Page 1584 - Week 05 - Thursday, 15 May 2014
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The extra funding at Calvary has enabled us to open 15 general inpatient beds, including the establishment of the stroke service I just mentioned, and establish the new eight-bed rapid assessment service, which I also have just spoken about.
Alexander Maconochie Centre—execution of search warrants
MR WALL: My question is to the Minister for Corrections. Yesterday it was reported that ACT Policing executed four search warrants on cells in the Alexander Maconochie Centre that resulted in the seizure of six mobile phones and an amount of suspected methylamphetamine and cannabis. Minister, given the drug testing at AMC is statistical only, is there a link between the anonymous random drug testing and the execution of these search warrants?
MR RATTENBURY: Yes, the Australian Federal Police and ACT Corrective Services have been working together closely over a period of some months now to bring about the result that was announced through the Federal Police media release yesterday. I think this has been a very positive example of collaboration where the two agencies have taken an intelligence-led approach to the issue of suspected drug importation into the jail, and there has been an operation that has led to a number of arrests both inside and outside the AMC. I welcome the collaboration between ACT Corrective Services and the Australian Federal Police to bring about this operation that we have seen executed over the last few days.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Wall.
MR WALL: Minister, are you reviewing any policies or procedures within the prison following Tuesday’s search warrants?
MR RATTENBURY: Yes, ACT corrections will now work closely with the Australian Federal Police to consider the implications of this operation and any further efforts that need to be made now to reduce contraband that could be brought into the prison, whether it is drugs or mobile phones. They are the two key pieces of contraband that have been found in this case. Obviously, there are, as members know, a range of checks that are put in place to prevent the entry of contraband. There is a range of physical searching techniques, as well as intelligence-led work. We will now be reviewing a range of those areas in light of the outcome of this investigation.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Hanson.
MR HANSON: Minister, in your initial investigations can you identify any procedures that have failed?
MR RATTENBURY: I am not in a position to comment on that at this time.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Hanson.
MR HANSON: Minister, can you tell us how many search warrants have been executed on cells at the AMC during the past 12 months?
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