations of the AMC and its focus on rehabilitation should be compromised by staff and budgetary issues as little as possible. The role of prisons within our society is one that is often beset by rhetoric, by the claims of hotel-like conditions on one side and brutality on the other. We believe a more nuanced view is needed. We believe that effective prisons and corrections systems can reduce crime.
The interests of broader society are best served by prisons which effectively rehabilitate individuals within them. This means providing effectively for their health, in particular treating mental health issues, providing avenues to employment upon their release and giving them support to engage with social services during and after their imprisonment. This requires a change in culture in our prison system that puts rehabilitation at the core of the system. This is not a matter of whether or not offenders deserve support, although we believe that they too have rights that must be respected, but what is in the broader interests of our society. Let this not be confused with having a prison being something which is pleasant, for even in the best-equipped prison deprivation of liberty acts as a deterrent and punishment.
Cultural change is difficult, particularly in an institution such as corrections, where views and approaches can often be entrenched. It requires leadership and an active commitment to change. It means not just putting policies in place to be implemented but winning a commitment to the ideals behind the policies from those who have to implement them. A corrections department instructed to do things the new way whilst having attitudes corresponding to the old way of doing things will not achieve change in the outcomes of prisons.
We believe that the culture that currently exists within corrections in the ACT is likely to be a contributing factor to the problems that have occurred within the AMC. A number of issues raised by Mr Hanson, whilst the manner in which they are raised in this motion is lacking context, are indicative of problems with the attitude and culture of Corrective Services. These are issues that urgently need to be addressed, both by quickly conducting and implementing the recommendations of the independent review and by taking immediate measures to investigate and correct the most pressing issues.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video