Page 1697 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 13 May 2015
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MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Hanson.
MR HANSON: Minister, why has the government continued to mix sentenced and unsentenced inmates despite being warned of the consequences?
MR RATTENBURY: I refer Mr Hanson to my first answer to Mr Wall, which was that the primary focus is on ensuring detainees’ safety and seeking to minimise the risk of incidents taking place in the jail. Unlike New South Wales, where there are different facilities where detainees can be transferred, as members would be fully aware, we only have one facility in the ACT where all our detainees are housed. We have a significant number of different types of classifications in terms of low, medium and high security, sentenced and unsentenced, and various types of prisoners need particular types of separation and protection. That makes for a complex myriad of placement decisions for Corrective Services staff. As I say, the number one factor—and I support this—is about placing people in a space that is most suitable for their personal security.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Hanson.
MR HANSON: Minister, what level of risk do we have of the mixing of sentenced and unsentenced inmates and a lack of rehab programs resulting in the AMC becoming what has been described as “a college of crime”?
MR RATTENBURY: I reject Mr Hanson’s assertion—his colourful description of the AMC. But in respect of the actual question, what measure we have, there is no way to measure such a thing. There is risk at the AMC every single day. Corrective Services staff are highly skilled in seeking to identify and then manage those risks. It is absolutely a core part of their job. The key thing that they are dealing with on a constant basis is security, risks to that security and risks to the good order of the jail. That is what Corrective Services staff are focused on.
ACT Emergency Services Agency—alleged bullying
MR SMYTH: My question is to the Minister for Police and Emergency Services. Minister, regarding the investigation to inquire into bullying allegations against the ESA Commissioner, it has been reported that due process was not carried out. Minister, how was the independence of the investigations maintained when the investigator had an association with the directorate?
MADAM SPEAKER: Could you just repeat the question. Your voice seems to be fading away this week, Mr Smyth.
MR SMYTH: I am terribly sorry. Minister, how was the independence of the investigation maintained when the investigator has an association with the directorate?
Opposition members interjecting—
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