Page 2600 - Week 08 - Thursday, 14 August 2014
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authorities for a syringe. It is going to trigger a flag that they are potentially using an illicit substance. That completely outs them as a drug user in the prison and most likely will result in increased searches of their personal space, body and their cells. This practice will also potentially increase the occurrence of standover tactics in the prison as stronger prisoners will force other detainees to collect needles for their own use.
If the prisoners are not going to use the program because it creates increased safety hazards, if the program is causing revolt within the ranks of ACT Corrective Services, and if the program is essentially condoning drugs, what is the point of implementing such a program? It goes against basic logic. Whilst we would expect a government to possess some logic, this program shows that this Labor-Greens government has none.
In conclusion, I apologise that I said that Ms Burch was a corrections minister; she was responsible for youth corrections.
MR SMYTH (Brindabella) (3:25): I have a couple of areas to raise within the JACS portfolio. First and foremost, I would like to speak to recommendation 105 in the estimates report:
The Committee recommends the ACT Government review all proposed options for a new Supreme Court building taking into account functionality, capacity and cost, and report to the Assembly on the outcomes of the review.
The government has not agreed. It is one of the 12 not agreeds from the government and I do think that is a shame. I understand a cheaper and potentially a more functional offer has been made to the government. I do not believe, the proponents do not believe and, indeed, the architecture fraternity do not believe that it has been taken seriously. They proposed a different way of doing it. What the committee was suggesting here was that it might be worth one last look. But of course the government have simply said no. They have said they have previously considered options for a new Supreme Court taking into account the things listed and that they are now going to proceed. Given Mr Corbell’s record on delivering capital works, whether it be Gungahlin Drive or the prison, the outcome now of the Supreme Court remains to be seen and whether or not it will turn into another Corbell bungle.
The other issue that came up in a significant way during the JACS hearing was the issue of bullying, sexism and misogyny in ACT emergency services. I would give credit particularly to Mrs Jones for the way she followed the issue of bullying across all of the portfolios but she participated in this area as well. The problem is that there is now a cloud hanging over members of the Fire & Rescue service who continually say to me that they do not believe the air has been cleared, that because of the way the government, particularly the minister, has handled this there is now a slur over all male officers in the Fire & Rescue service and that really justice has not been done.
There are a number of recommendations here. Recommendation 109 states:
The Committee recommends that the ACT Government introduce measures to effectively address bullying, sexism and misogyny in ACT Emergency Services.
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