Page 2716 - Week 07 - Tuesday, 29 June 2010
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MR SPEAKER: This is not a point of order.
Mr Hargreaves: what assistance they were given. I have not mentioned any members’ names; I just want to know the assistance.
Mrs Dunne: On the point of order, Mr Speaker, this is frivolous, it is tedious, it is ongoing, and the question would be out of order to the minister because she would not be the minister responsible for those matters, even if it were in order.
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Mrs Dunne. Thank you. Mr Doszpot?
Mr Doszpot: Minister, will the—
MR SPEAKER: Mr Doszpot, there are no further supplementary questions. Mr Hargreaves has used up the quota.
Housing—released female prisoners
MS BRESNAN: My question is to the minister for corrections and is in regard to transitional housing services for female prisoners upon their release from the AMC. It is my understanding that there are not any transitional housing services specifically for released prisoners of the AMC and that the tender for this service has been delayed. Minister, can you please advise the Assembly what the criteria for this tender will be and the time line for the tender process?
MS BURCH: I can provide some level of response to Ms Bresnan’s question. The ACT government has committed $1.6 million over four years for a new program for women exiting prisons under the national partnership on homelessness. The new program is to provide supported accommodation and outreach support to women exiting the AMC and other criminal justice programs. The program is intended to assist women exiting these facilities in securing and maintaining long-term accommodation, improving basic living skills, addressing complex health and substance abuse issues and re-engaging with clients’ families and community. The program was originally expected to be operational from mid 2010 but is now set to commence between September and December of this year.
MR SPEAKER: Ms Bresnan, a supplementary.
MS BRESNAN: Minister, can you please advise the Assembly what steps you have taken to provide transitional housing services, specifically for female prisoners, until such time as the tender process has been completed? And, as I asked earlier too, what will be the criteria for the tender?
MS BURCH: A range of community organisations currently provide support to women in the AMC and upon release, and they include Toora and Inanna. The program is subject to a tender process, managed by the Department of Disability, Housing and Community Services. The select tender process originally instigated by the department will be now replaced by an open tender process due to a change in
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