Page 2672 - Week 07 - Tuesday, 28 June 2011
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is a crucial part of good corrections administration. The government’s funding will ensure improvements in the information gathering processes in accordance with the advice from Mr Hamburger by investing in a significant upgrade of the Corrective Services client database.
The 2011-12 budget also provides $5.1 million funding over four years to assist in addressing resourcing issues identified in the review. Enhanced security and systems capability have also been supported by this year’s budget, including the relocation of the canine unit to the AMC, an upgrade to streamline the KeyWatcher system and installation of a heartbeat detection unit at the AMC to improve searches of vehicles entering and exiting the centre. These initiatives, as part of the government response I am tabling today, set us on a path for a positive and proactive approach to continuing to make the AMC a world-class correctional facility.
A less responsible government would not have a prison and would have gone on shipping our detainees off to New South Wales instead of taking on the responsibility of looking after our own and being accountable for that. What we are is a responsible and accountable government, and we will continue to be responsible, as we move through addressing the recommendations of both of these reports. The government will also be vigilant in considering the various issues that were raised in the Burnet report into the AMC.
The AMC task force will now oversee the implementation of those recommendations accepted by the government. A prioritised implementation program is now well underway which will allow for short, medium and longer term matters to be addressed in a manageable way.
It is my intention to update the Assembly after six months of progress on implementation of the recommendations of both reports. To expect that all 133 recommendations will be fully addressed in the short term is unrealistic. I expect that some of the longer term issues will be addressed in the normal operating cycle of the AMC and will substantially outlive the AMC task force. But in the meantime, the work of the task force is to help to maintain the AMC as a first-rate correctional facility.
The government’s willingness to accept all of the recommendations in these reports, and to make a proactive response to them, reflects our commitment to continually improving the way that we look after this difficult area of justice and community safety and some of the most vulnerable in our community.
In closing, I am pleased to repeat the observation of the first Knowledge Consulting report: overall, staff can be proud of their efforts in what has been a very difficult environment.
On behalf of the government I too commend the hardworking staff based at Corrective Services as well as the advice and assistance that I have received from all of the members of the task force. I commend the government’s response to the Assembly.
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